surgery
At The Drake Center, every pet and procedure is different, but our standard of care is the same for all.
Our advanced anesthetic procedures combine cutting edge technology with old-fashioned hands-on care. Each patient is expertly treated by our surgery team, including one doctor, two registered veterinary technicians (RVTs) and one veterinary assistant. This allows us to offer a 2:1 nurse to patient ratio, meaning two highly-trained veterinary nurses provide care for every one hospitalized patient. This includes careful observation for comfort and safety, compassionate nursing care and of course, plenty of affection.
At The Drake Center, we maintain the safest anesthetic protocols and are very proud of our safety record. Prior to surgery, each patient is given a thorough physical exam to assess his/her general health. Lab tests are also performed to ensure liver and kidney functions are within normal limits.
During surgery, one technician is dedicated to monitoring the patient's anesthesia — including measuring his/her heart rate, EKG, blood pressure, blood oxygen level, body temperature and carbon dioxide output — from the start of the procedure until he/she is fully awake. This allows us to diagnose any problems and adjust the anesthesia accordingly for each individual. An IV catheter is placed to provide fluid support and rapid medication administration, when necessary. A Bair Hugger warming blanket is also used during each procedure to support core body temperature.
Following surgery, each patient is closely monitored to ensure a comfortable recovery.
Remember, our staff is here to communicate with you every step of the way. Once the procedure is complete, the doctor will call you and schedule a dismissal time, during which she will address any additional questions or concerns.
The day after the procedure, we will contact you again to make sure your pet is doing well and recovering as we expect.