Next >>TPLO Surgery – What to Expect
Before the Day of Surgery
It is important that your dog is healthy for anesthesia, surgery and recovery. We ask that a blood test be performed within two weeks of surgery either with your veterinarian or in our hospital the morning of surgery. Some patients may require additional diagnostic tests such as urinalysis, x-rays or ultrasound to evaluate organ function. Your veterinarian and Dr. Fetherston will arrange these tests to be performed prior to surgery.
Please discontinue any non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Rimadyl, Previcox, Metacam or Deramaxx 3 days prior to surgery. It is critical that you discontinue any aspirin that your pet may be taking 14 days prior to the surgery day. This will help to minimize unnecessary bleeding during the procedure. If you are concerned that your pet may experience pain by discontinuing these medications, please contact your veterinarian or our office for alternative pain medication. Glucosamine and omega-3 supplements may be continued without concern. If your dog takes daily medication for other conditions, please contact our office for guidance on giving the medication the day of surgery.
You may bathe and give topical flea medications prior to the day of surgery. Your dog will not be allowed to get wet for two weeks after surgery.
All surgery patients must be fasted prior to anesthesia to minimize potential complications. Please feed your dog a normal dinner the night before surgery and then withhold food and water after 10 pm.
Admission
Patients are admitted to the hospital at 8 am the day of surgery. A surgery nurse will assist you with the process and you will meet with Dr. Fetherston and have any questions or concerns addressed. An estimate for services and fees will be provided and payment is required the day of surgery. Please bring any medications your dog is taking, and any information your veterinarian has provided such as medical records or x-rays. Personal items to make your dog more comfortable such as bedding or special toys may be brought the day of surgery.
Surgery and Recovery
Once your dog has been admitted to the hospital they will be evaluated and given pre-anesthetic medications for pain and relaxation until general anesthesia is administered. Under general anesthesia your pet will be prepped for surgery, which includes the placement of an intravenous catheter, shaving the surgical site, and placement of epidural anesthesia. If required, pre-operative x-rays will be obtained for surgical planning. When the procedure is completed your pet will be moved to the recovery area and monitored by a surgical nurse. The surgical nurse or Dr. Fetherston will contact you and update you on your pet’s progress and confirm your discharge appointment.
Discharge
Most surgical patients will be discharged the day of surgery to recover at home under your care and where they are most comfortable. A discharge appointment is set up at the time of admission and is typically between 5:30 - 6 pm. When you arrive for your discharge appointment, a surgical nurse will walk you through your printed discharge forms, review medication instructions, and plan follow-up care. Dr. Fetherston will then explain the details of the procedure and answer any questions or concerns. You will be able to contact Dr. Fetherston directly by phone overnight if concerns or complications arise. You will also be provided with 24 hour emergency hospital contact information should your pet require special care. Some patients are hospitalized overnight in our hospital and discharged the next day. In this case your pet is closely monitored by our night nurse who has contact with Dr. Fetherston and the on-call veterinarian in the practice.
Please see the attached sample post-operative surgical aftercare sheet for more information regarding aftercare, exercise restriction, prognosis and rehabilitation.
Following Surgery
We usually see your pet back at the hospital at 2 weeks for evaluation and suture/staple removal if required, and at 8 weeks to evaluate progress and take x-rays to evaluate bone healing. These appointments can be scheduled by the front desk staff or nurses at your convenience. If at any time you have questions or concerns about your pet, please contact us as soon as possible. If you are traveling from the coast, we can arrange to have these follow-up visits performed by your veterinarian or by Dr. Fetherston as part of his mobile practice to minimize travel time for you and your pet.
Scott Fetherston, DVM
