Dear Pet Owner:
You are planning to or already have scheduled your pet for a procedure that will require anesthesia.
To provide the best possible care and to ensure that your pet is in a low-risk category prior to anesthesia we recommend pre-anesthetic testing before as well as IV fluids during the procedure.
The pre-anesthetic tests are similar to those your own physician would run were you to undergo anesthesia. They could uncover health concerns that cannot be detected from a physical exam alone. In addition, the results of these tests will serve as reference values for future use should your pet become ill. It is important to understand that a pre-anesthetic profile does not guarantee the absence of anesthetic complications. However, it reduces the risk of complications as well as identifies medical conditions that could require treatment.
Please look over the enclosed information. Once you have made your decision, please sign the pre-anesthetic consent form to authorize or decline the recommended tests.
While the decision is yours, we feel strongly that a pre-anesthetic profile, as well as IV fluids, are very important to make your pet’s anesthesia as safe as possible.
The Tests:
We recommend the following blood tests for routine pre-anesthetic screening:
- Complete Blood Count (CBC)
- BUN (Kidney)
- Glucose (Sugar)
- ALT (Liver)
- ALKP (Liver
- TP (Hydration)
- Creatinine (Kidney)
Please refer to the enclosed brochure for more details!
The Surgery
Our surgery check-in time is:
8:00-8:30 am
Included in this brochure you will find a pre-anesthetic testing/surgery consent form. Please read and complete this form before the surgery date.
Pre-Surgery Checklist
- Remove all food after 9pm the night before your pet’s procedure. If your pet is less than 4 months of age feed a small amount of breakfast.
- Remove water the morning of your pet’s procedure.
- Complete/sign the pre-anesthetic testing/ surgery consent form.
- Give lots of extra pats and hugs.
All surgery patients are closely monitored during anesthesia. This, along with pre-anesthetic screening and IV fluids, reduces the risk of anesthesia to its lowest level.
If you have any questions regarding the tests, your animal’s upcoming procedure, or the enclosed materials, please do not hesitate to call.
We look forward to seeing you!
Sincerely,
The Staff at Arlington Animal Hospital
IV Fluids
Why they are so important?
There are two main reasons why no patient should undergo anesthesia without the benefit of IV fluids.
Reason 1
When an animal is placed under general anesthesia the blood pressure drops as a side effect. Consequently, vital organs like the liver and kidneys do not receive the amount of blood flow they normally would. Most animals are able to compensate for this drop in blood pressure, however, if the animal is older or if there is a pre-existing problem with the liver or kidneys, it is much harder on the body.
Providing IV fluids during anesthesia compensates for this side effect thus making general anesthesia safer.
Reason 2
Establishing an IV line prior to surgery allows the anesthetist access to the circulation in case complications should arise during anesthesia. Therefore drugs can be administered immediately without any delay.
In cases of respiratory and/or cardiac arrest, drugs have to be given immediately! Having an IV line in place to do this when complications arise could make the difference between life and death for the patient.
