Questions to Ask the Vet When Preparing for Amputation
- Have a list of your medications and supplements and review them with the surgeon. Which ones should be stopped, and how far in advance? Some anti-inflammatories and herbs have blood –thinning properties and should be stopped several days before. If your surgeon is not your regular vet, check with your regular vet first.
- Ask the surgeon which medications should be stopped, how far in advance, and why. If the surgeon recommends stopping all medications, including pain medicines, ask what you should do for pain management until the day of surgery.
- Is there 24 hour coverage for post op patients at the vet hospital? If so, who watches them? How often are they checked? Can the surgeon or covering doctor be reached at any time if necessary? (If not, you may want to strongly consider bringing your dog home the same day of surgery). If you can’t do that and there is no one there overnight, can you hire a vet tech to watch him until the next morning?
- If your hospital doesn’t offer 24 hr emergency care, where is the nearest facility?
- What pain medications will be given after the surgery? Pain Management morphine? fentanyl? torbugesic? codeine? tramadol? What are the side effects? How long will the dog be on these medicines? When was the last dose before discharge?
- When can you restart supplements (if you stopped them pre-op)?
- Will there be a bandage? If so, when should it be changed? If not, what should you cover the wound with, if anything? Is it okay to use a T-shirt or boxer shorts to protect the wound?
- Should you apply ice over the surgical site? If so, when can you start and for how long at a time?
- How much wound drainage is “normal”? When will the drainage start? What parameters should you use to call the doctor?
- How much swelling should you expect at the surgical site?
- Are antibiotics being prescribed? When was the last dose before discharge, and when is the next dose due? Can it be given without food? Will the pain medicines affect the antibiotic or vice-versa?
- How much activity is allowed? On the first day home?, second day? etc.