What to Expect After Surgery

Your pet will be monitored after surgery to assure that his/her recovery goes smoothly. Pain medication will be administered by either the Puget Sound Animal Hospital nurses or after hours by the nurses of the Animal Emergency Service practice.

After hours the emergency service that shares our building will monitor your pet, administer medication as outlined by your pet’s surgeon, and make sure your pet is comfortable throughout the night. Our doctors will leave specific instructions for the doctors and staff of the emergency service. In the slight chance that your pet has any problems during the night, the Animal Emergency Service will treat your pet.

Occasionally, if it is deemed warranted, one of our doctors may “transfer” a pet to the emergency service and Animal Emergency Service (AES) will assume responsibility of that case for the night. When a case is transferred separate charges will be incurred with AES and will be payable directly to AES.

The morning following your pet’s surgery we request that you call us around 10 am to get an update on your pet’s condition. At that time we may set up a time for you to pick up your pet. Release and pick up times are between the hours of 12:30 pm to 5 pm Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, or between the hours of 9 am and 12 noon on Wednesday and Saturday.

Occasionally a pet will need to stay more than one night. At the time of your call the morning after your pet’s surgery, we will inform you if your pet needs an additional day of hospitalization. It is sometimes possible for a pet to be discharged the same day of surgery if the surgery is uncomplicated. The doctor will let you know if this is the case when he calls after surgery is completed.