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Surgery

At Hollywood Hill Animal Hospital, we offer a range of elective and non-elective anesthetic procedures including:

  • Spays and neuters
  • Dental cleanings and tooth extractions
  • Tumor & lump removals
  • Laceration and abscess repairs
  • Intestinal blockage / foreign body removals
  • Caesarian sections (C-sections)

We take your pet’s safety seriously and utilize individualized protocols for medicating and anesthetizing your pet. On the morning of any anesthetic procedure, we will ask you to fast your pet for 8 hours prior to check in. This prevents potential complications arising from regurgitation while under anesthesia. Upon arrival, our staff will confirm your pet’s treatment plan with you and answer any questions you may have. We will ask if your pet has been given any medications (including what and when) or if your pet has shown any sign of illness or behavioral change leading up to your procedure date. Details on your pet’s recent history will help us better accommodate his or her needs. Once we have gathered your information and answered your questions, your pet will be set up in his or her “hospital suite”. Then, the surgeon will examine your pet to ensure no changes in health have occurred that may affect the procedure. This examination may include pre-anesthetic lab testing, depending on your pet’s risk and your wishes. If no concerns are identified, your pet will be given a pre-medication that will consist of pain medication and sedation so that they may relax and feel at ease while they are prepared for their procedure. Preparations involve placing an intravenous catheter, oxygenation, initiation of fluid support, and placement of monitoring sensors. These sensors remain on the patient throughout the procedure and provide real-time data, so that the first sign of any change can be addressed as quickly as possible.

Upon completion of the procedure, we begin to wake up your pet from anesthesia. We aim to make this as gentle as possible by keeping body temperature stable, providing physical contact with your pet, and helping your pet rest comfortably until he or she is able to regain control over movement and swallowing.

Pain control is essential to your pet’s comfort before, during, and after a procedure. We use a combination of medications and delivery routes to ensure your pet is as pain-free as possible. Your pet may receive local anesthetics and intravenous, CRI (constant rate infusion), subcutaneous, intramuscular, and/or oral pain medication.

When you arrive to pick up your pet, you will meet with one of our staff to discuss the procedure, advise you on home care for your recovering pet, and answer any questions you may have. Some pets may need medications given at home after a procedure or require special feeding (e.g. softened food). Details of what you should expect in the following days is covered and a written guide with specifics for your pet is provided for you to reference.