Your pet’s anesthetic experience at Redmond Veterinary Clinic closely mimics those found at human surgical facilities. We strongly believe that the following procedural steps should be followed during every general anesthetic procedure to provide the highest degree of safety and care for your pet.

• Pre surgical consultation with a highly trained staff member discussing the procedure and risks involved.
   
  When was the last time your surgeon asked you to “drop off” your child at 8 for a procedure?
  
  
• Auscultation of the heart and lungs prior to the procedure to evaluate surgical risk. 
  
  How confident would you feel if your surgeon had not listened to your heart and lungs prior to placing you under anesthesia?
  
  
• Physical examination prior to the procedure  
  
  Hernias, foreign bodies in the ears, retained baby teeth, dental disease, skin tumors, and anal sac inflammation may all be resolved during routine procedures. 
  
  
• Pre surgical blood screens are highly recommended and in some cases required
  
  Anesthetic protocols may be adjusted if your animal is identified to have problems relating to the liver or kidneys. In some cases the procedure may be postponed if blood values indicate more serious problems.
  
  
• Preoperative pain control and sedation are provided prior to the induction of general anesthesia. 
  
  15-20 minutes prior to induction of anesthesia your pet is provided with medications that will sedate and calm your animal. In addition studies show that providing pain medication prior to surgery provides more post operative pain control.
  
  
• IV Catheterization and Fluid Administration 
  
  Could you imagine heading into surgery without first having an IV Catheter placed? Catheterization provides the first line of care in the unlikely event that a problem should arise during anesthesia. Without immediate access to a vein, medications that could save your pets life are difficult if not impossible to administer. In addition, warmed fluids provided during the anesthetic procedure keep your animal’s temperature regulated and blood pressure maintained to the vital organs.
  
  
• Induction and maintenance of anesthesia with the safest anesthetic agents available. 
  
  Redmond Veterinary Clinic uses modern inhalant anesthetics to allow for rapid and smooth adjustments in anesthetic levels during the procedure.
  
  
• Trained Technicians monitor the anesthetic process from induction through recovery. 
  
  Imagine yourself going into a surgical procedure and the only people in the surgical suite were you and the surgeon! At Redmond Veterinary Clinic your pet’s vital signs are monitored continuously by a Trained Technician so that the surgeon can concentrate on the procedure at hand.
  
  
• Extensive use of monitoring equipment is utilized during the anesthetic process. 
  
  Monitoring devices allow us to track your animal’s temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate and oxygen saturation in the blood. Moment by moment evaluation of these levels allow us to adjust anesthetic levels or provide medications prior to a potential problem.
  
  
• Heated water blankets are used to maintain your pet’s temperature during and following anesthesia. 
  
  Anesthesia reduces the bodies ability to thermo regulate and cold animals recover from anesthesia slower. Multiple techniques are utilized to keep your animal warm during and following anesthesia.
  
  
• Gas or steam sterilized instruments are used separately for all sterile procedures. 
  
  The use of multiple pre sterilized instrument packs allows us to avoid having to “cold sterilize” (dip in a disinfectant solution) the instruments that does not necessarily provide for complete sterilization.
  
  
• Post operative pain control 
  
  Prior to or just following the completion of the surgical procedure your animal will receive an analgesic injection that will provide several hours of post operative pain control. Every surgical procedure creates pain even if your animal doesn’t “show pain”.
  
  
• Post surgical hospitalization 
  
  Empirical evidence at our hospital shows that animals that are hospitalized for the night following spay or neuter have significantly decreased post operative complications. In addition this provides for our staff to evaluate your pet the next morning.
  
  
• Comprehensive discharge instructions and follow up care. 
  
  Our trained technical staff will address all post operative care instructions when you pick your animal up. If necessary suture/staple removal is provided at no charge. If there is a problem following the procedure a doctor or technician is available to address your concerns.