Preparing your pet for surgery can feel overwhelming, but knowing what to expect can make the process much easier. This guide answers common questions about your pet’s surgery day, recovery, aftercare, and the support available from our Mowbray Veterinary Clinic team.
What is the exact diagnosis, and why is surgery needed?
This is something that our vets will discuss with you during your consult and/or follow up with an email if required.
Our vets will provide you with an estimate for the recommended procedure. If you have any questions about either the procedure or the estimate, please do not hesitate to contact us on 6326 4900 to discuss with our nurse and reception team, or to book a revisit to discuss your concerns with the vet directly.
How long will surgery take?
Our vets will provide you with an estimate of how long the surgery is expected to take.
Occasionally surgeries can be quicker or slower depending on the complexity of the surgery and the patient’s stability under anaesthesia and analgesia.
Our vets’ priority is the safety of your pet. They will contact you after surgery, once your pet is in recovery, to discuss the surgery and their recommendations.
Should I withhold food or water before surgery? When should fasting start?
Our standard recommendation for cats and dogs is to withhold food from midnight the night prior to surgery. Do not withhold water – all pets should have access to water at all times.
In pocket pets (rabbits, guinea pigs, mice, ferrets, rats, birds), do not withhold food or water, and bring a small bag of their favourite foods to the clinic with them. This is for us to feed them post-surgery with their favourite foods.
Very young patients (less than 4months old) and diabetic patients – do not withhold food until 6am the morning of surgery.
For diabetic patients please follow the instructions of your vet regarding insulin and food the morning of surgery.
What time do I drop my pet off for surgery?
You will receive a text message alerting you to the drop off time for your pet.
Our admissions are performed between 8-8:30am each day by our surgical nursing team. These admissions allow us to check any details with you prior to surgery and give you an opportunity to ask us any questions prior to surgery.
Will I get an update on my pet throughout the day?
After admission, our surgery team decides on the order of their surgery day. Do not be alarmed if you do not receive a phone call or update before 4pm. The order of surgery can vary depending on the types of surgeries booked, blood tests and fluid placement, the patient’s stress levels, and the surgeon’s decision.
Occasionally our surgeons or nurses may call you to discuss blood results or ask further questions so please keep your phone on at all times.
After surgery and once your pet is in recovery, our vet or nurse will phone you to update you on how the surgery went and to book a discharge appointment.
Why did your team ask me about resuscitation and CPR when admitting my pet?
Although it is never something we like to think about, it is important for us to know prior to any anaesthesia whether you give us permission to perform resuscitation and/or CPR for your pet if required.
Although we use the best equipment, drugs, and have a well-trained team, emergency events can still occur.
CPR and resuscitation, if done correctly, can be expensive, and it is important that we discuss this with you prior to the emergency, when we need to act quickly to save your pet’s life and prior to contacting you.
What preparations should I make at home before and after surgery?
It is important to set up a comfortable space at home to support your pet post surgery.
Deep comfortable bedding, minimal distance with no stairs to toilet access, and close to food and water make recovery a much smoother process.
For patients with walking difficulties, a harness or stretcher, ramps, and non-slip surfaces will help with movement.
We recommend that dogs have a bath in the week prior to surgery, as post-surgery they will not be able to bathe for 14 days.
What medications will be necessary post-surgery?
Medications will vary depending on the type of surgery performed. In general, pain relief and antibiotics are the most common medications dispensed. Other medications such as gastro-protectants, anti-nausea, and sedation/calming tablets may also be prescribed.
It’s important to follow the labels on each medication accurately. If you have any questions regarding your pet’s medication, please contact us to check with our team.
How should I care for bandages or wounds?
Surgical wounds should be checked daily during the healing period unless they are covered by a protective bandage or wound dressing.
Leg and tail bandages are left in place and changed every 3-7 days by your veterinarian depending on the surgery performed.
Bandages must be kept dry, so it’s important to cover the bandage if you are taking your pet outdoors to toilet. If the bandage does become wet, please call us as soon as possible so we can arrange an earlier bandage change if needed.
Will my pet need protective gear like a cone to prevent licking wounds, and for how long?
We recommend a cone/Elizabethan collar to prevent licking and damage to surgical wounds. We recommend keeping these on your pet until the wound has healed and stitches have been removed/wound has been checked.
When can my pet resume normal activities?
Each pet recovers differently post-surgery. Our vet and nurse team will provide instructions on how much exercise for each patient on an individual basis.
In general, we recommend minimal activity and rest and recovery in the first week post-surgery. Short walks out to the toilet and no strenuous activity.
A gradual return to exercise between days 7-14 is recommended, provided your pet is able and willing to participate. Never force your pet to start exercise before they are ready, and contact our clinic if you are worried.
Is there a follow-up appointment needed or scheduled?
At the time of your discharge appointment, our reception team will book you any revisits and stitches out/wound check appointments that you require post surgery.
What are the expected costs, and do you offer payment plans or pet insurance advice?
Unfortunately, surgery does cost money to perform it safely and correctly. Our vet team provides an estimate for the surgery prior to the surgery so you understand the expected time and equipment required, as well as drugs that may need to be dispensed. This is an estimate, not a firm quote. We will do our best to contact you if we are concerned that the surgery is more complex and/or any additional costs are required.
We offer payment plans through Vetpay, ZipMoney and Afterpay. We can also offer payment plans through NILS loans – although this will require prior approval. Please contact our accounts manager regarding a NILS loan prior to booking.
For pets covered by pet insurance, we do offer GAPonly. A system that allows you to pay only the gap between your insurance and the cost of the procedure. This usually takes around 10-15minutes to process at the clinic by our reception team. To do this our reception team needs to know your pet insurance policy number.
At any time, if you have any further questions, you can contact our team.