Surgery
All our practices offer a range of commonly performed surgeries. These include:
Surgery is performed under general anaesthetic. The combination of drugs used is tailored to each individual pet, but always includes a light sedative before surgery and plenty of pain relief.
We will usually want to see your pet for a pre-surgical check, to ensure they are fit and well ahead of surgery and to answer any questions you may have about the procedure.
- Most surgeries require your pet to be admitted for the day but do not involve an overnight stay
- Pets may need to be starved prior to surgery; this will vary depending on the species so please follow your practice’s instructions. Your pet will be offered food once the wake up
- Procedures are planned throughout the day to best fit with the patient’s needs and procedure requirements, but please expect your pet to be with us for most of the day
- It is not usually possible to provide an exact time your pet’s procedure will be performed, however it is often possible to confirm a time for collection on arrival
- The team will keep you updated on progress throughout the day
Complex Procedures
Although all vets can perform surgery, some more complex procedures are only performed by vets with a higher level of training. This may be a vet with a particular interest in that surgery or species, a vet who has undertaken a certificate in surgery (often gaining Advanced Practitioner status), or a recognised specialist. Depending on your practice, and the procedure, this may simply require that surgery is booked at a particular branch or with a specific vet.
Sometimes, your vet may recommend referring you to a more qualified colleague in a nearby practice, or to a specialist referral centre. This is most common for:
- Advanced orthopaedics (such as fracture repair or cruciate disease)
- Complex tumour removals
- Surgeries involving the chest cavity, liver or urinary tract
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