Surgical information
Preparing for your pet's operation
Clear pre-operative, fasting and aftercare guidance, so you and your pet know exactly what to expect.
Before the operation
This information is to help you and your pet prepare for an anaesthetic or surgical procedure. If your pet is scheduled for an anaesthetic or sedation, please read the following.
Where possible, one of our nurses will email you a day or two before admission with information, an estimate and our consent form. An admission appointment will be made for the morning of the procedure.
Dogs and cats
- Your dog or cat must be fasted: in most cases, remove all food (including treats) by 10pm the night before admission. Young puppies and some breeds will have different instructions.
- Your pet should have access to water overnight and in the morning.
- Keep cats indoors with a litter tray the night before, so they haven't been hunting overnight.
- Take your dog for a short walk on the morning of admission so they can empty their bladder and bowels.
- Please bring dogs in clean and dry for any surgical procedure.
- If your pet has been unwell or their condition has got worse before admission, please let us know.
- At your admission appointment a friendly nurse will go through the consent form, discuss the procedure, answer your questions and confirm your contact details for the day.
Rabbits and small mammals
- Make sure food and water are available at all times before admission. It helps if you bring some of your pet's favourite food on the day.
- If your pet has been unwell or their condition has got worse before admission, please let us know.
- At your admission appointment a nurse will go through the consent form, discuss the procedure, answer your questions and confirm your contact details.
Anaesthetics
Your pet may be having a sedation or an anaesthetic. All anaesthetics and sedations carry a small risk, which is higher in very old, very young or ill patients, and it is the surgeon's and anaesthetist's job to minimise it. A pre-operative blood test helps the surgeon assess important organs such as the liver and kidneys and can pick up early signs of disease such as diabetes. It is useful for any pet, and we especially recommend it for patients over eight years of age. It can be done on the morning of the procedure.
Fasting guide
Cats & dogs
Food away by 10pm
Patients must be fasted the night before a sedation or general anaesthetic unless our vets or nurses say otherwise. Water is fine overnight. If your pet is normally fed in the morning, give a small meal or snack the night before.
Small mammals
Don't fast rabbits
Fasting can cause complications for rabbits, so please bring their normal food and favourite treats to encourage a normal appetite before and after. The same goes for rats, mice, gerbils and hamsters. Guinea pigs, chinchillas and ferrets should have food removed first thing on the morning of the procedure.
After the operation
Coats or collars
After surgery your pet may need something to stop them licking their wound and stitches. We recommend post-op coats after many operations, as they are very well tolerated. Sometimes a plastic collar is the better option; we'll discuss this at your admission appointment.
Going home
We will normally arrange a discharge time when we admit your pet. If not, please call the surgery on 01856 872859 after 2.30pm to confirm a time.
At discharge the vet or nurse will explain how your pet has been during their stay, give you information about the procedure, any wound, feeding, exercise or medication advice, and let you know when the next check-up is due. Written care instructions are provided too.
Will my pet stay overnight? Wherever possible your pet will go home the same day. Sometimes they need to stay overnight, especially if more treatment is needed; the vet on call then looks after them. Where possible we always discuss this with you before admission.