What to Expect

Preparing your pet for surgery:

In general, dogs can have water all night.  Just remove their access to food by 10 pm the night before surgery.  Do not feed your pet breakfast the morning of the procedure, but a small amount of water is fine.

  • We recommend any medications that are important for maintenance of serious chronic health concerns (i.e. heart disease, seizures) should typically be given, but certain medications may be a concern for anesthesia (for example: blood thinners, blood pressure medications).

    Please clarify with your family veterinarian which medications should be given the day of surgery or the days leading up to your pet’s procedure. If necessary to give medications, give it in a very small treat or without any food at all.

  • In general, the night prior, stick to your normal feeding and insulin dosing schedule.  Often, when food is restricted, your vet will advise to reduce the morning dose by 50%. 

    Please contact your family veterinarian for specific instructions regarding the insulin dose as your pet may have specific needs.

  • Your family veterinarian may choose to provide anti-anxiety medications to be given the night before and the morning of surgery to reduce stress. You can give those medications in a single pill pocket or tiny treat if needed 1-2 hours prior to your scheduled drop off appointment.

During the day of surgery:

DROP OFF - Allow extra time at the office so your vet can make sure everything is in order for your pet before you leave.

SURGERY PREP - All patients will be examined before undergoing anesthesia to make sure there are no changes since the last exam.

SURGERY - Your pet will be closely monitored during anesthesia and surgery by our collaborative team of doctors and technicians. 

RECOVERY - Your pet will be moved to a comfortable area for recovery.

PICKUP - Your veterinary team will communicate the time to pick up your pet. Keep in mind, your pet just had major surgery and may not feel their best!

  • The length of anesthesia is based on the specific surgery your pet will have, but typically, your pet will be under anesthesia for 1-2 hours.

  • Your family veterinarian will communicate the specific times for drop off and discharge, but typically expect your pet to be there for the entire day.

  • Once your pet is examined, we will call you and let you know we are moving forward with surgery. We will also call you once your pet has been moved to recovery. We want to make sure we address all your questions before and after surgery.

Recovering at home:

Customized home care instructions will be provided to you when you pick up your pet.

Different levels of rest will be recommended based on the type of surgery your pet undergoes. Dogs having major orthopedic surgery will need to be rested in a crate during their recovery time.  This means your dog will need to stay in the crate during the entire recovery period, unless he/she is being directly supervised. Your pet is not allowed to run, jump, or play.

Post-operative rest is also very important for cats.  The best way to rest a cat is to use a large dog crate that can fit a litter box, a food area, and a bed.  Cats can easily jump over a gate or onto counters, so a crate with a “roof” is the safest place for recovery.

An e-collar or cone has been provided for your pet. This will prevent your pet from causing trauma and infection to the surgical site and needs to be worn until your veterinarian has rechecked your pet.

Visit our FAQ page for common post-surgical questions.