What is a spay?

A spay, otherwise known as an ovariohysterectomy or OHE, removes both ovaries and the uterus.

When will my pet’s surgery happen?

Surgical procedures occur between 8:30am and 1pm depending on how many and what type of procedures are scheduled that day. We cannot guarantee what time your pet’s surgery will start within that window and the order of procedures is at veterinarian discretion.

When will I get an update on my pet?

The veterinarian will call you once your pet’s procedure is done and she is in recovery, usually no later than 1pm.

How long does my pet have to stay, when can I pick them up?

Most pets are able to go home the same day between 2-5pm depending on when their surgery is done and how they are recovering. They can stay as late as 7pm, which is our last available discharge time. Pets do not stay overnight. The veterinarian will arrange the discharge appointment time when she calls following the surgery. Please come at your scheduled discharge appointment time.

Where does my pet stay while at Aurora Animal Hospital?

Each pet stays in their own individual kennel either in the treatment area or the dog ward where there are larger runs for larger dogs. Or in the case of cats in the more quiet cat ward where they are not able to see dogs. All pets get comfortable bedding and are monitored closely both before and after surgery. Nervous pets are usually relaxed after surgery recovery due to the sedatives used for surgery and do not mind being in a kennel even if they’re not used to it.

What happens at the discharge appointment?

At the discharge appointment, the veterinary technician will go over the medications, post-operative activity restrictions, feeding instructions, and answer any questions you may have. This usually takes about 20-30 minutes.

Do sutures need to be removed later?

The sutures for spays are buried under the skin and do not need to be removed.

Will my pet need medications to go home?

Yes, a spay is an abdominal surgery and pets need pain medications following the procedure but usually antibiotics are not necessary.

What is included on the estimate?

The spay charge itself includes up to an hour of oxygen and gas anesthesia, IV fluids, anesthetic monitoring by a Certified Veterinary Technician, all medications used for anesthesia, surgical pain control, surgery, and recovery, as well as surgical instruments and supplies. These line items under the spay are $0 because they are included in the package. Not all of the medications listed on the estimate are used in every case, usually it is a combination of a few of them depending on the pet's health status, breed, age, and type of procedure.

The Class IV Laser Postop Treatment is an optional laser treatment after the surgery is completed to reduce pain and inflammation along the incision, which makes pets more comfortable after surgery and can accelerate healing.

What is a neuter?

A neuter, otherwise known as castration, removes both testicles (but not the scrotum).

When will my pet’s surgery happen?

Surgical procedures occur between 8:30am and 1pm depending on how many and what type of procedures are scheduled that day. We cannot guarantee what time your pet’s surgery will start within that window and the order of procedures is at veterinarian discretion.

When will I get an update on my pet?

The veterinarian will call you once your pet’s procedure is done and he is in recovery, usually no later than 1pm.

How long does my pet have to stay, when can I pick them up?

Most pets are able to go home the same day between 2-5pm depending on when their surgery is done and how they are recovering. They can stay as late as 7pm, which is our last available discharge time. Pets do not stay overnight. The veterinarian will arrange the discharge appointment time when she calls following the surgery. Please come at your scheduled discharge appointment time.

Where does my pet stay while at Aurora Animal Hospital?

Each pet stays in their own individual kennel either in the treatment area or the dog ward where there are larger runs for larger dogs. Or in the case of cats in the more quiet cat ward where they are not able to see dogs. All pets get comfortable bedding and are monitored closely both before and after surgery. Nervous pets are usually relaxed after surgery recovery due to the sedatives used for surgery and do not mind being in a kennel even if they’re not used to it.

What happens at the discharge appointment?

At the discharge appointment, the veterinary technician will go over the medications, post-operative activity restrictions, feeding instructions, and answer any questions you may have. This usually takes about 20-30 minutes.

Do sutures need to be removed later?

The sutures for neuters are buried under the skin and do not need to be removed.

Will my pet need medications to go home?

Yes, a neuter is a surgery and pets need pain medications following the procedure but usually antibiotics are not necessary.

What is included on the estimate?

The neuter charge itself includes up to an hour of oxygen and gas anesthesia, IV fluids, anesthetic monitoring by a Certified Veterinary Technician, all medications used for anesthesia, surgical pain control, surgery, and recovery, as well as surgical instruments and supplies. These line items under the neuter are $0 because they are included in the package. Not all of the medications listed on the estimate are used in every case, usually it is a combination of a few of them depending on the pet's health status, breed, age, and type of procedure.

The Class IV Laser Postop Treatment is an optional laser treatment after the surgery is completed to reduce pain and inflammation along the incision, which makes pets more comfortable after surgery and can accelerate healing.

What is included in a dental?

A dental, also known as a COHAT (Comprehensive Oral Health Assessment and Treatment), includes evaluation of gingival health, dental tartar removal, full ultrasonic scaling, polishing, and x-rays of every tooth in the mouth. Anesthesia is required to perform the full assessment and address any areas of concern appropriately.

When will my pet’s dental happen?

Dental procedures occur between 8:30am and 1pm depending on how many and what type of procedures are scheduled that day. We cannot guarantee what time your pet’s surgery will start within that window and the order of procedures is at veterinarian discretion.

When will I get an update on my pet?

The veterinarian will call you once your pet’s procedure is done and they are in recovery, usually no later than 1pm.

How long does my pet have to stay, when can I pick them up?

Most pets are able to go home the same day between 2-5pm depending on when their dental is done and how they are recovering. Pets do not stay overnight, a discharge appointment will be scheduled with you.

Where does my pet stay while at Aurora Animal Hospital?

Each pet stays in their own individual kennel either in the treatment area or the dog ward where there are larger runs for larger dogs. Or in the case of cats in the more quiet cat ward where they are not able to see dogs. All pets get comfortable bedding and are monitored closely both before and after surgery. Nervous pets are usually relaxed after surgery recovery due to the sedatives used for surgery and do not mind being in a kennel even if they’re not used to it.

What happens at the discharge appointment?

At the discharge appointment, the veterinary technician will go over the medications, post-operative activity restrictions, feeding instructions, and answer any questions you may have. This usually takes about 20-30 minutes.

Will my pet need teeth extracted?

Each tooth is individually evaluated for health above and below the gumline. Extractions are only recommended for teeth losing significant bone attachment, being fractured enough to expose the pulp, having evidence of advanced disease or when they are a source of pain/infection. Some extractions may not be identified until during the dental itself as the teeth are being examined more thoroughly than most pets allow when they are awake.

Do sutures need to be removed later?

If extractions are performed, the sutures are dissolvable and do not need to be removed.

Will my pet need medications to go home?

If there are any extractions pets need pain medications following the procedure. Generally antibiotics are not necessary as long as the diseased tooth was removed.

What is included on the estimate?

The dental charge itself includes tartar removal, full ultrasonic scaling, polishing, and x-rays of every tooth in the mouth, up to an hour of oxygen and gas anesthesia, IV fluids, anesthetic monitoring by a Registered Veterinary Technician, all medications used for anesthesia, surgical pain control, surgery, and recovery, as well as surgical instruments and supplies. These line items under the dental are $0 because they are included in the package. Not all of the medications listed on the estimate are used in every case, usually it is a combination of a few of them depending on the pet's health status, breed, age, and type of procedure.

Oral Surgery per minute and the dental pack will only apply if your pet needs extractions, which may not be identified until during the dental itself as the teeth are being examined more thoroughly than most pets allow when they are awake. Extractions are charged based on time rather than individual teeth as the time it takes to remove a tooth safely varies greatly based on the type of tooth and degree of disease present. The dental pack and nerve block applies if extractions are needed. If extractions take long enough to exceed the included hour of anesthesia then the "Anesthesia (extra - per 30 min)" will apply.

The Class IV Laser Postop Treatment is an optional laser treatment after the surgery is completed to reduce pain and inflammation along the incision, which makes pets more comfortable after surgery and can accelerate healing.

Why is there such a large range on the estimate?

The range on the estimate has the dental procedure alone on the lower end of the estimate and up to 60 (or otherwise specified) minutes of extraction time with all associated costs on the high end of the estimate. Most pets end up somewhere in the middle range of the estimate unless the teeth are severely diseased or very difficult to remove. If we anticipate exceeding the estimate's high end we will always try to call you first to discuss it.

What happens during a mass removal procedure?

An incision is made on or around a mass and the abnormal tissue is removed. The incision is closed with sutures under the skin or on top of the skin depending on the location and type of incision. The goal is to remove all of the abnormal tissue but some masses will extend microscopically into surrounding tissues and either not be visible or not be able to removed due to the risk of damaging surrounding tissues.

How do you know which masses to remove?

Even if we have examined your pet and their masses before, we will always double check exactly which masses you want to remove at the time of check in to ensure we are removing the correct one(s). Please be ready to point out exactly where they are and how many in total.

Do I need to do histopathology?

Histopathology refers to sending the abnormal tissue sample out to the lab for analysis. A pathologist will evaluate the tissues to determine the type of abnormality and this usually takes 1-2 weeks for most cases. It is recommended to send any removed masses out for histopathology to determine if they are cancerous, if they were completely removed, and what further treatment may be needed based on the type of mass present. Without this information we cannot predict if it will grow back, spread to other parts of the body, or if they are cured by surgery. Cancerous and benign masses can look exactly the same to the naked eye but histopathology can tell the difference.

When will my pet’s surgery happen?

Surgical procedures occur between 8:30am and 1pm depending on how many and what type of procedures are scheduled that day. We cannot guarantee what time your pet’s surgery will start within that window and the order of procedures is at veterinarian discretion.

When will I get an update on my pet?

The veterinarian will call you once your pet’s procedure is done and they are in recovery, usually no later than 1pm.

How long does my pet have to stay, when can I pick them up?

Most pets are able to go home the same day between 2-5pm depending on when their surgery is done and how they are recovering. They can stay as late as 7pm, which is our last available discharge time. Pets do not stay overnight. The veterinarian will arrange the discharge appointment time when she calls following the surgery. Please come at your scheduled discharge appointment time.

Where does my pet stay while at Aurora Animal Hospital?

Each pet stays in their own individual kennel either in the treatment area or the dog ward where there are larger runs for larger dogs. Or in the case of cats in the more quiet cat ward where they are not able to see dogs. All pets get comfortable bedding and are monitored closely both before and after surgery. Nervous pets are usually relaxed after surgery recovery due to the sedatives used for surgery and do not mind being in a kennel even if they’re not used to it.

What happens at the discharge appointment?

At the discharge appointment, the veterinary technician will go over the medications, post-operative activity restrictions, feeding instructions, and answer any questions you may have. This usually takes about 20-30 minutes.

Do sutures need to be removed later?

Sometimes sutures are buried under the skin and do not need to be removed, and sometimes there are sutures in the skin layer that do need to be removed 10-14 days later.

Will my pet need medications to go home?

Yes, pets need pain medications following the procedure but usually antibiotics are not necessary.

What is included on the estimate?

Surgery/mass removals are based on the time it takes to perform the surgery/remove the mass. We estimate the time based on a visual inspection of the area during the most recent exam, however some surgeries are more complicated based on internal structures so this is just an estimate. The low end of the estimate accounts for a very straightforward and fast procedure, whereas the high end of the estimate includes longer surgery time in case of some complications (in addition to some other variables described below).

The anesthesia charge itself includes up to an hour of oxygen and gas anesthesia, IV fluids, anesthetic monitoring by a Certified Veterinary Technician, all medications used for anesthesia, surgical pain control, surgery, and recovery, as well as surgical instruments and supplies. These line items under the anesthesia are $0 because they are included in the package. Not all of the medications listed on the estimate are used in every case, usually it is a combination of a few of them depending on the pet's health status, breed, age, and type of procedure.

What is a TPLO?

A TPLO, otherwise known as a Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO), is a procedure to stabilize the knee after a cranial cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture. It is performed by board certified orthopedic surgeon Dr. Preston Stubbs.

When will my pet’s surgery happen?

Surgical procedures occur between 8:30am and 4pm depending on how many and what type of procedures are scheduled that day. We cannot guarantee what time your pet’s surgery will start within that window and the order of procedures is at veterinarian discretion. We will try to give you a rough estimate on when to expect your pet’s surgery will happen at the start of the day, when possible.

When will I get an update on my pet?

The veterinarian will contact you once your pet’s procedure is done and they are in recovery.

How long does my pet have to stay, when can I pick them up?

Pets are able to go home the same day between 5:30-7:30pm depending on when their surgery is done and how they are recovering. Pets do not stay overnight. The veterinarian will arrange the discharge appointment time when they call following the surgery. Please come at your scheduled discharge appointment time.

Where does my pet stay while at Aurora Animal Hospital?

Each pet stays in their own individual kennel either in the treatment area or the dog ward where there are larger runs for larger dogs. All pets get comfortable bedding and are monitored closely both before and after surgery. Nervous pets are usually relaxed after surgery recovery due to the sedatives used for surgery and do not mind being in a kennel even if they’re not used to it.

What happens at the discharge appointment?

At the discharge appointment, the veterinary technician will go over the medications, post-operative activity restrictions, feeding instructions, and answer any questions you may have. This usually takes about 20-30 minutes.

Do sutures need to be removed later?

The sutures for TPLO procedures need to be removed 10-14 days after surgery.

Does the TPLO implant/plate need to be removed later?

The implant is only necessary for the first few months after surgery to stabilize the healing bone but it can remain lifelong in the vast majority of dogs. Very rarely (<5% risk) the plate can become infected in the future and will need to be removed in those cases.

Will my pet need medications to go home?

Yes, TPLO’s need pain medications, sedatives, and antibiotics following the procedure.

What is included on the estimate?

The TPLO is performed by a board certified orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Stubbs, and includes the metal implant plate used to stabilize the bone during healing. The Anesthesia charge itself includes up to an hour of oxygen and gas anesthesia, IV fluids, anesthetic monitoring by a Certified Veterinary Technician, all medications used for anesthesia, pain control, surgery, and recovery, as well as surgical instruments and supplies. These line items under the anesthesia are $0 because they are included. Not all of the medications listed are used in every case, usually it is a combination of a few of them depending on the pet's health status, breed, age, and type of procedure. Nocita is a long acting pain medication injected directly into the joint that significantly reduces post-operative pain. The TPLO procedure usually lasts about an hour and a half so the additional anesthesia time is the next item below.

There are 3 Post-op Radiograph charges - one is performed right after the surgery to ensure that the surgery was successful. The next set is performed at 4 weeks after the surgery and then again at 8 weeks after the surgery to monitor the healing progress.

The Send Home Medication Additional line item refers to medications that will be sent home, which includes pain medications and sedatives to help during the recovery period, as well as antibiotics to reduce the risk of infection.

The Class IV Laser Postop Treatment is an optional laser treatment after the surgery is completed to reduce pain and inflammation along the incision, which makes pets more comfortable after surgery and can accelerate healing.