Four Corners Veterinary Hospital Four Corners Veterinary Hospital


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©2011 Four Corners Veterinary Hospital

     1126 MEADOW LANE  ♦  CONCORD, CA 94520

PHONE (925)685-0512  ♦  FAX (925)685-7152

Open Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri 8 am - 6 pm

Thurs 8 am - 7 pm

Saturday 8 am - 5 pm, Closed Sunday


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Anesthesia

Most Surgical and Dental Procedures require general anesthesia (the pet will be completely unconscious). To ensure safety of anesthesia, preanesthetic blood testing may be needed. When you make your appointment, you will be given instructions on when to fast your pet and when to drop your pet off.

For most procedures requiring anesthesia, an intravenous (IV) catheter is needed. The catheter is used to deliver IV fluids - this helps to maintain blood pressure during anesthesia. An IV catheter also serves as a route for emergency drugs to be administered should the pet require them; in some cases having an IV catheter in place is a life saving saving precaution.

Surgical Procedures

For all surgical procedures, the surgical site will be shaved and aseptically prepared. Hair regrowth may take 2-4 months.

In general, surgical sutures or staples are removed 10-14 days after surgery.

Castration (Neutering)

Castration is performed to prevent unwanted puppies/kittens, undesirable behavior (e.g. aggression or urine marking), and medical problems (e.g. testicular tumors and prostate problems)

For dogs and cats, neutering is usually done at 4-6 months of age. For dogs, the testicles are removed through a single incision made in front of the scrotum. For cats, each testicle is removed through an incision in the scrotum.

Spay (Ovariohysterectomy)

Spaying is performed to prevent unwanted puppies/kittens, undesirable behavior/heat cycles, and medical problems (e.g. uterine infections and mammary tumors). For dogs and cats, spaying is performed at 4-6 months of age. The ovaries and uterus are removed through an incision in the center of the abdomen.

Dental Procedures

Full anesthesia is required for dental cleaning and extractions in pets. This is because awake pets will not hold still for a cleaning, and also because a tube must be inserted in the trachea to protect the airway from water and material being cleaned off the teeth.

Once the pet is asleep, a thorough oral and dental examination is performed. This includes probing around each tooth to check for cavities (resorptive lesions) and pockets of missing dental tissue (periodontal disease). The teeth are thoroughly cleaned both above and below the gum line, and the teeth are polished to help prevent bacteria from re-attaching to the tooth surfaces.

Teeth that are broken or badly infected may need to be extracted. In some cases, dental radiographs (x-rays) are needed to determine if a tooth needs to be extracted. For tooth extractions, the pet receives an injection to numb the area, the gum tissue is moved away from the tooth, and the bone around the tooth is drilled until the tooth can be easily removed. The gum tissue is then closed with small stitches (sutures). Pets that have teeth extracted generally go home on pain medication and antibiotics and have a recheck examination in 1 week. The sutures dissolve and do not need removal.