Surgery at CVC
Pre-Anesthetic Bloodwork
This includes CBC, chemistry & electrolyte blood tests which will be performed prior to the patient’s procedure. Knowledge provided by these tests will allow us to make anesthesia and/or surgery as safe as possible for the patient.
- Complete Blood Count (CBC): This test is used to evaluate the cellular component of blood, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. It can provide useful information about inflammation, infection, clotting ability, and anemia.
- Chemistry & Electrolytes: These tests look at the function of various organ systems, primarily the liver and kidney, as well as the electrolytes. An abnormality may help to identify or diagnose an underlying disorder associated with one or more of these organ systems.
Contact Us
If you have any questions or concerns before your pet's procedure, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are always happy to help!
Instructions Prior to Surgery
Patients must be dropped off between 8:00 AM - 8:15 AM the morning of their procedure. Please remove access to all food at 8:00 PM the night prior to their procedure. They may continue to have water until they are dropped off at CVC. Please follow the doctor’s instructions in regards to any medication administration prior to your pet’s procedure.
Instructions After Surgery
Thank you for entrusting CVC with the care of your pet! Please follow the guidelines and instructions below to ensure successful recovery and healing from their procedure.
- LET YOUR PET REST IN A QUIET PLACE. Once your pet gets over the excitement of being home, they may sleep a little more than normal during the next 24 hours. Please keep them inside and confined to a small, safe area (e.g. crate, small room) if you are unable to be there to monitor their behavior.
- RESTRICT ACCESS TO FOOD AND WATER FOR THE FIRST FEW HOURS. You may offer small amounts of food and water after returning home. One of the side effects of general anesthesia is nausea, and consuming large amounts of food or water on an empty stomach can cause vomiting. Unless you receive other instructions, your pet can return to its normal diet on the following day.
- DO NOT LET YOUR PET LICK OR CHEW AT THE INCISION SITE. If your pet is likely to do so, they will need to wear an Elizabethan collar (aka cone of shame) especially if you are not around to supervise them. You need to do this until the sutures are removed or absorbed (usually 10-14 days). Licking can cause bruising, redness, swelling and infection. It can also result in the failure of the sutures and re-opening of the incision site.
- MONITOR THE INCISION SITE for signs of infection. Look for increased redness, swelling or discharge. Keep the incision site clean and dry. Do not apply anything to the incision. No bathing or swimming for at least 14 days.
- RESTRICT YOUR PETS ACTIVITY. Unfortunately, they do not understand the significance of a recovery period. They will generally become active in a short amount of time after their surgery. Do not allow running, jumping or rough play with other pets or people. No un-restricted off-leash activity should be allowed. Restrict your pet’s activity for at least 7 days.
- GIVE ANY MEDICATIONS AS DIRECTED.
- CONTINUE TO MONITOR THEIR BEHAVIOR DURING THE RECOVERY PERIOD. They should show steady, continual improvement. Be on the lookout for symptoms of post-surgical complications: poor or no appetite, lethargy, depression, vomiting, passing of black or tarry stools, unanticipated pain or discomfort. Please contact us if you notice any of these symptoms.
