Anesthesia
Patient safety and comfort are important to the staff in the surgery department
How our patients are anesthetized: Anesthesia in the surgery department at ASEH includes a multiple drug protocol for maximum safety. On the day of surgery, another physical examination is performed to ensure that your pet is still fit for anesthesia and surgery. Preoperative blood work (generally a complete blood count and a chemistry) is reviewed and a sedative premedication is given to relax your pet prior to placement of an intravenous catheter. All patients having anesthesia and surgery at ASEH receive intravenous fluids and have venous access for administration of any emergency drugs if necessary. Anesthesia is induced with intravenous drugs and an endotracheal tube
(breathing tube) is placed into the trachea. Pets receive a gas anesthetic (isoflurane or
sevoflurane with oxygen). Gas anesthesia enables us to control your pet’s level of
anesthesia quickly for improved safety. We also have a ventilator if needed for your
pet. Patient Monitoring and Pain Management: The surgery staff is well trained in anesthesia and patient monitoring. For every surgery there is one staff member assigned to monitor anesthesia. Advanced monitoring equipment, the same as those used in human operating theaters, is used on all our patients. These include blood pressure monitors, pulse oximeters to monitor oxygenation of the blood, end tidal CO2 monitors to monitor breathing, and ECG’s to monitor heart rate and rhythm. Our surgery tables are heated, and we have additional external heat support for use (warm air blower (Bair Hugger) and a fluid warmer). We employ the latest pain management techniques, including intra-articular anesthesia, epidural anesthesia and local blocks as indicated. All patients receive intravenous pain medications after surgery and are sent home with oral pain medications. Many pet owners are concerned about anesthesia when their pet needs surgery, especially if they feel their pet is too old to be anesthetized. Age is not a contraindication to anesthesia. Rest assured that the well-trained surgery staff at ASEH will make your pet’s anesthesia as safe as possible.
Pet’s are often sedated for minor procedures (such as biopsies, joint palpation and fluid sampling, etc) and radiographs. The sedatives that we use are very safe and reversible, so that your pet will be able to go home shortly after the sedation is reversed. Once home, your pet may be quiet or sleepy for the rest of the day.
Personalized aftercare instructions are provided after your pet’s surgery The instructions will cover medications, feeding instructions, wound care instructions, allowed activity levels and when your pet needs to return to ASEH for staple removal, recheck or radiographs. It is vital that the postoperative instructions are followed closely in all cases. Failure to do so may result in complications such as wound breakdown (dehiscence), infection, or breakage of implants (plates/screws etc). A copy of your pet’s discharge instructions is sent to your regular veterinarian when your pet is discharged from ASEH. If you have any questions about the instructions you have received, please contact the surgical staff at ASEH during regular business hours (8am to 6pm M-F), or the ASEH emergency department after-hours if you feel it is an emergency (no appointment necessary). Frequently asked questions after discharge My pet has not had a bowel movement yet… Defecation is frequently abnormal after anesthesia and surgery. This is due to the combination of drug therapy, low-grade surgical pain or discomfort, and environmental changes. Your pet may not defecate for several days after a hospital stay. This should not cause a great concern, providing your pet is not straining to defecate. If no stool is seen within 4 to 5 days of discharge, please contact the surgical staff at ASEH during regular business hours (8am to 6pm M-F), or the ASEH emergency department afterhours if you feel it is an emergency (no appointment necessary). My pet is not eating as well as usual… After anesthesia, surgery and a hospital stay it is not unusual for your pet to have a decreased appetite, due to the combination of recent anesthesia, pain medications, antibiotic treatment, environmental changes and a decrease in activity level. If your pet has no special dietary instructions from the surgeon, it is acceptable to entice them with a special food (like boiled chicken and rice) in small quantities. This should be offered in combination with your pet’s normal diet. Please avoid foods that are “rich” or high in fat content, and do not feed any “people food” apart from the bland chicken and rice mentioned above. My pet is restless, whimpering, or cannot get comfortable… This is not uncommon in the first few hours or days after discharge from the hospital. This may be due to the recent hospital experience, low-grade pain, changes in the normal home environment (e.g. confinement if they are not used to a crate), and changes in their usual routine. If your pet calms down when you pet and talk to them, the behavior you are seeing is most likely not due to pain. If you feel your pets pain management is not adequate, please call a member of the surgical staff during regular hours (8am to 6pm M-F), or the ASEH emergency department after-hours if you feel it is an emergency (no appointment necessary). My pet was using the operated leg well, but has suddenly stopped doing so… This may occur because of overuse of the surgery leg, or is sometimes seen after removal of a bandage. If your pet stops using the operated leg, and in the absence of evident pain or deformity of the limb, restricting their activity for 24 to 48 hours may help. Continue pain medications and anti-inflammatories as directed. A warm compress directly to the surgical site may help. If you are concerned, please call ASEH surgery staff during regular office hours to speak with a nurse to make an appointment to have your pet assessed. If it is afterhours and you feel it is an emergency situation please contact the ASEH emergency department (no appointment necessary). The incision is red, inflamed or has a discharge… If your pet is licking or chewing the incision and causing irritation use an Elizabethan collar to prevent this. If you do not have one, you can pick one up at ASEH or your local pet supermarket. All surgical incisions should be clean and dry – any discharge is abnormal, and you
should call the ASEH surgery staff as soon as possible to arrange a recheck. If you are
concerned after-hours contact the ASEH emergency department (no appointment
necessary). If you are concerned after-hours and you feel it is an emergency, bring your pet to the ASEH emergency department (no appointment necessary).
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