Surgery/Dentistry Procedure: What to Expect

Pre-Anesthetic Blood Work:

Prior to your pet’s procedure, pre-anesthetic blood work will need to be completed. This can be done during a quick Technician Appointment, which takes about 10-15 minutes. Blood work must be completed within six weeks of the procedure date. There is no charge for the technician appointment, but the cost of the blood work will be billed at that visit. The amount will then be deducted from your final invoice on the day of the procedure.

Fasting Instructions:

For most procedures, your pet will need to be fasted beforehand.

•Food: No food after 10 p.m. the night before the procedure.

•Water: Water is fine until 5 a.m. on the day of the procedure.

If your pet has a specific medical condition or other factors that require adjustments, we will provide you with tailored fasting instructions.

Morning of the Procedure:
If possible, we recommend walking your pet the morning of the procedure. This helps ensure they have time to urinate or defecate before coming in. While we do offer walks throughout the day, it’s more comfortable for pets if they don’t need to eliminate while kenneled.

Drop-Off:
Drop-off for your pet's procedure will be between 8:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. If your pet is scheduled for a procedure with one of our specialty providers, you may receive a different drop-off time.

Please plan for the drop-off to take 15-20 minutes, during which a technician will:

Check in your pet
Ask relevant questions to help prepare for the procedure
Review the estimate and consent form with you
Address any questions or concerns you may have

We have all pets scheduled for surgery drop off at the same time in the morning to create a smoother workflow for our medical team. This allows us to efficiently check in each patient, complete necessary pre-surgical exams, and ensure we have ample time to prepare them for their procedure. By keeping drop-offs consistent, we minimize disruptions throughout the day and allow our staff to focus on providing the best possible care without interruptions from staggered arrivals.

Pick-Up:

Please note: The exact pick-up time for your pet is not guaranteed. On procedure days, we often perform multiple procedures and cannot predict the exact order of events until the morning of the procedure. We prioritize older pets and those with underlying conditions to allow for extra recovery time. Once your pet has completed the procedure and is in recovery, we will contact you to set a pick-up time. Your pet can stay with us until 5:15 p.m. if needed.

Discharge Instructions:

When picking up your pet, either a doctor or technician will review your pet’s discharge instructions with you. These instructions will be specific to the procedure your pet has undergone.