When your pet needs surgery, whether planned or in an emergency, it can be a stressful time filled with many questions for your veterinarian. From pre-surgery lab work to post-surgery care, there are many things to consider for a successful surgery and recovery and you are likely to have questions. That’s why we’ve taken the most frequently asked questions about surgery at Owings Mills Veterinary Center and answered them here.
What Do I Need To Know About Pet Surgery At Owings Mills Vet?
The first step is a full exam and assessment by one of our veterinarians to establish care and identify the issue your pet is having. From there, we would have a better understanding of what your pet needs and can determine whether surgery is an option. If surgery is needed and you decide to proceed, our veterinarians can perform minor and major surgeries in our hospital.
What Can I Expect The Day Of Surgery?
You will typically be asked to drop off your pet with us in the morning so we have sufficient time to perform pre-operative diagnostics. These will include bloodwork and an EKG screening to ensure that the patient is a good candidate to be placed under anesthesia. After the procedure, your pet will remain under supervision at our hospital for a few hours to ensure they are recovering safely before returning home.
How Will I Care For My Pet After Surgery?
When you arrive to pick up your pet, our staff will review your take-home care instructions in detail including all medications being sent home for pain management and recovery. The post-operative care plan will vary slightly according to each pet, the type of procedure performed, and other factors. Typical discharge instructions may include feeding tips for your first night at home, exercise and activity restriction, and incision care. If your pet goes home with a bandage from their IV catheter site, we will remind you that it must be removed within two hours.
Surgeries Offered at Owings Mills Veterinary Center
We offer several major and minor soft tissue surgeries and orthopedic surgeries at Owings Mills Vet:
Soft Tissue Surgery - Abdominal
- Splenectomy
- Exploratory laparotomy, resection and anastomosis
- Exploratory laparotomy with biopsies
- Liver biopsy
Soft Tissue Surgery - Urogenital
- Cystotomy
- Ovariohysterectomy (spay)
- Pyometra (urgent care spay due to infection)
- Orchiectomy (neuter), including cryptorchid
Miscellaneous
- Enucleation
- Mass removal + biopsy
- Mastectomy