Surgery FAQ

Ingersoll Animal Hospital is a full-service hospital that performs routine soft-tissue surgeries and minor orthopedic procedures in a caring environment. Here are answers to some commonly asked questions.

What type of surgical procedures do you perform?

We regularly perform spay, neuter, declaw, abdominal, and dental surgery. We also perform procedures to remove tumors and repair minor fractures. Our on-site dedicated surgical suite and experienced surgeons meet the highest standards in surgical care, with a focus on the unique needs of your pet.

What is your hospital’s history with surgery?

We understand that when your pet needs surgery, you as an owner will have concerns and some anxiety. At Ingersoll Animal Hospital, we understand your concerns and offer our compassion, skill, and expertise to bring your pet back to optimal health when surgery is necessary. Our veterinarians have more than 30 years of experience and are skilled in a wide variety of veterinary surgeries.

What happens prior to my pet’s surgery?

Our staff will call you the day prior to a scheduled surgery to remind you about the procedure and give you information on when to withhold food.  Typically we will have you withhold your pet’s food after 8 p.m. the night before and allow your pet moderate water consumption prior to arrival for the procedure.  You will need to fill out a surgical or dental consent form on admittance. You may prefer to download and complete the forms prior to coming in for your surgical appointment. Click here to access consent forms.

What can I expect once my pet is admitted for surgery?

Once your pet is in the hospital, it will be checked in by one of our skilled team members.  Each patient has a complete pre-surgical exam performed by our veterinarians.  Pre-anesthetic lab tests are designed to detect conditions that might pose a risk for anesthesia.  These tests are tailored to your pet’s age and health history. These precautions allow us to select drugs tailored to your pet’s specific needs.

We will give your pet a pre-anesthetic or sedative to help decrease anxiety and to decrease the amount of anesthetic needed to achieve anesthesia. This increases the safety of the procedure.

What happens during surgery?

Every surgical patient receives an intravenous catheter and fluids throughout the procedure, which allows us to maintain blood pressure and immediately administer pain medication or other necessary drugs.

A dedicated technician monitors each patient during surgery and records blood pressure, temperature, oxygenation, respiration rate, carbon dioxide level, heart rate and rhythm and adjusts anesthesia as necessary.  We take anesthetic very seriously—your pet is never alone.  We continue to monitor each patient closely during the recovery period after surgery.

Can I see the facility where surgery is performed?

Absolutely.  We invite pet owners to tour our surgical suite and surgery preparation area.  You will find we are dedicated to the safety, comfort, and recovery of every patient. You can also take a sneak peak of the clinic by taking our online tour!

How do you care for my pet after surgery?

Numerous studies have shown that pain management is vital to your pet’s recovery, just as it is for humans.  We employ a wide variety of pain-management protocols (link to pain management) during surgery and for your pet’s recovery period at home.  Pain management is incredibly important to us, because we know that a pain-free animal is a happy animal.  We follow AAHA/AAFP Pain Management Guidelines. We adhere to these principles at Ingersoll Animal Hospital before, during, and after surgery.

What happens once my pet returns home?

Once your pet is well enough to leave the hospital, we send medication to ease his or her pain at home and help facilitate a speedy recovery for your furry friend. Our on-site pharmacy offers the convenience of filling your pet’s prescription without any extra stop on the way home. We also send home post-surgical instructions. If you have questions, our staff is available to address your concerns. Please feel free to contact us anytime.