Is Anesthesia Safe for My Pet?

Modern veterinary anesthesia is highly safe due to advanced monitoring technology and tailored protocols. We take the following steps to ensure your pet’s safety:

• Pre-Surgery Evaluation: A comprehensive physical exam is performed to detect any underlying conditions, such as fever or illness, that could affect anesthesia.
• Customized Anesthetic Plans: The type and dosage of anesthetic are adjusted based on your pet’s health, age, and condition to minimize risks.
• Preanesthetic Blood Testing: Essential for all pets, this test evaluates liver and kidney function, as these organs process anesthetics. Hidden issues can be identified to prevent complications. For example:
• Minor organ dysfunction may require IV fluids during surgery.
• Serious issues may lead to postponing surgery until resolved.
• Advanced Monitoring: State-of-the-art equipment tracks vital signs throughout the procedure, allowing immediate response to any concerns.

Fasting (no food for 8–10 hours, water allowed until the morning of surgery) reduces the risk of vomiting during anesthesia. For geriatric or ill pets, additional tests like electrocardiograms or X-rays may be recommended to further ensure safety. While anesthesia risks cannot be entirely eliminated, these measures significantly enhance your pet’s safety.

Why Is Blood Testing Necessary Before Surgery?

A preanesthetic blood panel is required to assess liver and kidney function, as these organs are critical for metabolizing and excreting anesthetic drugs. Even healthy-looking pets may have undetected organ issues that could complicate surgery. Identifying these problems early allows us to adjust protocols, such as administering IV fluids or delaying surgery, to ensure a safer procedure.

When Should My Dog Have Their First Bowel Movement After Surgery?

It’s normal for dogs to not have a bowel movement for 2–4 days post-surgery due to:

• Pre-surgery fasting.
• Reduced appetite during hospitalization or at home.
• Highly digestible diets producing less stool.
• Pain medications (e.g., morphine, fentanyl, or tramadol) that can cause constipation.

Action: Monitor your dog’s bowel movements. If none occur after 4 days, contact your veterinarian. Encourage eating and drinking to support normal digestion.

My Pet Isn’t Eating After Surgery. What Can I Do?

For Dogs:

• Diet Suggestions:
• Offer a cooked 1:1 ratio of low-fat protein (e.g., chicken breast, turkey, lean hamburger) and carbohydrate (e.g., pasta, potato, white rice). Drain all fat after cooking.
• Try canned dog food, enhanced with a pinch of garlic powder or chicken/beef broth (e.g., Chicken-in-a-Mug™ or Beef-in-a-Mug™).
• Offer Gerber strained meats (chicken, beef, turkey, or veal) or Hill’s A/D diet (available at veterinary clinics).
• Feeding Tips:
• Hand-feed small amounts to encourage eating.
• Warm food slightly in the microwave (stir and check temperature to ensure it’s lukewarm) to enhance aroma.
• Note: Most dogs don’t eat for 1–2 days post-surgery, which is normal.

For Cats:

• Diet Suggestions:
• Offer smelly foods like tuna or fish-based cat food.
• Try Gerber strained meats (chicken, beef, turkey, or veal).
• If your cat prefers kibble, offer their usual dry food.
• Feeding Tips:
• Hand-feed by placing small amounts of soft food on the roof of their mouth with a finger or syringe.
• Warm food slightly (stir and check for lukewarm temperature) to make it more appealing.
• Petting and stroking can stimulate appetite.
• Important: If your cat refuses food for 7 days, contact your veterinarian immediately, as a feeding tube may be needed to prevent hepatic lipidosis (a serious liver condition). Appetite stimulants like cyproheptadine may help.

My Pet Is Vomiting After Surgery. What Should I Do?

Vomiting vs. Regurgitation:

• Vomiting: Involves abdominal heaving/retching before expelling food or fluid.
• Regurgitation: Passive expulsion of fluid or food without heaving, often clear or brown.

Causes and Treatment of Vomiting:

• Excessive Water Intake: Pets may drink too much water post-surgery and vomit. Offer small, frequent amounts of water instead.
• Medications: Antibiotics, narcotics, or anti-inflammatories may cause vomiting. Administer medications 2 hours apart to identify the culprit. Your veterinarian may switch or discontinue the offending drug.
• Anesthesia-Related Upset: Stomach irritation from anesthesia typically resolves within 1–2 days.
• Serious Concerns: Persistent vomiting beyond 24 hours may indicate organ failure or, in abdominal surgeries, peritonitis (abdominal infection). Contact your veterinarian immediately.
• Treatment: Withhold food for 12–24 hours, then introduce bland food (e.g., rice and lean hamburger). Gradually return to a regular diet over 3 days if no vomiting occurs. Anti-vomiting medications like Cerenia or Metoclopramide may be prescribed. Always consult your veterinarian before giving medication.

Causes and Treatment of Regurgitation:

• Esophagitis: Acid reflux during anesthesia can irritate the esophagus, causing poor motility and regurgitation. This usually resolves in 2–3 days.
• Esophageal Strictures: Severe esophagitis may cause narrowing of the esophagus, leading to persistent regurgitation. Contact your veterinarian if regurgitation lasts beyond a week, as endoscopic ballooning or surgery may be needed.
• Treatment: Feed bland food and administer a coating agent (e.g., sucralfate) and an acid blocker (e.g., omeprazole). Consult your veterinarian if regurgitation persists.

How Can I Tell If My Pet Is in Pain After Surgery?

Dogs:

• Crying or whining.
• Biting when the surgical site is touched.
• Grimacing (lips pulled back, anxious look).
• Tragic facial expression.
• Panting or restlessness (pacing, unable to sleep).
• Reluctance to lie on the incision site or frequent sitting despite fatigue (for abdominal surgeries).

Cats:

• Biting when the surgical site is approached.
• Growling or deep crying.
• Refusing to eat.
• Hiding or avoiding interaction (note: this may also reflect stress from hospitalization).
• Subtle signs, as cats rarely vocalize pain.

How Can I Manage My Pet’s Pain at Home?

Dogs:

• Medications:
• Narcotics: Tramadol, butorphanol, or fentanyl patches (Duragesic).
• Anti-inflammatories: Deramaxx, Rimadyl, Previcox, or Etogesic.
• Cold Packing: Apply a cold pack (e.g., frozen peas, crushed ice in a Ziploc, or frozen water in a Styrofoam cup with the bottom removed) to the surgical site with a thin barrier. Rub ice in a circular pattern to numb the area. This is especially helpful for orthopedic surgeries.
• Note: Pain is most intense 2–3 days post-surgery. Oral anti-inflammatories ($10–$15 based on dog size) may be recommended for several days.

Cats:

• Medications:
• Pain relief options include buprenorphine or fentanyl patches. A pain injection is given 10 minutes before surgery, with additional medication provided as needed.
• Warning: Never give cats Tylenol, aspirin, or ibuprofen, as these are toxic due to limited liver enzymes (glutathione).
• Anti-inflammatories may be used at lower doses than for dogs.
• Note: Pain management is tailored to the surgery type, with major procedures requiring more relief than minor ones.

Is It Okay for My Pet to Lick the Incision?

Licking can delay healing, remove stitches, open the incision, cause infection, or become a habit. Signs of licking include red or excoriated skin, often noticed at night when unsupervised.

Prevention Methods:

• Elizabethan Collar: Prevents licking but not scratching.
• Cervical Collar (Bite-Not Collar): Less cumbersome and effective for stopping licking.
• T-Shirt: Covers chest or front abdominal incisions; gather and secure with an elastic band.
• Bandage or Sock: Covers limb incisions; secure with tape.
• Topical Deterrents: Apply Bitter Apple or a 2:1 mix of Bitter Apple and Liquid Heet™ around the incision (avoid the wound itself). Some dogs may still lick.
• Antipsychotic Medication: Rarely needed for severe licking habits.

Will My Pet Have Stitches?

• Absorbable Sutures: Used under the skin for many surgeries, these dissolve naturally and don’t require removal.
• Skin Sutures: Used for some procedures (e.g., tumor removals) and are removed 10–14 days post-surgery.
• Care Instructions:
• Monitor the incision for swelling or discharge.
• Prevent excessive licking or chewing, as this can cause complications.
• Limit activity and avoid baths for 10 days post-surgery.

Will My Pet Be in Pain?

Pets feel pain from surgeries just as humans do, though they may not show it overtly (e.g., whining is rare). Pain levels depend on the procedure, with major surgeries requiring more relief than minor ones. We provide:

• Dogs: A pain injection before surgery, oral anti-inflammatories post-surgery, and narcotic patches or injectables for some cases.
• Cats: A pre-surgery pain injection, with additional medications (e.g., buprenorphine, fentanyl patches) as needed. Recent advances allow better pain control for cats.

Providing appropriate pain relief is a compassionate priority for your pet’s recovery