Surgery / FAQ

BELMONT ANIMAL HOSPITAL offers a variety of soft tissue and orthopedic procedures. Each surgical case is considered individually. We perform a thorough physical exam, collect and assess bloodwork, and review the medical history prior to each procedure so that we may tailor the anesthesia plan for your pet.

Surgery FAQ

Is the anesthetic safe?

Anesthetics used by the veterinarians at Belmont Animal Hospital are based on years of research in human and veterinary medicine. We only use the most up to date anesthetic techniques. We also use the latest in monitoring technology. While under anesthesia, our surgical technicians monitor your pet’s ECG, oxygen levels, blood pressure, temperature, heart rate, and respiratory patterns. Patients’ anesthesia protocol is adjusted based on that individual patient and what is best for them.

Do I need to feed my pet prior to surgery? Won’t he be hungry?

Please do not feed your pet after midnight the night before surgery to reduce the risk of vomiting during and after anesthesia. Water does not need to be withheld. Most patients will be hungry when they get home but it could take 24 hours for normal appetite to return. Be sure to only feed approximately 1/3 of your pet’s normal meal the night after surgery. You can resume normal feedings the day after surgery.

Will my pet have stitches?

For some surgeries, we use absorbable sutures underneath the skin that will dissolve and do not need to be removed. Other surgeries require skin sutures that do require removal usually 10 to 14 days after surgery.

With either type of suture, please keep an eye on the incision for swelling or discharge. Most dogs and cats do not lick excessively or chew at the incision. If your pet is the exception, please let us know in order to avoid significant tissue damage. We will recommend an Elizabethan collar (“lamp shade”) in these cases. You will also need to limit your pet's activity, baths and swimming until the stitches are removed.

Will my pet hurt?

We use a multimodal pain approach of medications before, during, and after surgery to avoid as much discomfort as possible for your pet. Animals experience pain from the same things people do, although they can show signs of discomfort differently.

Signs of discomfort include whining, anxiety, pacing or the inability to get comfortable, excessive panting, avoidance or hiding, aggression, lethargy, and lack of appetite.

If you feel your pet is showing any of these signs after surgery, be sure to let us know as soon as possible.