Pre-operative Procedures vary from patient to patient and really depend on the type of surgery that your pet has to have. Preliminary blood work to check kidney and liver function is usually done the day of surgery to be sure that your pet will tolerate anesthesia well. No food and water can be given after 10:00 p.m. the day prior to surgery and drop-off is always between 8:00-9:00 a.m., Monday thru Friday for all surgical patients.
We have the latest in technology in surgical anesthesia monitoring. Our monitoring system will be able to capture your pet's ECG (the electrical activity of the heart), core body temperature, PO2 Pulse Oximeter (measures partial pressure of oxygen), pulse and respiration rates. In layman’s terms, we are able to fully monitor your pet’s heart rate, oxygen levels, and breathing during all of phases of surgery. We place intravenous catheters in all animal patients undergoing general anesthesia. This is for their safety should your pet be in need any extra fluids, medications, etc. during the procedure.
Laser Surgery Information
Lantana-Atlantis Animal Hospital is proud to announce that we now offer Laser Surgery. Our 15-watt Millennium Medical System CO2-laser emits a high energy light beam which is absorbed by the water inside living cells, immediately vaporizing the targeted tissue while leaving the surrounding cells undamaged. This produces a more favorable result than traditional surgical techniques. The laser produces less pain, less blood loss, reduced infection, and a faster recovery. Lasers are able to produce these results by utilizing a light beam that seals nerve endings and blood vessels as it cuts. Furthermore, the laser's intense energy sterilizes tissue during its use, reducing the possibility of infection after surgery. Also, since there is no physical contact between the surgeon and the surgical site, there is no crushing or tearing of surrounding tissues, reducing swelling and contributing to a faster recovery.
Clinical applications for surgical laser are almost limitless. Feline declaw procedures are one of the most highly publicized uses for the laser in veterinary surgery. The results obtained from the laser declaw method are nothing short of remarkable. The procedure is almost completely bloodless, and postoperatively, the cat's feet are much more comfortable and very cosmetic. Another notable application is the removal of skin tumors that are very common in older dogs. With the laser, many of these tumors can be removed with only a local anesthetic and minimal shaving of hair. In some instances, the tumors can be removed during a standard office visit and the pet can go home immediately. Reduced surgical time and anesthetics may even reduce total client costs in certain procedures.
Please feel free to call us with further questions regarding this remarkable advancement for veterinary medicine and how it may be able to help your pet if they are in need of a surgical procedure.