Operation Procedure
Your pet has been admitted this morning to have a procedure carried out and will need to stay with us for the whole day. We will let you know when he/she is ready to be collected but generally this is late afternoon.
Dogs are kennelled and given a bed and water and taken out regularly throughout the day for toileting and to stretch their legs. Cats are put in a separate, quiet, ward to avoid stress and are also given a bed, water and litter tray. There is a nurse looking after the wards all day, monitoring drips, anaesthetic wake-ups and medication and generally keeping an eye on patients. The nurse will talk to your pets and make sure they are calm, comfortable and have clean kennels.
A Vet will assess each case individually after admission and any pre-anaesthetic blood tests are taken and appropriate fluid therapy instigated. The Vet will then decide what pre-anaesthetic sedatives and other drugs need to be given appropriate to the individual animal and procedure.
The order of the cases for the day is then decided, (the operating list). This process is very dependent on all patients being in the surgery, ready for assessment, at the start of the day. You should be aware that we book sufficient procedures to fill the whole working day (0800-1800 for elective surgery). The following considerations also apply:
• The urgency of the case
• The type of procedure that is to be performed
• Type of operation - 'clean' (orthopaedic, neutering) or 'dirty' (dentals, abscesses) - 'clean' procedures are
completed before 'dirty'
The order of the list is liable to change, as any emergency admission will take priority. It is inevitable in this situation that routine cases are delayed until later and we do understand that this sometimes causes frustration, especially when you are waiting and worrying about your pet. Please be patient and be reassured that your pet is being well cared for. We know you are sympathetic and would want your pet to be treated urgently if critically ill. While we do allow for emergencies when making bookings, they are by nature, unpredictable.
It is very important that we be able to contact you throughout the day as we will endeavour to keep you informed and we may need to discuss your pet's condition or treatment with you. We will update you on their progress and let you know when he/she is ready to return home. Please refrain from 'phoning if you possibly can - time spent answering your call will only delay completion of the operations and procedures. Do pass on to Reception any change in contact details or if you will be delayed in picking up your pet.
We understand that you will be anxious about your pet and/or have other claims on your time, children/work/social life(!) etc., but please be aware that in putting pressure on the veterinary staff to meet your particular schedule, you would disadvantage other patients, clients and staff.