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

 

Find practices that offer this service