Surgery Information

Our philosophy is to treat every patient at the level we would want our pets to be treated.  If you have questions, please ask us!

We use Isoflurane gas for general anesthesia on all cases.  Isoflurane is the safest and best anesthetic gas available.  However, it is very expensive.  Every patient that is anesthetized is monitored using an apparatus that measures blood flow, blood pressure, and heart rate.

We have a separate operating room used only for sterile surgery.  We use the same techniques as is used in the United States on people with the surgeons doing a proper surgical scrub and wearing a cap, mask, gown, and scrubbed and covered with a sterile drape.  All instruments are cleaned after surgery by hand, then placed in an ultrasonic instrument cleaner to get debris off that cannot be seen.  Then the instruments are placed in surgical packs that are prepared for sterilization in an autoclave (a container for sterilizing under superheated steam under pressure).  Each surgical pack contains an indicator to verify that the instruments were sterilized properly.  If this indicator shows improper sterilization, the pack is discarded.  All suture materials is the same as is used on people.  Our incidence of anesthetic or surgical complication is extremely low.

Here are some questions you should ask of any veterinary clinic to make sure they are maintaining the same high standards as Companion Animal Hospital.

1. What type of anesthetic is used?  If it's gas - do they use Isoflurane?  Be aware that injectable anesthetics are not true anesthetics - they are immobilizing agents that do not kill abdominal pain.
2. How are the animals undergoing surgery monitored?
3. How are the instruments sterilized?
4. Is there a sterilization indicator within each pack?
5. Is a separate pack used for each patient?
6. Is aseptic technique used for all surgeries?
7. Are sterile gloves worn during surgery?
8. Are skin sutures used for spays & neuters? (We close our incisions with sutures under the skin so you do not have to return for removal.  If they use kin sutures, ask if you there will be a charge for removal.)
9. Can you see the facilities?