What to Expect

Your veterinarian will initially examine your pet and determine the need for surgery. They will contact Kentucky Veterinary Surgery and work with you to schedule surgery in the coming weeks. In many cases, bloodwork and radiographs may be required prior to surgery.

On the day of surgery, you will drop off your pet at your veterinarian's office. They will get everything prepared for surgery including an IV catheter, fluids, and medications. KVS will come to the clinic, bringing any specialized equipment that is needed for the surgery. The surgeon will call you after he examines your pet, as the staff begins anesthesia. The surgeon will further explain the surgery, any potential complications, and what the aftercare will look like. You will also receive a phone call after surgery, explaining the findings and giving a status update on how your pet is recovering.

The nurses of your veterinarian's office will recover your pet and monitor for a few hours after surgery. The Surgeon will provide a surgery report to your veterinarian as well as discharge instructions that you will take home. In most cases, you can pick up your pet a few hours after surgery.

Follow up care will be performed by your veterinarian in the coming weeks after surgery.

Surgical Release Forms

Your veterinarian will have forms for you to fill out the day of surgery. They are provided in the Resources section of this website to allow you to evaluate them in the comfort of your home, without feeling rushed and to help think of any questions or concerns you may have. You are more than welcome to print these off, sign them, and bring them with you on the day of surgery. Surgery cannot be performed without these forms filled out.

Discharge Instructions

Kentucky Veterinary Surgery will provide your veterinarian with discharge instructions on the day of surgery. These will be sent home with you and your pet after surgery. They are also provided in the Resources section of this website to allow you to evaluate them in the comfort of your home, without feeling rushed and to help think of any questions or concerns you may have. as well as to provide a digital copy that can be referenced in case the original discharge instructions are lost. Keep in mind that these are general discharge instructions. Your pet's discharge instructions were tailored to their individual case and thus may have some differences than the discharges provided here.