Valley Veterinary Hospital and Squibnocket Animal Center Surgery and Dentistry

     Our surgical team ensures your pet receive exceptional care when they are at Valley Veterinary Hospital for a surgical procedure or dentistry. Our goal is to provide the highest and safest levels of patient care possible.

     All pets receive a pre-surgical examination from the surgeon veterinarian prior to any scheduled procedures.  For your pet's safety, to determine any anesthetic risk, pre operative blood tests are performed.  This asseses blood counts, organ function, and reveals any problems that are not obvious.  A pet that suffers from such disorders as a parasite infestation, an infectious disease, or a heart murmur shouldn't undergo surgery. 

     During surgery, safety precautions are taken.  We place a breathing tube on all anesthetized pets to keep the airways open and allow for supplemental oxygen or gas anesthesia as needed.  A heart (ECG), blood pressure, temperature, and oxygen monitor allows us to track heart rate and rhythm as well as the amount of oxygen in the blood to ensure respiration and circulation are normal.  In addition, pets receive IV fluids during surgery to support circulation.  

     Surgery patients lose body heat through anesthesia and the opening of body cavities.  If a patient gets too cold, the heart can be affected.  We monitor patient temperature at regular intervals during and after surgery and provide supplemental heating as needed.  We also monitor gum color, pulse, and respiration to ensure that respiration and circulation are normal. 

     The anesthesia wont provide pain control once a pet wakes up, so in addition to analgesics provided during surgery, we offer postoperative pain control medication. 

     We will discuss and provide you with post operative care instructions.  Please ask if you have any questions.  Medication will be prescribed to ensure proper healing and reduce risk of infection. 

     Our office will contact you again prior to your pet's procedure to remind you about feeding, drinking, drop off time, contact numbers to reach you, and also to let you know when the doctor will be contacting you after the procedure.   

    As mentioned before, prior to surgery/dentistry your pet will receive pre-induction medications, such as pain relievers, sedatives, cardiac protectants, and antibiotics.  After surgery/dentistry your pet is carefully monitored from recovery of anesthesia.  Patients are continuously monitored after recovery for any signs of pain, discomfort, or complications.  Some patients will have to stay in the hospital overnight or longer for continued monitoring.  Our patients are returned  to their families as soon as possible to continue their recovery at home.  Specific written instructions for after care are provided with each patient at the time of discharge.

   If you have any questions about surgery or dentistry please call our office at 860-355-3756.