Spay and Neuter Procedures at Livermore Family Pet Hospital
At Livermore Family Pet Hospital, your pet’s spay or neuter preparation starts before they are checked in for surgery. In most cases, preoperative blood work is performed, and medications to keep them calm and comfortable are provided in advance of their surgery date. Pre-operative instructions and reminders are provided to ensure everything goes smoothly when you bring your pet to their surgery appointment.
Every patient that we spay or neuter is welcomed by an experienced, Fear Free certified Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) that will be caring for them for the day. When your pet is admitted to the hospital, their veterinarian will perform a pre-operative physical exam to confirm there are no obvious concerns that would cause concern for anesthesia or for surgery.
Pre-Operation Protocols
Before your pet can be placed under anesthesia for surgery, they will receive additional pre-medications, including pain medication, as instructed by their veterinarian. This allows for the RVT to place an IV catheter with minimal stress to your pet, begin IV fluids, and measure for the appropriate endotracheal tube. The RVT then gives them an injection that anesthetizes them, which will be maintained with a gas anesthesia mixed with oxygen.
Monitoring equipment is then placed, including ECG, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, carbon dioxide monitoring, respiration rate, and temperature. IV fluids are continued throughout surgery and a heated water bed and heated air blanket keep your pet warm. Your pet’s surgical site is then shaved and aseptically prepped before moving them into the disinfected surgical suite, where they receive a local numbing agent where the incision will be, and then the area is aseptically prepped one more time. Sterilized drapes and surgical instruments, gloves, and gowns are set out for the surgeon.
The surgeon then dons a cap and mask and scrubs up to the elbows for surgery with a special scrub. They then don a surgical gown and gloves, drape your pet with sterile drapes, and then perform the spay or neuter procedure while a RVT and/or trained veterinary assistant constantly monitors all your pet’s vital signs, ensuring they are safe under anesthesia.
Post-Operation Protocols
Once surgery is complete, your pet will receive cold laser therapy to speed healing and decrease pain and inflammation, and is cleaned up and monitored until they are able to swallow and it is safe to remove the endotracheal tube that protects their airway. They are then placed on an insulated pad with blankets and warm air, and their temperature, pain level, and recovery is monitored while they continue to get IV fluids.
Before they are discharged to you, their temperature and pain level are checked again, and their catheter is removed and a bandage is placed, and an Elizabethan collar (cone) is placed, unless you have provided an acceptable alternative such as a surgical suit or blow-up collar. When you arrive to take your pet home, we go over and provide you with discharge instructions, go over medications, and when your pet will need them, and any concerns to watch out for at home. If you need a recheck appointment, we will get that scheduled for you before you leave.