San Antonio Pet Surgery: Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital
Pet surgery is a large part of the services we offer at Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital. Almost every pet will need to have some kind of procedure at some point, even if it’s just spay and neuter. It’s important to us that our pet parents know how much we care. Pet health and safety are what we do, and it shows through in our veterinary surgery offerings every step of the way.
Before Surgery
No matter what pet surgery is on the docket, no procedure is ever done without taking your pet’s individual situation into account.
Prior to surgery our team will:
- Conduct a thorough physical examination of your pet to identify any problems that may put your pet at risk during surgery.
- Recommend blood work and other testing in order to identify any potential problems
- Customize an anesthetic and pain management plan specific for your pet and the procedure being performed
- Discuss the procedure and any potential complication
- Answer any questions that you might have
During Surgery
Perhaps the most important part of any pet surgery is the anesthesia. While using anesthesia is never without some risk, it is important to us to do everything we can to ensure a safe experience for our patients.
In order to help your pet have an optimal anesthesia we:
- Treat every pet as an individual: No pet patient is the same, and it would be dangerous to treat them all alike. We take each pet’s individual needs and the procedure being performed into account when we formulate a personalized anesthetic plan for our patients.
- Take pain seriously: Pre-empting and treating pets for pain is essential to help have a successful surgery and speed healing. A pet pain management plan is unique to each patient.
- Place an intravenous catheter: Each pet who undergoes anesthesia has an intravenous catheter placed. This allows us direct access to a vein in case of an emergency. It also aids us in administering drugs as needed including administering fluids to keep blood pressure stable and encourage a quicker recovery.
- Intubate: We secure the airway of all anesthetized patients with an endotracheal tube. This tube in the windpipe allows us to deliver gas anesthesia and improve ventilation for the pet as necessary. It also protects the airway from saliva, vomit, or water that could be unintentionally aspirated into the lungs.
- Monitor closely: Pets at our practice for surgery are closely monitored by a trained staff member before, during, and after the procedure. Vital signs including temperature, heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure are closely observed.
After Surgery
Just like humans, pets need a little time to recover after a surgery.
Initial recovery is monitored closely in our hospital. When it is safe to do so, we will discharge the pet to your care in order for them to recover fully at home.
We will work as a team to communicate with you about how to care for your pet after surgery. You may receive special directions for post-surgery care including:
- Feeding your pet
- Restricting exercise after surgery
- Administering medications
- Monitoring pain
- Caring for an incision or bandage
- Signs of a complication
- Returning for follow up care
Surgery is sometimes necessary to keep our pets happy and healthy. At Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital, we are happy to work with you as a team to provide the best possible care for your beloved family member. Don’t hesitate to contact us with questions or concerns.