Virtual SpayFollow Zoe’s surgery at the Thunder Bay Veterinary Hospital!(Warning: there are many graphic medical images on the following pages) Zoe and her owner were greeted by our friendly reception staff. Our admitting technician went over the details of her surgery with her owner. Optional pre-anesthetic testing including lab work, ECG and microchipping were discussed. |
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| An accurate weight is required to ensure that the proper dose of medication and anesthetic is given. |  |
| Once a patient is admitted to the hospital, a blood sample is obtained to run preanesthetic laboratory testing to screen the organs that are involved in metabolizing the anesthetic drugs, and to check a blood count to make sure that the patient is healthy enough for surgery. |  |
| Next, the patient is prepared for a transtelephonic ECG, where the ECG is sent over the telephone to a cardiologist to read. The cardiologist will advise us of any abnormalities that might make the anesthetic a risk, and suggest further diagnostic procedures, if necessary, prior to anesthesia. A report is usually back within 30 minutes of transmission. |  |
| Once the laboratory and ECG reports are back, the veterinarian will do a physical exam of the patient again prior to administering the premedication. An analgesic is also administered prior to the procedure. |  |
| Once the premedication has had a chance to relax the patient, an intravenous catheter is placed into one of the veins in either a front or a back leg. This catheter is used to administer anesthetic and analgesic drugs, the intravenous fluids, and any additional antibiotic or emergency drugs that might be required during the patient's surgery. |  |
| An accurate weight is required to ensure that the proper dose of medication and anesthetic is given. |  |
| The larynx of the patient is then frozen using an anesthetic spray. |  |
| An endotracheal tube is then gently placed into the windpipe of the patient. This is used to administer anesthetic gas and oxygen to the patient during the surgical procedure. |  |
| The patient is then attached to the anesthetic machine and to the ECG monitor. |  |
