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Through our hospital, we are able to offer your pet a full array of services including preventative and routine health services. Our veterinarians will complete a comprehensive medical examination along with diagnostic work ups (as appropriate) to help detect and diagnose any potential health issues. Our services include vaccinations, wellness examinations, parasite control, spaying and neutering, senior health care, behavioral counseling, and a complete on-site pharmacy for your pet's prescription needs. Our team of doctors, surgical technicians and assistants are dedicated to helping you and your pet when they need a surgical procedure. The doctors, technicians and assistants have gone through extensive training to provide your pet with the highest levels of expertise. Dover Veterinary Hospital is fully equipped for spay and neutering procedures as well as other procedures including diagnostics. Spay The medical term is ovariohysterectomy. In this major abdominal surgery the pet's ovaries and uterus are removed. It is generally recommended to spay a kitten or puppy at six months of age but the surgery may be performed at any age. Spayed pets benefit from multiple health advantages and the risk of unwanted heat cycles and pregnancies is removed. For dogs, if the surgery is performed prior to the first heat cycle the risk of mammary gland cancer is drastically reduced. Additionally, the risk of ovarian and uterine diseases such as cancer and infection is eliminated. Any dog or cat that is not spayed for breeding or showing purposes should be spayed as an adult once they are not to be bred or shown again. Neuter The medical term is castration. In this surgery the doctor makes an incision in front of the scrotum and through that incision accesses each testicle. The fibrous coverings of the testicles are incised and each testicle is removed after securely ligating the blood vessels that attach to each testicle. The benefits of having a dog and cat neutered are well documented. Neutered dogs are known to have a much reduced rate of prostatic disease such as cancer, enlargement, and infection. Also, the risk of testicular cancer and disease is eliminated. In some dogs neutering is helpful to reduce roaming behavior, unwanted mating, scent marking and aggressive behaviors. Cats share many of these benefits and are also less likely to spray and mark their territories. Pre-operative Treatment/Evaluation Prior to any surgical procedure, the surgery staff will evaluate your pet's condition and outline the available testing and treatment options. In all cases, a written estimate of recommended services will be provided to you. In most cases, there are some pre-operative diagnostics, such as blood work and radiographs that are recommended. Anesthesia/Analgesia All patients receive intravenous catheters and extensive pre-operative and intra-operative pain management. Personalized anesthetic protocols are devised based on the patient and the procedure. The patient's comfort and stress levels are closely monitored throughout their hospital stay. When anesthesia is in use, complete monitoring of heart rate and rhythm, body temperature, blood pressure, and blood oxygen saturation is performed by one or more of our surgical technicians. Post-operative Treatment/Monitoring Post-operative patient comfort and supportive care is of paramount importance to the staff at Dover Veterinary Hospital. During your pet's stay and recovery from surgery, trained veterinary nursing staff are on duty to carefully monitor your pet's recovery. Preanesthetic Blood work Prior to administering anesthesia it is necessary to perform preanesthetic blood work. This provides us with valuable information in determining the appropriate anesthetic protocol for your pet. It helps us evaluate general organ function as well as determine hydration status and blood volume. Most anesthetic=2 0agents are metabolized by the liver and excreted through the kidneys. As animals age these are usually the organs that tend to deteriorate fastest. In younger animals there may be genetic abnormalities that might not be apparent/obvious until a blood chemistry is analyzed. In addition, this blood work will provide us with normal baseline values specific to your pet. IV Catheter An intravenous catheter is placed which provides us with access to administer anesthetic drugs as well as fluids during surgery. The fluid therapy aids in maintaining adequate blood pressure as well as ensuring proper tissue perfusion to internal organs. Additionally, it provides a quick and efficient way to administer emergency drugs should that be necessary. Anesthetic Monitoring In order to minimize the risks of anesthesia, your pet’s vital signs are continuously monitored by a dedicated technician. We have the latest technological monitoring equipment to evaluate your pet throughout the surgical procedure as well as during recovery. We utilize capnography, pulse oximetry, blood pressure, and ECG equipment to monitor patients during anesthesia along with body temperature, heart and respiration rates. Pain Management Pain management is not only important during a surgical procedure, but also plays a vital role in the healing process. Providing adequate and appropriate analgesia and anti-inflammatory relief has been shown to reduce the amount of time a patient requires to recover and heal. Each patient is individually evaluated and the appropriate type and amount of pain medication will be prescribed and dispensed to be given while recovering at home. The doctors and technicians at Dover Veterinary Hospital strive to maintain the highest standard of care. Our staff is dedicated to providing our clients and their pets with the best veterinary care possible. Please speak with a member of our staff if you have any questions regarding this information. Recommended and Optional Tests or Procedures for Your Pet We offer and recommend these tests or procedures to assist us in providing the best possible treatment and care for your pet. Presurgical Blood Chemistry Panel – This blood test will allow us to evaluate how the internal organs are functioning in your pet prior to anesthesia. Most anesthetic agents are metabolized by the liver and excreted through the kidneys. Therefore, if we were to find that these organs were not functioning to their full capacity your pet might have a very slow or difficult recovery from anesthesia. Although most young animals appear healthy, there can be congenital abnormalities (malformed organs) that are not obvious until blood work is evaluated. Home Again™ Microchip – A small microchip the size of a piece of rice is inserted under the skin between the shoulder blades. This microchip contains a number that will help identify your pet should he/she ever become lost. The chip is read by passing a scanner over the animal which will reveal a number or identify that a chip is present. Most veterinary hospitals and shelters automatically scan lost animals which helps reunite them with their owners. It is recommended to microchip your pet while they are under sedation for surgery. Complete Blood Count (CBC) – This blood test will provide us with red and white blood cell counts and a platelet count. Red blood cells contain hemoglobin which carries oxygen to the tissues. A low red blood cell count would indicate anemia. White blood cells are part of the immune system and increased number could indicate infection whereas a low number of white blood cells may indicate leukemia or a compromised immune system. Platelets are responsible for clot formation and if your pet has a low platelet count this could impair wound healing. We can also determine the hydration of your pet prior to anesthesia. If necessary, additional fluids would be administered to assure a smoother recovery. We recommend this blood test prior to anesthesia to better assess your pets health prior to surgery. Radiographs – We offer you the option of having your pet’s hips x-rayed while under sedation. This allows us to properly position your pet to determine if there is any indication of hip dysplasia so that you can begin early preventative treatment and provide your pet with a more comfortable life. |
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