Surgery

When your pet needs surgery, your pet will be treated as if they are our own at Veterinary Services in Chapel Hill. Our surgical suite is equipped with modern patient monitoring equipment and fluid pumps. Prior to surgery, we will discuss the anticipated surgery with you and answer all of your questions.

Surgeries for pets performed at Veterinary Services include, but are not limited to:

• Spay
• Neuter
• Growth removal or tumor biopsy
• Laceration repair
• Urinary bladder surgery & stone removal
• Abdominal exploratory surgery
• Oral surgery (tooth extractions)
• Cesarean section
• Emergency surgery (e.g. foreign object retrieval, wound repair, others as needed)

What to Expect:

Pre-Surgical Care

Before surgery, your pet will be examined by one of our veterinarians. We may recommend blood tests before any anesthesia is administered to your pet to confirm that your pet’s liver, heart, and kidneys are functioning properly and that your pet is a good candidate for anesthesia. Anesthetics will be individually selected for your pet. Your pet will be given a sedative and pain medication if needed.

Prior to induction of anesthesia, an IV catheter is placed in every patient. This allows us to administer warm IV fluids throughout anesthesia, which helps maintain patient hydration and ideal blood volume. The catheter also ensures safety by providing immediate IV access in the unlikely event of an emergency situation.

During Surgery

During surgery, we have a medically-trained staff member kmonitoring your pet’s vital signs, including blood pressure, heart activity including heart rate and rhythm (EKG), respiratory functions, body temperature, and oxygen levels.

After Surgery

Your pet will be monitored by a medically-trained staff member until they are fully awake after surgery. Warm blankets will keep your pet comfortable throughout the recovery process. Pain medication will be given if needed.

Upon discharge, we will discuss the surgery with you and one of our staff members will explain everything you need to know about caring for your pet at home. Within a few days, we will call to see how your pet is recovering. Please do not hesitate to call us if you have any questions or concerns.