Companion Animal Wellness Center
PO Box 2847
16404 Lemolo Shore Dr.
Poulsbo, WA   98370
360-779-6534

Hours:

M,T,Th,F

8am - 6pm

W

8am - 8pm










    Your Pet's Surgery

 

You've signed the forms and just watched your buddy disappear through the door with the nurse for their surgery.  What happens between then and when you see them coming back through the door later that evening?

First a preanesthetic exam by the doctor.  The doctor and my nurse will discuss everything related to my surgery to make sure that I get everything my folks requested.
The exam results and doctors orders are written on the board so everyone knows what I need.
A patch on my foreleg is shaved and an IV catheter placed in the vein.
I have to wear a "collar" so I won't be tempted to pull my catheter out while waiting for my turn in surgery. (This was the worst part of the whole day).  When I received my preanesthetic injection I thought it might soon be my turn.  
  During surgery, I'll need to have a tube in my trachea that will give anesthesia and oxygen to me during the procedure.  First, I got some drugs through my catheter to help me relax while they put the tube in place.
Here I am under anesthesia with the tube in place.  I'm being hooked up to all sorts of machines.  One to give me anesthetic and oxygen, another to monitor my heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen saturation and a third to give me IV fluids at a certain rate.  
  Once the monitors are in place and they're sure I'm OK a flurry of activity began.  I got artifical tears in my eyes, my toenails trimmed and the areas that the doctor is going to operate on shaved and scrubbed.
Here I am in surgery with all of my machines attached.  My nurse will stay with me throughout the procedure to monitor readings and make adjustments as needed to keep me safe.
First the doctor fixed my hernia.
Next, I was neutered.  Glad I was asleep!  My folks chose pain medication for me so it won't even hurt when I wake up either.
 

Hi, I had to take over from the other guy because the rest of his pictures didn't turn out.

I got spayed today.  All of the same stuff happened to me except for a different surgery.  Here I am wrapped in my blankeys waking up afterwards.  I also received pain medication, so I'm just groggy but don't hurt.  I'm still receiving fluids through my IV.

It's now about  4:45 pm,  I've had fluids ever since my surgery this morning.  I'm still a little groggy, but my folks will be here soon so I have to get ready to go home.

First they stop the fluid pumps and take me to the table to have the IV catheter removed.  I wish my legs weren't so hairy!  Tape and hair are not compatible with comfort!		  
   Here is what the IV catheter looks like after it is taken out.

I get a bandage over the spot that my owner can take off at home after a couple hours when the hole in my skin has closed over.
Here is what my incision looks like now.  My sutures are buried and the incision finished with glue.  As long as I'm not allowed to lick the incision or be overly active, I'll be completely healed in 10-14 days.  
  My family is just on the other side of the door and I'm going to see them in LESS THAN A MINUTE!!!!

Here I am ready to meet them.  I have my collar on so that  I can't lick my incision, even if I'm tempted.  There's a bandage over the IV spot that my folks will remove after I'm home.   There is also my pain medication so I stay pain free for the next few days while I'm healing.

My nurse will let my family know about all the things they need to do to take care of me and of course, if we have any questions we'll call right away.