At Westport Vets we carry out many different surgical procedures on a daily basis, from routine neutering to dental procedures, orthopaedic operations and emergency surgeries.
We are well equipped with:
- Large prep room
- Separate operating theatre
- Diagnostic room where digital x-rays and ultrasound examinations are performed
- Modern dental equipment and a dental table
- Digital dental x-ray
- Up to date anaesthetic facilities suitable for all shapes and sizes of patients
- Orthopaedic expertise and specialist orthopaedic equipment
What happens on the day of my pets operation?
Your pet will be admitted to the surgery in the morning, via an appointment with one of the vets or nurses. There will be a consent form to read through and sign and we ask that you leave contact numbers on which you can be contacted throughout the day.
Most dogs and cats will have had food withheld since the previous evening in preparation for sedation or anaesthetic, however this is not the case for small mammals (rabbits, guinea pigs etc) or for certain procedures so if you are in any doubt please contact the surgery.
On admission your pet will be settled into the kennels/ cattery with a comfortable bed. If they have a favourite toy or blanket you may bring this with them as familiar smells can be comforting in the hospital environment. Before the procedure begins your pet will have a physical examination and may have a blood sample taken. This can be run in-house on our laboratory equipment and helps to give information about liver and kidney health, prior to administering sedation or anaesthetic.
If having a sedation, the sedative drugs will be administered immediately prior to the procedure, while patients undergoing a general anaesthetic with be given a premedication injection around 20 minutes before the procedure. This provides pain relief and relaxes your pet, resulting in a smoother anaesthetic period. A intravenous catheter is placed and induction anaesthetic is administered via this route. A tube is then passed into the airway allowing delivery of anaesthetic gas and oxygen throughout the procedure. During every sedation or anaesthetic your pet will be closely monitored by our qualified nursing team.
If your pet is having a surgical procedure there will be an area of hair clipped around the surgical site. This allows sterile preparation of the area and minimises the incidence of postoperative wound complications. Stitches may be placed under, within or on the skin surface depending on the nature of the surgery and in some cases a surgical drain may be required. After the procedure is completed your pet will be recovered from the anaesthetic in the comfort of their own kennel, whilst being monitored closely by our nursing team. When appropriate, dogs will be taken outside to toilet, cats given a litter tray and all patients will be offered food and water.
A discharge appointment with a vet or nurse will be arranged when your pet is ready to go home. At this appointment we will discuss clinical findings, care of the surgical wound, postoperative feeding, exercise and medications, and will arrange follow up appointments as required. Most pets will be discharged in the afternoon or evening on the day of the procedure. Overnight care can be arranged if required, however with access to the latest anaesthetics and pain-relief options this is rarely necessary.
