Surgery
Our hospital uses the highest level of sterility to make sure secondary infections do not occur post surgically. We use sterile surgical gowns, gloves, caps and masks to maintain sterility in the surgical suite. We use a new surgical pack for each surgery. Again, this should be standard for all hospitals, but some try to cut costs by reusing the SAME instruments for multiple surgeries! This significantly increases the chance for infection, not to mention is just plain disturbing. After the surgery concludes we will update you on you pet’s condition and will thoroughly go over aftercare instructions with you when you pick him/her up.
We strongly believe in the comfort of your pet and all of our surgeries receive post-operative pain medications. Whether it is an injection post-operatively, oral pain medications to go home, or both, every animal that undergoes a surgical procedure will get some pain relief. Some hospitals do not believe your pet needs post-operative pain medications or will charge extra for these medications (we know, we asked!). Wouldn’t you want some pain relief after a major surgical procedure?
Anesthesia
At Cleveland Road Animal Hospital your pet’s safety is of the utmost importance. That is why we use the safest anesthetics available to ensure your pet’s surgery or procedure goes smoothly. Almost all of our surgeries and procedures receive inhalant anesthesia, i.e. they breathe the anesthetic through an endotracheal tube that is placed in the trachea, or wind pipe. In addition all of our surgeries are monitored with an ECG (monitoring heart rate and rhythm), pulse oximetry (measuring the percent of oxygen saturation in the blood), blood pressure, and temperature. These techniques give our doctors information they can use to monitor your pets’ vital signs under anesthesia. We also offer preanesthetic blood chemistry analysis before placing your animal under anesthesia. This information is used to make sure your pets’ organ systems, liver and kidneys to name a couple, can handle anesthesia. If your pet is at an increased risk, and the procedure is necessary, we can formulate an anesthetic protocol suited for him/her. Lastly, we use the newest technology in thermal regulation. This means that while your pet is under anesthesia his/her temperature will be maintained and hypothermia is not a problem. This means your pet wakes up quickly from anesthesia and is ready to go home!