Surgery

Even a routine surgical procedure, such as spaying or neutering in Indianapolis, can be scary for the people and pets involved. Knowing your pet is in the hands of an experienced, compassionate team, as well as understanding the process, will help to ease your mind when your pet is in surgery.

Your pet’s surgical journey will begin with a consultation. Your pet may need one of the following surgical services:

• Spaying or neutering
• Removal of foreign objects from the digestive tract
• Orthopedic injuries
• Soft tissue repair
• Removal of tumors or other masses

Our staff will gladly answer any questions you may have before your pet’s surgery, so feel free to ask anything you like until you are comfortable. 

• Are there any options besides surgery?
• If not, how long will the surgery take?
• How long will they have to stay in the hospital?

How quickly will my furry friend be back to normal?Being well-informed will help you provide the best post-operative care possible when you get your pet home. Before we start we will have some questions for you:

• Does the pet have a history of allergies, heart murmur, or other health issues that could make surgery more dangerous?
• Have they had surgery before?
• Has your pet been eating and drinking normally? Are they having normal bowel movements and urinating without problems?  This information will help your veterinarian diagnose the problem and determine how safe surgery will be for your pet.

The veterinarian will provide you with pre-operation instructions. Make sure you fully understand them before you leave the office and keep them in a safe place for later reference. Make sure everyone in the family knows to follow the instructions exactly. Be sure you or someone else will be able to closely watch the pet for a few days afterward.

The Day Before

If your pet is going to be anesthetized, her stomach must be empty of solid food when she is put under or complications could occur. Pets should not receive any food after 8pm the night before surgery, but water can be left out overnight.  You may have to confine her the night before and make sure she doesn’t eat anything after 8pm, no matter how much she begs (and she will).

The Day of the Surgery

• If your pet is currently taking any medication, ask if you should give her normal dose or not on surgery day.
• Be sure to arrive with your pet at the appointed time on surgery day.
• If your pet is hard to catch, crate her the night before, so you are not trying to coax her out of an impossible-to-reach hiding place when it’s time to leave.
• Animals are very perceptive when it comes to their human’s emotions, so stay calm; the calmer you are, the calmer your pet will be.
• Provide the front desk staff with multiple ways to reach you and let them know how you prefer to be contacted. Our staff will provide updates about your pet when available. When you choose our vet office, you can be confident that we are passionate about seeing your pet return to health.

Recovery times will vary according to your pet’s overall health, how complicated the surgery was, and other factors, such as possible reactions to medications, the length of time under anesthesia, etc.

Taking Care of Your Pet After Surgery

Following the surgery, your pet will be brought to a recovery area where she will be closely monitored as she comes out of the anesthesia. Our trained staff members all have keen eyes and will see if there’s a problem.

When it’s time to bring your pet home, make sure you understand all you have to do for post-operative care. Some things to consider include:

• Will the pet need to be confined? 
• If yes, for how long? 
• The animal may start to feel better and want to play a little too hard, too soon. It’s hard but you have to make sure your pet does not do too much, too soon.
• If medication has to be given, do you understand how to, and are you capable of giving it? Some pets can very difficult to medicate. Can the medication be mixed with food?
• Will you have to return with your pet to have stitches or staples removed?
• Will the pet need to wear the cone of shame to prevent them from licking the incision?
• What signs of trouble should you look out for?
• Can you take your pet’s temperature? Do you know what a normal temperature is?

Surgery is no one’s idea of a good time, but when it’s needed, you can be confident that your pet is getting the best care possible and the Paw Patch team wants the best outcome.

Our surgical suite is meticulously maintained with state-of-the-art equipment. Our staff follows all the latest guidelines on sterilizing the room to prevent infection. Our surgeons are experts in their field and are dedicated to making sure your pet is back on their feet as quickly as possible.

Don’t hesitate to call if you think there is a problem or you don’t understand something. We have a 24-hour answering service and someone will get back to you as soon as possible.

If you have questions or would like to schedule a consultation for your pet, please give us a call.