Your pet is scheduled for surgery. Veterinary surgery is more safe now than in the past and every precaution before, during and after is taken to ensure your pet's safety.
Following preoperative instructions carefully is crucial to prevent serious anesthetic complications, such as vomiting and aspiration pneumonia.
Please read these guidelines thoroughly prior to your pet's surgery date and contact our Galloway hospital team if you have any questions.
Night-Before Surgical Preparations
Following strict fasting protocols is vital to ensure your pet's stomach is completely empty when anesthesia is induced:
- Food Fasting: Remove all food, treats, and snacks by 10:00 PM the night before surgery. Do not give breakfast or morning treats on surgery day.
- Water Access: Fresh water can remain available overnight until morning drop-off, unless otherwise instructed by Dr. Fisher.
- Medications: If your pet takes daily medications (such as blood pressure, cardiac, or thyroid drugs), ask our staff during check-in or the day before whether to administer them with a tiny lick of water.
Surgery Morning Drop-Off Checklist
Post-Surgical Home Recovery Instructions
Once your pet is discharged to your care, strict home vigilance ensures optimal healing:
- Strict Rest: Keep dogs on short leash-walks only for elimination. No running, jumping on furniture, or rough play for 10 to 14 days.
- Elizabethan Collar (Cone) Compliance: Your pet must wear their protective e-collar 24/7 to prevent licking or chewing at sutures, which can cause severe infection or incision breakdown.
- Incision Monitoring: Check the incision twice daily for swelling, redness, discharge, or missing stitches. Keep the incision clean and dry—no bathing or swimming until stitches are removed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if my pet accidentally ate breakfast on surgery morning?
Please inform our staff immediately. For your pet's safety, having food in the stomach creates a severe risk of vomiting and fatal pulmonary aspiration under anesthesia. We may need to postpone the surgery until the stomach is empty.
When do sutures need to be removed?
External skin sutures are typically removed 10 to 14 days post-operatively. Suture removal at Angel Animal Hospital is quick, painless, and complimentary!