Surgical Services
The surgical team at West Hills North Veterinary Clinic is capable of providing surgical procedures for dogs and cats including:
- Spay and neuter
- Soft tissue/general surgery
- Growth removal
- Emergency surgery/laceration repair
- Foreign object removal
- Dental surgery (tooth extractions)
All surgical procedures requiring overnight care are performed at our 24-hour location-West Hills Animal Hospital & Emergency Center-in Huntington, or here and transferred to our West Hills Animal Hospital & Emergency Center location so your pet has care and supervision around the clock by our trained staff.
What to Expect Before Your Pet’s Surgery
We carefully screen all of our patients prior to surgery to make sure they are healthy and a good candidate for surgery. Blood tests allow us to determine the specific pain management technique that is right for your pet, and to confirm that it is safe to administer anesthesia. The results of these screenings also help us to determine whether your dog or cat has any pre-existing conditions that may impact the surgery or will need to be addressed following the procedure.
What to Expect During Your Pet’s Surgery
Your pet’s physical and emotional well-being during surgery is our staff’s priority. We make sure that your pet is safe and as comfortable as possible throughout the entire process. Your pet will be carefully monitored by a trained licensed veterinary technician, similar to the level of patient monitoring you would receive if you were having surgery.
All animals that undergo surgery will have their blood pressure, heart rate, rhythm, ventilation, and blood oxygen levels monitored. An IV catheter is place in all patients and fluids are administered throughout the procedure. Start of the art monitors are used to evaluate your pet’s pulse oximetry, EKG, capnography, blood pressure, and keep him or her as safe as possible throughout the entire process.
Pain Management & Post-Surgery
Pain management is an important part of our surgical protocol, and we believe in maximizing the comfort level of your pet at all times. We administer pain medication before beginning the procedure, during the procedure, and post-operatively as required for your pet. Here at West Hills Animal Hospital & Emergency Center, we use a multi-modal approach to pain management. A multi-modal approach refers to the layered administration of small amounts of different drugs to minimize any pain that your pet might feel during or after the procedure. Because we administer lower doses of each individual drug, your pet will experience fewer adverse side effects, more complete pain relief and faster post-operative recovery.
