Pre-Anaesthetic instructions

Your pets safety is important to us so please read the following carefully. 

Cats and Dogs

Please DO NOT give any food or treats to your pet from 11pm the night before the procedure. Water however may be offered right up until they come in. This ensures that you pet is suitably starved/prepared for their anaesthetic or sedation. If your pet has not been suitably starved this can cause complications with the anaesthetic. 

If your pet is on any medication it is likely they are still able to take them at the normal time but please speak to our reception team if these medications need to be taken with food or your pet is diabetic.

Please keep your cat indoors from the night before this will prevent them from helping themselves to food they may find outside of the house and will make it easier for you to get them ready for their visit.

Dogs should be allowed access to an outdoor space so that they are able to toilet before their visit.

Please bring a meal labelled with your pets name for us to offer your pet once it is safe to do so.

Please do inform us if you believe there is a possibility that your pet has eaten.

Small Mammals

Rabbits, guinea pigs and rats DO NOT need to be starved overnight for any procedures. Therefore they should be fed and watered as normal. Ferrets should have food removed the morning of the surgery. Please bring in some food for us to provide before and after the procedure. 

Admitting your pet

Please bring your pet into the practice for your allotted time (usually between 8:30-9:00am) on the day of their procedure. You will have the opportunity to discuss any questions you may have with the vet at this time. If this time or date is no longer suitable for you or your pet then please do not hesitate to call the practice to have this rearranged.

Please advise the vet if your pet is on any medications and when they last had them. 

Standard of care

An intravenous catheter will be placed in all patients to ensure we are able to give any medications or fluids. In order to assure that the anaesthetic or sedation is as safe as possible in some cases a pre-operative blood test will be taken to assess the 

function of your pet’s liver and kidneys. This is important as these organs play a vital role in metabolising and excreting the drugs used, should the blood test not be satisfactory we may delay your pet’s procedure. Intravenous fluids are also 

encouraged to help assist these organs, maintain blood pressure and keep your pet hydrated during their procedure.  Routine dog procedures (neutering) will also have a lung worm test taken, lung worm affects the clotting factors of the patient and can therefore complicate the recovery. Please call the practice if you have any questions regarding these tests or the price of them as for some procedures these are already included in the price. 

Your pet will be monitored closely before, during and after the procedure. Whilst anaesthetics carry a degree of risk please be assured that we take every precaution to ensure your pets safety. 

Collecting your pet 

We ask that you call the practice between 3-4pm to see how your pet is recovering, at this time we will be able to advise on the best time to collect. Collection times are usually between 6 and 7pm. You will have a discussion with a vet or a registered nurse who will advise you on your pets after care at home and arrange any post-operative checks that may be required. 

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to call us on 01634 854411.