When Your Pet Needs Specialty Surgery
When referral for surgery is elected, your referring veterinarian may call ahead to speak with one of our surgeons to discuss your pet’s condition and to make arrangements for your referral.  Our hours of operation are 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, with new consultations held during the morning hours and surgeries typically scheduled in the afternoons.

What is a veterinary specialty surgeon?
Veterinarians who have successfully completed a residency over several years, and have met the certification requirements of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) are considered Diplomates. These requirements include intensive training under the supervision of current ACVS diplomates and passing a rigorous multi-day exam. Upon completion of this program, this veterinarian is truly considered a specialist in surgery.

Your Initial Visit to VESCONE
Please allow at least 1 hour for the initial consultation; depending on the day’s schedule extra time may be required to perform any additional diagnostics as elected.  Your pet should not eat the morning of the initial consultation in the event that lab work or sedation is needed.  Following registration your pet will be weighed and a surgical liaison or nurse will obtain a brief history and perform an initial check of your pet’s vital signs prior to your consultation with the doctor.  A diagnostic and surgical plan will be discussed along with expected costs and hospitalization plan.  Surgery is usually scheduled for a future date; however, some patients may have same-day surgery depending on the surgeon’s schedule or your pet’s condition. Please make certain to ask the surgeon or surgical liaison if you have any additional questions. All of the VESCONE Surgery staff should also be able to answer most of your questions.

What do I need to bring or do before my appointment with the surgeon?
Please have your regular veterinarian send all pertinent medical records to our Surgery Department either by fax (add fax #) or on our online referral form (add web link#) before your appointment. If you have radiographs, you can bring this with you at the time of the appointment. We can also call your regular veterinarian to arrange for your records to be transferred, just ask.

The Cost of Care
It is not always possible to accurately predict the outcome and associated costs of care and hospitalization.  Estimates will be provided and every attempt to adhere to these will be made.  We will try to inform you beforehand of any additional or projected costs if the estimate may be exceeded. We do not offer a billing service.  Options for payment include cash, credit card (American Express, VISA, MC, Discover, Care Credit), and checks drawn on a local bank.  Recheck appointments for radiographs, bandage changes, blood tests, etc. will usually incur additional charges.
 
What if my pet needs emergency surgery?
We have surgeons on call after regular business hours, weekends, and holidays to meet any need that you may have for emergency surgery.

Should I feed my pet before surgery?
Adult animals should have their food and water taken away after 12 a.m. the night before surgery. For very young animals, we will give you special instructions. Your pet will be offered food the evening after surgery; if he or she is not nauseous from the anesthesia. Your pet should not be fed the morning of the appointment since surgery may be scheduled for that afternoon, if possible. 

Do I need to bathe my pet before any surgery?
Bathing is not necessary. However, if your pet has excessive dirt on his/her coat, it’s a good idea to give him/her a bath before surgery. While your pet’s sutures are healing for 2 weeks, it is not recommended that any baths be given. It will be at least 2 weeks after surgery before your pet should be bathed again

What time should I arrive at the hospital to bring my pet for surgery?
Surgery patients are admitted to the hospital between 7:30 & 8:00 a.m. Please walk your dog the morning of the surgery, before you come in.

When during the day will my pet’s surgery be performed and how soon after the surgery is over will I receive a call updating me on my pet’s progress?
We perform scheduled surgery from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m., 5 days a week, unless an emergency procedure needs to be done immediately. One of our surgeons will contact you as soon as they are done with the surgery on your pet. We will contact you immediately if there are any issues during the procedure. After the procedure is over, your pet will be transferred to our ICU. We give regular updates after 10a.m. daily, and you may call us anytime day or night for an update.

How will my pet handle the anesthesia?
Our goal is to use the best and safest drugs and protocols when performing anesthesia. Today’s anesthesia monitors are much safer and more accurate than those of the past. Each pet receives a tailored anesthetic protocol that takes into account any underlying medical issues they may have. We will also make sure to control your pet’s pain, with an appropriate protocol of medications for both intra and post operative pain. All of our patient receive an IV catheter and fluids during surgery as well as being closely monitored via an EKG, blood pressure and pulse oximetry. Our anesthesia team is lead by a nursing specialist certified in anesthesia for your pet’s safe and successful anesthesia and the most painless recovery possible.

Will my pet be in pain after surgery?
Pain can be felt most during the first few hours after the surgery is done. There are many options for providing excellent pain control at VESCONE. We offer the latest in medications, local nerve blocks, epidurals, and constant rate infusions to make sure pain is managed before it occurs, before your pet wakes up. Our anesthesia certified nurse will design a protocol that best fits your pet’s needs based on age, breed and the procedure to be performed. All of our patients will go home with an oral pain control medication.

How will I know what to do when I am home with my pet? What if he has any problems?
We will review all of our discharge instructions with you when you come to pick up your pet. This is usually within 24 hrs after the surgery is completed. Some patients need to stay longer, and we will update you on their progress daily if this is to occur. You may call us after 10a.m. the following day to discuss when your pet can go home. It is at this time that a scheduled discharge appointment can be set up. Please call if you have any questions at any time. We will try to answer any questions by phone, but you also may be asked to bring your pet back in for a recheck exam to make sure your pet is recovering as he should.

When can I take my pet for a long walk or play with them?
This depends on the type of surgery your pet has had performed. We will review all of this on your discharge instructions.

Will my pet have stitches?
Most surgeries will require skin sutures which will have to be removed—whether they are staples or suture material such as nylon. With either type of suture, you will need to keep an eye on the incision for swelling or discharge.  Most dogs and cats do not lick excessively or chew at the incision, but this is an occasional problem you will also need to watch for. Some animals need a plastic collar to keep them away from their incisions. The skin sutures will usually be removed 10 to 14 days after surgery.