It is important for you to know that not all veterinary hospitals approach anesthesia and surgery in the same way.
Advancements in veterinary medicine have allowed surgical procedures to be much safer than ever before. You can be confident that your pet will be provided the highest quality of care with the most compassionate approach. This includes the latest pain management protocols, advanced monitoring equipment, a highly trained technical staff, safe anesthesia, and even thermal warming discs to maintain body temperature.
When your pet is admitted for surgery, several steps are taken before the actual surgery. First, your pet’s attending doctor will perform an examination to determine if there are any current issues that would prevent us from proceeding with surgery. If all is well, a technician will administer a pre-anesthetic sedative to reduce pain, calm your pet, and reduce the amount of gas anesthesia needed. Later, after an intravenous catheter has been inserted, a short-acting drug is given to allow your pet to fall asleep. At that point, a breathing (tracheal) tube will be placed and a gas anesthesia/oxygen mix will be administered directly into the lungs. We use the same anesthesia as human hospitals. Monitors will be attached to your pet showing heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation. Based on our careful monitoring, anesthesia can be adjusted accordingly, and any physiological changes can be detected before serious problems occur. Intravenous fluids will be given both during and after the procedure to maintain blood pressure. The intravenous catheter also allows rapid administration of emergency medications if needed.
Your pet is constantly monitored by an attending technician during the procedure and when the surgery is complete, the anesthesia is turned off and oxygen is administered. Your pet continues to be monitored by our trained staff during the recovery period and is given additional injectable pain management later in the day.
Your pet is constantly monitored by an attending technician during the procedure and when the surgery is complete, the anesthesia is turned off and oxygen is administered. Your pet continues to be monitored by our trained staff during the recovery period and is given additional injectable pain management later in the day. West Palm Animal Clinic is on the forefront of pain management, providing a level of pain control for our patients that rivals or exceeds our human counterparts. Owners are often amazed how great their pet looks when they walk out to greet them, often with little or no indication that they have been under general anesthesia or had surgery.
In addition to standard neuter/spay procedures and mass removal surgeries, Dr. Durkee is qualified to perform advanced surgical procedures including ophthalmic (eye), otic (ear), orthopedic(bones and joints), gastrointestinal (stomach and intestines), urogenital (kidney, bladder and reproductive organs), and certain cardio/respiratory procedures. Our veterinary technicians who have decades of work alongside the Dr.Durkee, these technicians keep a very close watch on the patient both during and after surgery.
In addition to the services provided on site, we work closely with several referral institutions for specific treatments, such as MRI and CAT scans, radiation therapy, or spinal and cataract surgery. We have developed strong relationships with the doctors at these facilities to ensure that our patients and clients receive the same level of care found here at West Palm Animal Clinic.
At West Palm Animal Clinic, our mission is to provide the highest quality care for our patients with the most compassionate approach. The techniques we use for our surgical patients are an important part of our mission.
If you have any questions about our services, please contact us today at (561) 686-6033.