• Dear Client,

    Your pet has been scheduled for an upcoming surgery in the near future. In our attempt to assist clients, we
    have put together this packet to make surgery day as easy and stress-free as possible.

    In addition to this letter, you will find that the following information has been enclosed:

    1. Pre-Anesthetic Blood Testing Information Form (Bring in the day of surgery.)
    2. Surgical Information Form (Bring in the day of surgery.)

    Please read carefully all the enclosed information. If you have any questions, please feel free to call us. On
    your pet’s surgery day, we require you to review and sign a Surgery Consent Form and an Estimate Form,
    which allows you to choose optional services.

    We require a phone number(s) where you can be reached surgery day. Failure to be reached on the day of
    the procedure may result in postponement of the surgery.

    The night before your pet’s surgery . . .

    • Withhold all food and treats after 9:00pm.
    • Water may be left down after this time period.
    • If you are currently administering any oral or injectable medications, whether OTC or
      prescribed, please discuss with the doctor whether to give these medications on the morning of
      the surgery.

    Please make arrangements for your pet to be dropped off on the morning of the scheduled surgery, unless
    other arrangements have been made in advance. At the time of drop off, our team will be happy to answer any
    questions or concerns and collect the completed consent forms.

    Our veterinary nurse will escort your pet to the surgical prepping area to wait for their surgery. If you have
    elected any of the recommended blood tests, our nurse will collect all blood samples and tests prior to surgery.

    If any questions arise, the doctor may contact you at the number on the Surgery Consent form.

    We hope surgery day will be a pleasant experience. Remember, our team knows surgery can be an anxious
    time, and we are available to answer any and all questions concerning the upcoming procedure.

    We look forward to serving you and your pet on the upcoming surgery day and for years to come.

    Anesthetic Procedures and Risks

    We use a combination of pre-anesthetic medications/injectable and/or inhalant anesthetics to achieve optimum
    levels of anesthesia that are safe for your pet.

    For most procedures, your pet is anesthetized and then intubated (insertion of a tube into the trachea or wind
    pipe). This will ensure that your pet is able to receive oxygen at all times and prevents aspiration of any fluids
    into the lungs.

    For procedures that require minimum sedation, an injectable anesthetic is given that produces a good level
    of sedation with a quick recovery. Anesthesia is maintained with a gas anesthetic, Isoflurane, which is very
    safe and is not metabolized by the body. This allows us to have more control over anesthetic depth, and it is
    less irritating to the airways. It is a quick induction using a mask versus using injectable anesthetics that
    require metabolism by the body.

    Monitoring and Pain Management

    Monitoring of patients during anesthesia is done in two ways. First, a veterinary assistant is with your pet
    continuously from the beginning of anesthesia to recovery. Second, we have a computerized monitor that
    records heart rate, pulse rate, oxygen levels, respiration, ECG, core and rectal temperature.

    Our clinic strongly believes in compassionate, quality, medical care for our patients. As a result, all surgery
    patients will receive pain management before, during and after surgery. Additionally, pain medication may be
    prescribed to be given to the pet at home. Additional information will be given at discharge. We hope this
    program will reduce any discomfort experienced and aid in a quicker recovery.

    Intravenous Catheterization and Fluids

    We highly recommend the placement of an IV catheter and use of IV fluids during all anesthetic procedures for
    senior pets and for longer procedures. This allows us to have quick, available access to the circulatory system
    (blood) in case of an unforeseen emergency. The fluids help provide support to the circulatory system and
    prevent dehydration, as well as aid in a quicker recovery from anesthesia.

    Potential Surgical Complications

    1. Canine and Feline Spay - bleeding, infection, recurrent heat, urinary incontinence, weight gain (if food
      intake is not adjusted), and suture reactions
    2. Canine and Feline Neuter - bleeding, infection, scrotal swelling, suture reaction
    3. Feline Declaw - bleeding, infection, limping/lameness
    4. Puppy Dewclaw Removal - bleeding, infection, limping/lameness, regrowth of nail
    5. Tumor/Lump Removal - bleeding, infection, swelling and drainage, suture reaction

    It is important for you to understand that there is always a risk of anesthetic and surgical
    complications anytime these procedures are performed. We strive to take the highest quality care of
    your pet and take all the added precautions you allow to avoid potential problems. Thank you for
    entrusting your pet to us.

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  • PRE-ANESTHETIC BLOOD TESTING INFORMATION FORM

    PLEASE READ CAREFULLY

    Our greatest concern is the well being of your pet. Before putting your pet under anesthesia, we routinely
    perform a full physical examination.

    We also highly recommend and sometimes require that a Pre-Anesthetic Blood Profile be performed on all
    pet’s undergoing anesthesia to maximize patient safety. The Pre-Anesthetic Blood Profile helps alert our
    surgeon to the presence of dehydration, anemia, infection, diabetes and/or kidney or liver disease that could
    complicate the procedure. These conditions may not be detected without a pre-anesthetic profile thus not
    allowing for the most appropriate and safest anesthetic regime to be administered. These tests are similar to
    those your own physician would run if you were to undergo anesthesia. In addition, these tests may be useful if
    your pet’s health changes to develop faster, more accurate diagnoses and treatments.

    The Surgery Consent form you will sign on your pet’s surgery date will offer certain lab and microchipping
    options.

    1. Complete blood count (CBC) and Pre-Anesthetic Profile (PAP) which includes:
      • CBC: PCV (anemia), white blood cell count (infection), red blood cell count (anemia/bleeding
        disorder), platelet count (clotting disorder)
      • Profile: BUN and creatinine (kidney), ALKP and ALT (liver), glucose (sugar), total protein
        (dehydration), and albumin (nutritional status)
    2. Complete blood count (CBC) and Full Chemistry profile which includes:
      • CBC: same as above
      • Profile: elements of PAP profile plus amylase and lipase (pancreas), cholesterol, GGT (liver),
        total bilirubin (gallbladder), calcium and phosphorus (electrolytes)
    3. Heartworm test which detects heartworms in your pet and alerts you and the doctor to possible heart
      failure.
    4. FeLV/FIV test for cats only which detects Feline Leukemia and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (Feline
      AIDS). We highly recommend this test be performed on all feline patients. These are viruses for which
      no cure exists and can severely impact your cat’s health. If your pet goes outside, we recommend
      administering the Feline Leukemia vaccine as well.
    5. Microchipping can be performed at any time, but many owners prefer to have it done at the time of
      surgery. We recommend microchips for all pets even if they do not go outside on a regular basis. Even
      indoor pets can accidentally escape or wander from the home. A registered microchip allows you to be
      reunited with your pet if they are found.

    If the owner elects to decline the recommended pre-anesthetic blood tests at this time but requests that we
    proceed with the procedure, then this is indicated by NOT signing for the optional procedures. Please note
    that if the patient is in their senior years (above 8 years old) or is sick, a full blood work panel will be
    mandatory at the owner’s expense.

    We realize surgery and anesthesia are scary for both owner and patient and we attempt to make surgery day
    as safe and comfortable for all involved. The physical examination and blood work done prior to any surgical
    procedure allows us to best minimize anesthetic and surgical risks and maximize patient safety. If you have
    any questions about the scheduled procedure, please do not hesitate to call us.

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