Veterinary Services
Pet Surgery
Louisville, KY
Pet Surgery
At St. Matthews Animal Clinic, we have the very highest standard of care of our patients. Our team of trained veterinarians perform many common surgeries, such as spay and neuter procedures, growth removals, and oral surgery. Our doctors also have the experience and ability to perform many other types of procedures such as abdominal exploratory, cystotomy, foreign body removal, splenectomy, amputations,
Our Surgical Process
Before Surgery
- Do not give your pet any food after midnight the night before the scheduled procedure; small amounts of water are ok.
- If your pet is on any kind of daily medication, please check with your veterinarian for dosing instructions for the day of the scheduled procedure as these can vary from pet to pet.
- Please bring your pet to us via our drive thru drop-off between 7:30-8:00am the day of surgery.
At the time of drop-off, you will speak with one of our veterinary technicians who will go over the surgical day process, anesthesia consent form, procedure estimate, and answer any questions you may have. Your pet will then be brought back to our treatment area where a current weight, heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature are collected to gain a baseline of vitals before surgery. The surgeon for the day will also perform a thorough exam, listening to your pet’s heart and lungs for any abnormalities. We recommend any pet going under anesthesia to have pre-anesthetic bloodwork to make sure that your pet is as healthy on the inside as they are on the outside. If anything of concern is found during these initial stages, the surgeon will give you a call. One of our surgical team members will also be in contact with you throughout the day to update you about the process and how your pet is doing.
Surgery Prep and During Surgery
We practice advanced sterile technicians and technology. Surgeons are properly protected, and each patient’s fur is shaved around the surgical site. The skin is then thoroughly cleaned with surgical scrubs. Because your pet’s safety and comfort are our priority, each patient is provided with an IV catheter for distributing fluids and medication. We will also provide your pet options of heat support throughout their procedure as it is important to maintain their normal body temperature. Options of heat support include a warm water circulating blanket system, Bair Hugger (forced warm air blanket), or the HotDog heating pad warmer, and will be chosen based on the individual patient needs.
The surgeon will prepare for surgery by scrubbing their hands/arm, using sterile gowns, gloves, masks, caps, and equipment each time. During the procedure, your pet will be hooked up to an advanced monitoring machine that keeps track of all vitals, heart rate & rhythm, oxygen level, pulse, etc. Your pet will also be manually listened to and checked every 5 minutes by our trained surgical technician.
After Surgery
Depending on the procedure, your pet will receive a therapeutic laser treatment over the surgical site to provide a better healing process. They will be taken to a comfy cage with warm blankets and warm air to continue to bring up/keep their body temperature at a normal level as they recover. Depending on the procedure, we may have your pet stay overnight. When you pick up your pet, one of our technicians will go over any at home care instructions including any medications sent home.