Before Surgery Information and Recommendations

NIGHT BEFORE SURGERY​

• Please be sure that if your cat goes outdoors, he/she is indoors the evening before surgery.
• Please pick up your pet's food dish before going to bed the night before surgery. No food should be given after midnight. This ensures that the animal's stomach is empty by the time he/she is put under general anesthesia. This will lessen the chance your pet will vomit and aspirate the vomit into his lungs. If your pet has eaten on the morning of surgery, we may refuse to perform surgery.
• Please DO NOT withhold water from your pets, they can drink up until they leave for surgery.

CHECK IN TIME​

• Patient check-in time is between 8:00am and 9:00am.  
• Please plan to spend approximately 10 minutes with us while filling out paperwork. 
  • If you prefer, you have the option to complete the forms prior to your appointment and hand it in at check-in.
• It is very important you arrive on time. If you are late, we may need to reschedule your appointment.  
• When arriving dogs must be on leashes and cats must be in individual carriers. If your dog is aggressive with other pets, please leave your dog in the car (weather permitting) and come inside first! 
• Please bring all vaccination paperwork with you, and if your pet is currently on any medications, it is very important you inform us!  
• We require payment for services at check in. If any additional services are needed after the Doctor does his/her physical exam  (example: baby teeth need removal, ear infection found...)  payment for these services will be made at the time of pickup.  
• We do not accept checks.

PRE SURGICAL EXAM​

• Our veterinarian will perform a pre-operative physical examination to make sure that your pet is a good candidate for surgery.
• We do not require pre-surgical blood work for young pets, we however do recommend it. For pets over 6 years we do require it. The veterinarian's physical exam can only look at the "outside" of your pet.  Blood work helps us look at the "inside" of your pet. Blood work is routinely done prior to your pet's surgery, dentistry or any other other procedure that requires anesthesia. It lets the veterinary staff know if anesthesia is safe for your pet, and allows them to make adjustments if they see anything abnormal. This blood work can be performed the same day as anesthesia is scheduled, making it easy for your and your pet.
• If your pet is too fractious to handle, a physical exam will be performed under anesthesia.
• Feral cats receive their physical exams under anesthesia.
• If your pet shows signs of illness or if there are any concerns (such as age, a heart murmur, sever upper respiratory infection, obesity, food in stomach) we may refuse surgery if we feel surgery is a health risk.

VACCINATIONS

​For your pet's protection we require that all pets must have their Rabies and Distemper Vaccines. If your pet is not up to date on these vaccines they can be administered on the day of surgery.

CANCELLATIONS

We require at least 48 hours notice for cancellations. We have reserved a surgical slot for you; if you are not able to keep your appointment, please let us know ASAP so we can give someone else your surgical slot. If you do not show up for your appointment, or do not give a 48 hours notice of cancellation, there will be a $50 fee charged.