Surgery & Anesthesia
Your Pet’s Wellbeing and
Comfort Come First
At South Hyland Pet Hospital, we understand that surgery and anesthesia can be stressful for both you and your pet. Our protocols are designed to provide the highest levels of care, monitoring, and comfort, so you can feel confident your companion is in good hands.
What is Anesthesia?
General anesthesia is a medically induced state of unconsciousness allowing procedures to be performed safely and humanely. It typically involves a combination of injection and/or inhalation drugs to provide:
- Muscle relaxation
- Analgesia (pain relief)
- Hypnosis and amnesia (unconsciousness)
Is Anesthesia Safe?
Anesthesia always carries some risk, but with careful planning and monitoring, it can be performed safely. As Robert M. Smith, M.D., said, “There are no safe anesthetic agents; there are no safe anesthetic procedures; there are only safe anesthetists.”
Our strategies to minimize risk include:
- Comprehensive pre-anesthetic physical exam and blood work
- Pre-anesthetic equipment safety check
- Balanced anesthesia and pain management protocols
- Hands-on monitoring by certified veterinary technicians
- Advanced electronic vital signs monitoring (heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, temperature)
- Peri-operative temperature management
- IV fluid therapy to maintain blood pressure and organ function
- Monitored recovery and post-operative care until your pet is stable
Assessing Anesthetic Risk
Every pet is unique. Before anesthesia, we evaluate each patient’s overall health, age, and medical history, and assign a risk score using the ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) classification:
- Class I – Minimal Risk: Healthy pet with no underlying conditions
- Class II – Slight Risk: Mild, well -controlled systemic disease
- Class III – Moderate Risk: Moderate systemic disease that may affect anesthesia
- Class IV – High Risk: Severe systemic disease that is a constant threat to life
- Class V – Extreme Risk: Critically ill, patient that is not expected to survive 24 hours with or without surgery.
Elective procedures are typically performed on Class I–III patients. For higher-risk pets (Class IV–V), we carefully tailor anesthetic protocols to maximize safety and minimize stress, ensuring the best possible outcome.
Pre-Anesthetic Preparation
- Physical Exam & Blood Work: Detects hidden conditions and guides anesthetic and pain management planning.
- Equipment Safety Check: All anesthesia equipment is tested and double-checked to ensure reliability and reduce procedure time.
- Balanced Anesthesia & Pain Management: Combining analgesics, sedatives, and anesthetics reduces stress, minimizes required anesthetic doses, and promotes smoother recovery.
Monitoring During Surgery
- Hands-On & Electronic Monitoring: A certified technician continuously monitors vital signs and communicates with the veterinarian to adjust anesthesia as needed.
- Peri-Operative Temperature Management: Maintains safe body temperature for proper metabolism of anesthetic agents.
- IV Fluid Therapy: Maintains blood pressure, prevents hypotension, and allows rapid medication administration if required.
Post-Operative Care & Recovery
Your pet will recover in a calm, warm environment with frequent monitoring of vital signs. Every effort is made to ensure comfort and safety.
Going Home:
- You will receive clear instructions for post-operative care, including pain medication, activity restrictions, feeding guidelines, and warning signs to watch for.
- We will follow up with a call the next day to check on progress.
- Ongoing support from your veterinarian for any questions or concerns.
Why Choose South Hyland Pet Hospital for Surgery?
- Experienced surgical team with advanced anesthetic monitoring
- Transparent communication about risks, benefits, alternatives, and recovery expectations
- Full range of procedures, from routine spays/neuters to advanced soft tissue surgeries
- Access to referrals or collaboration with board-certified surgeons for complex cases
- Focus on comfort, monitoring, and recovery — not just the procedure
Ready to Schedule or Have Questions?
Call or text: (952) 884-1868
Request an Appointment: PetDesk App
Email: southhyland@southhyland.com
Our team is committed to making every surgical experience as smooth, safe, and stress-free as possible for both you and your pet.