How to Prepare Your Pet for Surgery
Posted by Dr. Jose Arambulo
Preparing your Pet for Surgery
Do not allow your pet to eat for at least 12 hours before the surgery. Food in the stomach can travel to the esophagus and choke an animal while they are under general anesthesia. The anesthesia itself will also dampen the swallowing reflex, which can also cause your pet to choke. If your animal does eat something by accident, call the vet office and reschedule the surgery. The office will be much happier to reschedule an appointment than have a medical emergency during surgery.Check with your vet about medication. Depending on the type of medicine your dog or cat is on, your vet may or may not tell you to give it to your animal. Be sure to follow their instructions strictly.
Rest and relax. Surgeries go best when your pet is calm and relaxed. Do a few things to make your animal feel comfortable, like going for a walk, playing a game, or allowing them to play with a toy. Before the 12-hour window begins, give your pet their favorite snacks and food. Keep the atmosphere in your house calm, do not do anything to scare or frighten your animal. Keep yourself occupied as well; animals can sense when the people around them are worried or nervous.
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Pet Surgery at Bloomfield Animal Hospital, Lakewood, California
Call Dr. Jose Arambulo at Bloomfield Animal Hospital in Lakewood, CA, if your pet needs to undergo surgery soon. This practice has years of experience caring for animals before, during, and after a surgical procedure. Call (562) 383-7788 to schedule a consultation.
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.
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.
