400 Bethlehem Rd.  Paris, KY 40361
(859) 987-6721

Your pet has been scheduled for surgery or another procedure that requires anesthesia.
	
Please take the time to read and understand the enclosed anesthesia/surgery consent form.  If you have any questions, please call before the day of surgery.  You will be asked to answer the questions presented on the consent form and to sign the release electronically when you arrive to admit your pet for surgery.

We would like to take this opportunity to recommend pre-anesthetic testing and explain why it is important to the health of your pet.  Like you, our greatest concern is the well-being of your pet.  Before placing your pet under anesthesia, a veterinarian will perform a complete physical examination to identify any existing medical conditions that could complicate the procedure and compromise the health of your pet.

Because there is always the possibility a physical exam alone will not identify all your pet’s health problems, we strongly recommend a pre-anesthetic profile be performed prior to anesthesia.  These tests are recommended regardless of age and apparent health.  The tests we recommend are similar to and equally as important as those your own physician would run if you were to undergo anesthesia. 

It is important to understand that a pre-anesthetic profile does not guarantee the absence of anesthetic complications.  It may, however, greatly reduce the risk of complications as well as identify medical conditions that could require medical treatment in the future.  The test combination we recommend includes such blood parameters to detect kidney function, liver function, diabetes, hydration or dehydration, anemia, infection, and clotting ability.  In younger, healthy pets we will perform a brief panel.  In geriatric patients (those over 6 years) or patients with health problems, we may request to do a more complete blood work up (CBC/Chemistry Panel) with a urinalysis and possible thyroid test.

We request that if you choose to have the pre-anesthetic testing done, that we do it prior to the day of surgery.  This allows us to get the results back prior to surgery.  If any abnormalities are found, we can discuss those and begin any additional testing or treatment prior to surgery.

	You may also choose to have additional procedures that are beneficial to you and your pet performed while your pet is under anesthesia.  Some of these procedures are easier performed while the pet is anesthetized or during recovery.  The cost of these procedures is in addition to the surgery cost.

Again, if you have any questions regarding the pre-anesthetic testing or the procedure itself, please call the clinic.  You may ask to speak to a veterinarian if you need to further clarify any questions.

Reminders prior to surgery:
•	If you chose to have pre-anesthetic testing done, please call us at 987-6721 and schedule an appointment for blood to be drawn no later than the day before the scheduled procedure.
•	Your pet should not have any food or treats after 10:00 p.m. the night before the procedure (diabetics excluded).  Water should be available at all times.  Walk your dog before coming into the clinic.  
•	If your pet is very dirty, please bathe him/her before surgery day.  If he/she is exceedingly dirty/muddy, surgery will be postponed until a later date, after the pet has been bathed.
•	Please have your pet here at 8:00 a.m. the morning of surgery.  We ask that you be absolutely NO later than 8:30 a.m.  You may also bring him/her in the evening before surgery at no extra charge.
	
We will call you when your pet is in recovery and the procedures have been completed.  Most pets undergoing routine surgeries are released the same day if there are no complications (cats being declawed will stay overnight).  We will let you know when we call about what time you can expect to pick up your pet.

Thank you for entrusting the care of your pet to Central Kentucky Veterinary Services.