Surgery

• Why does my pet need to be spayed or castrated (ie. neutered)?

• There are many advantages to having your pet neutered which includes decreasing the chance of breast tumors, cystic ovaries, uterine infections, or prostatic disease later in life; decreasing the desire to roam the neighborhood; helping to prevent spraying and marking; and decreasing the surplus of unwanted puppies and kittens.

• Where can I learn more about having my pet spayed?

• Veterinary Partner offers a list of frequently asked questions regarding spaying your pet for cats, dogs, and rabbits.

• At what age can I have my pet spayed or castrated (ie. neutered)?

• Spaying or castrating can be done at approximately 6 months. Your pet receives an exam prior to surgery to determine if your pet is healthy enough to undergo the surgical procedure. Current vaccinations are required at the time of surgery.

• Is it a good idea to let my pet have at least one litter of puppies/kittens?

• There is no advantage for your pet to give birth prior to being spayed.

• Should I declaw my cat?

• Veterinary Partner offers differing views to help you decide what is right for you.

• Do you declaw cats?

• We declaw the front feet of indoor only cats; however, declawing the back feet requires special circumstances and is very rarely done. We use a laser to perform our declaw surgeries which reduces pain as well as bleeding.

• Do you offer tail docking or dewclaw removal?

• Yes, it is recommended to be done when the puppies are 3-5 days old.

• Do you offer ear cropping?

• No, we no longer offer this surgical procedure.

• Is anesthesia safe?

• Today's modern anesthetic drugs and monitors have made surgery much safer than in the past. We do a thorough physical exam on your pet before administering anesthetics. We also adjust the amount and type of anesthetic used depending on the health and age of your pet.

• Why does my pet need pre-anesthetic blood testing?

• Pre-anesthetic blood testing is important in reducing the risks of anesthesia. Older pets need blood testing before surgery to ensure that the liver and kidneys can metabolize the anesthetic properly. Even healthy looking animals can have serious organ system problems that cannot be detected without blood testing. It is much better to find a problem before it causes anesthetic or surgical complications.

• Why does my pet need to be fasted prior to surgery?

• It is important that surgery be done on an empty stomach to reduce the risk of vomiting during and after anesthesia. You will need to withhold food for at least 8 hours before surgery. Water may be left down for your pet until the morning of surgery.

• Will my pet be in pain?

• Anything that causes pain in people can be expected to cause pain in animals even though animals do not usually whine or cry. Pets may not show the same pain symptoms as people do but you can be sure your beloved pet can feel it. The type and amount of pain medications prescribed depends upon the type of surgery performed. Major operations require more pain relief than procedures such as minor lacerations. Injectable pain medications may also be used during and after surgery on both dogs and cats. Providing pain relief is an appropriate, humane, and caring thing to do for your pet.

• Will my pet have stitches (sutures)?

• We use absorbable sutures underneath the skin for many surgeries - these sutures will dissolve and do not need to be removed. Some surgeries, especially tumor removals, do require skin sutures. With either type of suture you will need to watch the incision for swelling, discharge, and color changes. Most animals do not lick excessively or chew at the incision but this is a possible problem you need to watch for. If skin sutures are used they will usually be removed 10 to 14 days after surgery. You will also need to limit your pet's activity level for a time and no baths are allowed for the first 10 days after surgery.