Surgery

All our practices offer a range of commonly performed surgeries. These include:

Neutering of dogs, cats and rabbits
Lump removals and biopsies
Dentistry

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: