When it comes time to have your pet spayed or neutered it is important to consider what is included in the price of the procedure. The following questions will help you determine the quality of care your pet will receive:
Will my pet have an intravenous catheter placed?
This is an important consideration since no anesthesia is without risk and if problems arise it is important to be able to give rescue drugs immediately without having to search for a vein.
Will my pet receive intravenous fluids during the procedure?
Intravenous fluids are vital in maintaining blood pressure during surgery. All anesthetic agents tend to cause a decrease in blood pressure and prolonged low blood pressure can damage the kidneys.
Will my pet’s blood pressure be monitored during anesthesia?
For the reasons mentioned above this is vital, if the blood pressure is low, measures must be taken to normalize it immediately.
If your pet experiences low blood pressure under anesthesia that cannot be normalized by the usual interventions, does the practice have the ability to give a Constant Rate Infusion of a drug, such as dopamine, which is extremely effective in cases of persistent low blood pressure?
Will my pet’s EKG, blood oxygen saturation, and exhaled carbon dioxide levels be monitored during surgery?
Changes in any of these parameters can indicate a problem which can then be remedied.
Will high potency (Schedule II) narcotics be used in the pain management protocol for my pet?
Schedule II narcotics are the most potent drugs available for the control of acute pain, many practices do not use these drugs for a variety of reasons including lack of familiarity with them and having to deal with the strict regulations regarding ordering and storing them.
At Mahomet Animal Hospital the answer to all of these questions is YES, and everything is included in the price of the procedure.