Surgical FAQs

Many people have questions about various aspects of their pet’s surgery. We hope this information will help. It also explains the decisions you will need to make before your pet’s upcoming surgery.

Is the anesthetic safe?

At Stonebrook Family Pet Clinic, we prioritize your pet's safety during surgery through modern anesthetic monitoring. Before administering anesthetics, a comprehensive physical examination is conducted to assess your pet's health status and prevent complications related to fever or illness. We customize the anesthetic dosage and type based on your pet's health condition.

To reduce risks, pre-anesthetic bloodwork is vital. These tests evaluate your pet's liver and kidney functionality, which is essential for handling anesthesia. Even seemingly healthy pets may have undetectable issues that could impact anesthesia. Identifying problems before surgery minimizes potential complications.

It is important that surgery be done on an empty stomach to reduce the risk of vomiting during and after anesthesia. You will need to withhold food for at least 8 to 10 hours before surgery. Water can be left down for the pet until the morning of surgery.

Will my pet have stitches?

Most surgeries do require skin stitches. You will need to keep an eye on the incision for swelling or discharge. Most dogs and cats do not lick excessively or chew at the incision, but this is an occasional problem you will also need to watch for. If there are skin sutures, these will usually be removed 10 to 14 days after surgery. You will also need to limit your pet’s activity level for a time and no baths are allowed for the first 10 days after surgery.

Will my pet be in pain? What other decisions do I need to make?

While your pet is under anesthesia, it is the ideal time to perform other quick and safe procedures, such as dentistry, ear cleaning, or implanting an identification microchip. If you would like an estimate for these extra services, please call ahead of time. This is especially important if the person dropping the pet off for surgery is not the primary decision maker for the pet’s care.

When you bring your pet in for surgery, we will need 5 to 10 minutes of time to fill out paperwork and schedule a discharge time. When you pick up your pet after surgery you can also plan to spend about 10 minutes to go over your pet’s home care needs.

We will call you the night before your scheduled surgery appointment, to confirm the time you will be dropping your pet off and to answer any questions you might have. In the meantime, please don’t hesitate to contact us regarding any questions about your pet’s health or surgery.