After any surgical procedure requiring general anesthesia, your pet will remain hospitalized overnight, under the care of our ICU doctors and staff. In the morning, we will discuss your pet’s progress with you. At that time, we will advise whether your pet can safely be discharged, or whether continued hospital care is recommended.

Surgery was performed today. Can I visit my pet this evening?
In order to allow your pet an undisturbed recovery, there is no visiting on the night after surgery was performed. You may visit the following day, during our scheduled visiting hours (see “VISITING HOURS” below). Of course, you are welcome to call at any time, day or night, after surgery has been performed, to check on your pet’s status.

Will my pet get pain medications?
Absolutely. While here in the hospital, your pet will receive medical treatment to prevent pain. We will also send home oral medication, so that you may continue to provide pain relief for your pet at home.

Will my pet get other medications?
Commonly, antibiotics will be dispensed for you to give at home. Depending on the surgical procedure and your pet’s condition, other medications may also be dispensed or prescribed.

How long will the stitches stay in?
In most cases, the sutures will be removed two weeks postoperatively. In some cases, depending on the patient, the location of the sutures, and the progress of healing, we may advise leaving the sutures for a longer period.

Is there a risk with the anesthesia?
Even in young, healthy patients, there is a chance (fortunately, an extremely small chance) of complications relating to general anesthesia. In elderly patients or patients with severe illnesses, the risk is increased. Fortunately, with the inhalant gas anesthetic agents currently in use, and equipment to monitor the ECG, blood pressure, blood oxygenation, etc., these risks can be minimized.

During your preoperative consultation, the surgeon will discuss any anesthetic or surgical risks with you, based on our pet’s age, and disease conditions.

Will my pet go home with a bandage or a cast?
This will depend on the nature of the injury, the surgical procedure, and the age, breed, and size of your pet. The surgeon will discuss this during your preoperative consultation.

What are the visiting hours?

We encourage visiting with your hospitalized pet. However, please understand that we have many other pets in the hospital who are also being visited, and every hospitalized pet (including yours) is receiving numerous medical treatments at certain times of the day and evening. In order that visiting not interfere with the care of your pet, and other pets in the ICU, here is our policy:

• Please limit your visits to once a day per patient. All family members intending to visit should do so at the same time.
• Afternoon visits are limited to 30 minutes maximum; for evening visits, 10 minutes maximum. Less time will be permitted for critical patients. In addition, depending on the ICU caseload and number of clients visiting, we may on occasion require that all visits be 10 minutes or less.
• Visitors must call in advance, so that, depending on ICU caseload, we can determine the best time for you to visit.
• To avoid the spread of contagious diseases, visiting of isolation patients is not permitted.
• To allow your pet an undisturbed recovery from anesthesia, visiting of surgical patients during the afternoon & evening following surgery is not permitted. You may visit the following day.
• To avoid delays in patient care, visits must end at the scheduled time.