Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ
What are the hospital hours?
Our hospital hours are:
Mon: 8:30AM – 8PM
Tues-Fri: 8:30AM – 6PM
Sat : 8:30AM – 2PM
Sunday & Holidays: Closed
Do I need to have an appointment?
Yes, patients are seen by appointment.
What forms of payment do you accept?
We accept Debit, Mastercard, Visa, American Express and Cash.
Can I make payments?
Payment is required at the time of service. We do not offer payment plans.
At what age can I have my pet spayed or neutered?
Spaying or neutering can be done at approximately 6 months of age. However, each pet is different, and spaying/neutering may be recommended later.
Your pet is given an exam before surgery to help determine whether your pet is healthy enough to undergo the surgical procedure. Current vaccinations are required at the time of surgery. Also, a pre-anesthetic blood screen is recommended before undergoing anesthesia and surgery.
What is the pre-anesthetic blood screening?
This blood test is run here in the clinic before surgery. It tests the organ functions of your pet. The pre-anesthetic blood screening is done
to assure safety during surgery.
How long do the sutures stay in after my pet’s surgery?
Most of our patients receive dissolving sutures, so suture removal is not required. Procedures involving non-dissolving sutures must
be removed 10-14 days following the surgery.
Is it a good idea to let my pet have at least one litter?
No, there is no advantage to letting your pet have one litter. However, having your pet spayed or neutered has plenty of benefits. These advantages include decreasing the chances of breast tumours later in life, decreasing the chance of cystic ovaries and uterine infections later in life, decreasing the desire to roam the neighbourhood, decreasing the incidence of prostate cancer later in life, helping prevent spraying and marking, and also decreases the surplus of unwanted puppies and kittens.
Surgical FAQ’s
Many people have questions about various aspects of their pet’s surgery, and we hope the information below will help. It also explains the decisions
you will need to make before your pet’s upcoming surgery.
Is the anesthetic safe?
Today’s modern anesthetic monitors have made surgery much safer than in the past. Here at Wingrove Veterinary Services, we do a thorough physical exam on your pet before administering anesthetics to ensure that a fever or other illness won’t be a problem. We also adjust the amount and type of anesthetic used depending on your pet’s health.
Preanesthetic blood testing is essential in reducing the risk of anesthesia. Every pet over seven years of age requires blood testing before surgery to ensure that the liver and kidneys can handle the anesthetic. For pets under seven years of age, however, it is not mandatory in most situations. Even apparently healthy animals can have serious organ system problems that cannot be detected without blood testing. If there is a problem, it is much better to find it before it causes anesthetic or surgical complications. Animals with minor dysfunction will handle the anesthetic better if they receive IV fluids during surgery.
If serious problems are detected, the surgery may be postponed until the issue is resolved.
Surgery must be done on an empty stomach to reduce the risk of vomiting during and after anesthesia. You must withhold food for at least 8 to 10 hours before surgery. Water can be left down for the pet until midnight the night before surgery.
Recommendations for very small or young pets and rodents will vary, so please discuss these situations with our technicians.
Will my pet have stitches?
For most surgeries, we use absorbable sutures underneath the skin. These will dissolve on their own and do not need to be removed later. Some surgeries, especially tumour removals, require skin stitches or skin staples. With either type of suture, you will need to monitor the incision for swelling or discharge. Most dogs and cats do not lick excessively or chew at the incision, but this is an occasional problem you will also need to watch for. Please call the clinic if your pet is licking at the suture line. If there are skin sutures or staples, these will usually be removed 10 to 14 days after surgery. You will also need to limit your pet’s activity level for a time; dogs should be leash walked only for the first week, and no baths or swimming are allowed for the first 10 days after surgery.
Will my pet be in pain?
Anything that causes pain in people can be expected to cause pain in animals. Pets may not show the same pain symptoms as people; they usually don’t whine or cry, but you can be sure they feel it. Pain medications needed will depend on the surgery performed. Major procedures require more pain relief than things like minor lacerations. All patients undergoing surgery will receive pain medication immediately following the surgery. Providing whatever pain relief is appropriate is a humane and caring thing to do for your pet.
What other decisions do I need to make?
While your pet is under anesthesia, it is the ideal time to perform other minor procedures, such as dentistry, ear cleaning, or implanting an identification microchip. If you would like an estimate for these extra services, please call ahead of time. This is especially important if the person dropping the pet off for surgery is not the primary decision maker for the pet’s care.
When you bring your pet in for surgery, we will need 5 to 10 minutes to complete paperwork and make decisions on the blood testing and other available options. Our Technician will talk to you at this time and answer any questions you may have. When you pick up your pet after surgery, you can also plan to spend about 10 minutes going over your pet’s home care needs and details.