Surgery & Hospitalisation

We know how daunting it can be when your pet is poorly or needs to have surgery. We aim to make this experience as stress-free as possible for you and your pet. Here is an outline of what to expect.

• For most routine procedures, we usually collect pets early in the morning and return them to you in the afternoon. We are happy for you to bring your pet to the surgery if you would prefer.
• We will call you the day before the procedure to confirm the appointment and collection time. We will also discuss feeding and medication instructions for the night before and the morning of the procedure and answer any questions you may have.
• Our surgery is unique because we only have a maximum of two to three patients at any time. This means that your pet will receive lots of time, attention, and cuddles!
• On the day, your pet will stay in its own individual kennel. Cats are kept in a quiet area away from other animals. Dogs are kept in the main office. If they are unsettled, we often supervise them outside the kennel, on a blanket on the floor, or if small enough, on a lap.
• We will call you once the procedure is complete and keep you updated throughout the day.
• When it is time to go home, we will return your pet to you at the prearranged time. They will come home with everything they need for their recovery. We will ensure that you are happy knowing what they need for their recovery and will arrange a post-operative check.

All our hospitalised pets receive the same level of attention. We will keep you informed of their progress and discuss with you the treatment options each step of the way.

Further Investigations

It is often beneficial to perform further investigations as this helps us to find out exactly what is wrong with your pet. Listening to your concerns, along with a physical/ visual examination, is always the starting point. Still, many illnesses cause similar symptoms and to give your pet the most appropriate treatment for their condition, it is essential to pin down the root cause.

Diagnostic tests such as radiography, ultrasound examinations and blood and urine tests are carried out at the surgery. Here we can also take samples of lumps and perform exploratory surgery if required. If your pet requires specialist investigations that we do not have the equipment to carry out, for example, MRI scanning or endoscopy, we will discuss a referral with you.

Referrals

We are happy to make a referral for complex cases or pets requiring treatments or investigations that we do not routinely carry out (cruciate ligament surgery or MRI scans, for example). We have several excellent and trusted referral centres in Norfolk and Suffolk. If you would like a referral for your pet and the vet has not suggested it, please let us know.