Companion Animal
Surgery
Information for Clients
The
Companion Animal Surgery Service at LSU accepts new clients only
by referral from your family veterinarian. We depend on your
veterinarian to determine when a referral is needed, and then work him
or her to provide the most optimal care for your pet.
Once the referral has been made, you may contact our office to
schedule an appointment. We can be reached by calling 225-578-9600. We
see appointments on Monday afternoons and Wednesday mornings.
Scheduled surgeries are performed on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.
Urgent referrals
and emergencies are seen throughout the day by special arrangement.
The Hospital is open 24 hours a day seven days a week for general
emergencies. Please phone 225-578-9600.
A team
consisting of an ACVS-boarded veterinary surgeon, a veterinary
surgical resident, a veterinary intern, and a 4th-year veterinary
student will care for your pet. Your surgery team may consult with
other services (e.g., anesthesia, radiology, internal medicine, soft
tissue surgery, oncology, cardiology, ophthalmology, dermatology,
clinical pathology, microbiology) if the expertise of those
disciplines would be beneficial for your pet.
What should I bring to the
consultation?
If possible, any information regarding previous radiographs, lab test
results, and medical history should be brought to the initial
consultation. Also bring any medication that your pet is taking. We
will use this information in combination with a thorough examination
of your pet in order to make our initial evaluation.
What should I expect during
the consultation?
A senior veterinary student will obtain the initial medical history.
The student will then have you return to the waiting room while your
pet is taken into the hospital and examined by the orthopedic team.
Once your pet has been examined, the student and at least one
clinician will meet with you to discuss the options for diagnosis and
treatment. If further diagnostic or surgical procedures are
recommended and you wish to proceed, you will be given an estimate of
the costs and the length of hospital stay.
In general, simple radiographs can be performed within a few hours on
an outpatient basis. The pet is usually sedated to allow for more
accurate radiographic positioning, and will decrease potential anxiety
or discomfort. In order to safely sedate your pet, it should not eat
after 10:00 pm the night prior to the appointment, but drinking water is
okay. If your pet is sick or very young (less than 3 months old)
please check with our service prior to the appointment as to whether
fasting is recommended.
Will my pet be
hospitalized?
If your pet’s problem requires more extensive diagnostic procedures or
surgery, it will normally be admitted as an inpatient for these
procedures. Surgery is not usually performed on the same day as the
appointment, unless it is an emergency. Animals that are medically unstable
or painful will be admitted to the intensive care unit,
where they will receive 24-hour care by certified veterinary
technicians.
While under anesthesia for surgery, your pet is monitored constantly
by a veterinary student and anesthesia technician, under the guidance
of veterinary anesthetists. After surgery, the surgery student will
sit with your pet until it has completely recovered from the
anesthesia. Most pets will be kept on some type of pain medication for
several days after surgery.
When can my pet come home?
Most pets are monitored in the hospital for at least one night after
surgery, possibly more, depending on the intensity of the
postoperative care required. During the hospital stay, you will be
given daily telephone updates regarding the status of your pet. You
may also arrange to visit your pet while it is hospitalized. When your
pet is ready to go home we will arrange a time that is as convenient
as possible. Weekend or evening discharge times can be arranged.
At the time of discharge, you will be given a written summary of the
tests and procedures performed. In addition, the home care and
follow-up recommendations will be discussed with you.
