Surgical Protocols

• Pre-op exam – The veterinarian conducts a physical examination to assess your pet’s current health status, and determine if a surgical procedure is appropriate. If you are not a regular Bloomfield Animal Hospital client, please be sure to bring your pet’s vaccine history to this appointment – they must be up to date before a surgical procedure. For dogs, this is rabies, Bordetella, and DHLPP; for cats, rabies and FVRCP.
• You drop your pet off at the hospital, the morning of the scheduled procedure for a pre-anesthetic blood panel. At this time, we also check body temperature and respiration. If the pet shows signs of stress, we administer mild, calming sedation. Our in-house laboratory returns results promptly. Information about liver and kidney function, blood sugar levels, platelets, and red blood cell count helps us safely tailor anesthetic and pain management to your pet’s needs. You are notified before anesthesia and surgery if the blood work shows abnormalities.
• An IV port is placed. The intravenous catheter allows medications to be administered more comfortably, and gives our surgical staff ready access to a vein, should an emergency arise. IV fluids are started, to replace fluid loss during the procedure, and to maintain blood pressure and flow of blood through the kidneys. IV fluids are optional for healthy pets under one-year-old, who are in for spay or neuter surgery.
• An appropriate combination of sedative, general anesthesia, and pain management medication is administered, based on your pet's individual needs. Our number one goal is to perform the surgery safely, while your pet remains as comfortable as possible.
• The animal is intubated and is given oxygen an anesthetic gas. The pet is brought to surgery table for final prepping and sterilization of the surgical site. Temperature management is an important facet of safe surgery and quick recovery. We use a heated surgery table for the procedure, and take extra steps to be sure your pet remains comfortably warm during recovery.
• Once the patient is under anesthesia, vital signs are continuously observed with an ECG (heart rhythm monitor), pulse oximeter (to measure oxygen saturation in the blood), and a respiratory monitor. A surgical assistant observes and records vital signs, and remains with your pet until the animal is fully recovered.
• The surgical site is dressed to reduce trauma and inflammation, and promote healing. Pain management medications are started, and prescribed for use once your pet returns home, to minimize post-operative discomfort.

Bloomfield Animal Hospital is a trusted name in pets’ preventive, medical, surgical, and emergency care in Lakewood, CA. With a 30-year history as a family-owned pet clinic, it provides modern services in a warm, friendly environment. It’s one of the few veterinary hospitals to be AAHA-accredited.

Dr. Jose Arambulo, owner and chief veterinarian, is experienced in treating eye, ear, and skin disorders and is especially interested in internal medicine, dentistry, and soft tissue surgery. He earned his BS in Medical Technology from the University of Santo Tomas and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of the Philippines. He completed clinical evaluation for veterinary medicine at Purdue University in Indiana and was a veterinarian at Banfield and California before acquiring Bloomfield Animal Hospital.

Dr. Arambulo is an active member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Veterinary Information Network, Southern California Veterinary Medical Association, Southern California Filipino Veterinary Medical Association, and the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce.

Our Traveling Surgeon, Dr. Zachery Smith, is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. He specializes in complex orthopedic and soft tissue surgery. While training, he worked with some of the best orthopedic surgeons in the country. He has lectured both locally and internationally. Dr. Smith plays a leading role at Veterinary Orthopedics of California, which is dedicated to providing high-level surgical services to pets.

Our visiting physician, Dr. Fred Brewer, is a veterinary cardiologist board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. He completed his Bachelor of Science in Psychobiology at UCLA and earned his veterinary degree from Cornell University in 2009. Later, he completed a one-year general rotating internship at the California Animal Hospital Veterinary Specialty Group in West Los Angeles and a three-year cardiology residency at Cornell University.