Hearing that your pet needs surgery can be scary, but knowledge can decrease the fear and anxiety you may feel. Below, our team at Oak Grove Veterinary Hospital provides answers to some of the most common questions to help.
How safe is anesthesia for my pet?
In general, anesthesia is safe for pets thanks to modern medicine. To be as safe as possible, your pet will be given a thorough examination, and anesthesia will be administered based on its health, size, and age. Additionally, your pet will be monitored to ensure utmost safety.
Why can't my pet eat before its procedure/surgery?
This is simply for their own safety. Having food in their stomach can increase the chance of vomiting while under anesthesia, which could cause complications and damage to the lungs if the food comes back up.
Is there any risk for my pet?
Every procedure/surgery can pose some level of risk, but our team works hard to reduce this risk as much as possible. Generally, the risk of most procedures is low. However, this risk can increase in pets over 12 years old, those that weigh less than 10 lbs, if they have to receive emergency anesthesia, or if they are sick. We will talk you through the potential risks and work with you to ensure the safest possible outcome.
Will my pet have to stay overnight?
It depends on the type of procedure they are receiving. Many procedures can be provided as outpatient procedures, such as dental work, skin mass removal, spaying and neutering, and eye surgery. However, others, such as abdominal surgery, heart surgery, or lung surgery, will typically require an overnight stay. Keep in mind, though, that this depends on several factors. For some pets, even the less complex surgeries might require overnight supervision.
Will my pet be given pain medicine?
Just because pets don’t always show pain doesn’t mean they don’t feel it. And having pet surgery can certainly lead to pain. Therefore, pets are given pain medication according to their needs, health, and size to help reduce that pain as much as possible.
Call Our Veterinarian in San Jose, CA
Call Oak Grove Veterinary Hospital today at (408) 227-1661 or reach us through our website by using our online contact form.