FAQs

A board-certified surgeon is a veterinarian who has undergone a rigorous 3 year residency program and then passed an exam to become an expert in veterinary surgery. The residency includes a wide range of veterinary surgery, some examples include advanced orthopedic procedures, soft tissue surgeries, and oncologic (cancer) surgeries.

Your pet may be referred to a boarded surgeon for more advanced or challenging surgeries. Stitches Veterinary Surgery is equipped with the latest cutting edge techniques and technologies to provide minimally invasive surgery which allows faster healing time for your pet.

We understand that a pet’s care should be as seamless as possible between the specialist and the primary care doctor. We share all recommendations and records with your primary veterinarian to allow for a unified approach which in turn provides better care for your pet.

Our goal is to have every pet recover with minimal discomfort in their own home. Your pet would spend the day with our team and have their initial post-op recovery at the hospital. Later that afternoon, you will be able to bring them home to familiar surroundings where we feel recovery is smoother. If your pet needs additional monitoring or overnight care, we will help to transfer your pet to one of our trusted local emergency clinics to provide overnight care.

We utilize arthroscopy to visualize joints, laparoscopy to visualize internal organs, and fluoroscopy to visualize bones. All of these techniques allow for faster healing times due to multiple small incisions rather than 1 large one.

Our focus is on specialized surgical procedures. Therefore, we do not perform routine spays and neuters. However, if your pet is referred for a specialized procedure, such as a laparoscopic spay or laparoscopic cryptorchid neuter, we are happy to assist with that.

Yes, many pets will go home the same day due to our effective pain management approach. We prioritize a smooth recovery for your pet, allowing them to return home comfortably.

We offer a range of specialty surgical procedures including orthopedic, soft tissue surgery, laparoscopic, oncologic (cancer) surgery, and minimally invasive surgery (arthroscopic and fluoroscopic). We do not perform traditional spays, neuters, or basic surgical procedures that are best handled by your pet’s primary veterinarian. Please consult with our team for specific services.

Ensure your pet is fasting for the recommended period before surgery. We will provide you with specific pre-operative instructions when you schedule the appointment.

On the day of surgery, you will be greeted by one of our team members who will guide you through the process by reviewing the procedure and answering any questions. After surgery, a team member will guide you through the post-operative care journey.

Yes. Follow-up appointments are a vital component of your pet’s post-operative recovery. We will schedule this with you at the time of discharge.

We utilize a comprehensive pain management protocol tailored to your pet’s needs. This may include medications administered before, during and after surgery to ensure their comfort. One particular pain medication that is given directly into the surgery site is called Nocita. This medication helps to numb the surgery site which minimizes pain during your pets recovery. Additional pain medications will be prescribed as needed.

If you have any concerns about your pet’s recovery or behavior after surgery, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are here to help and will guide you on the best course of action. Call us at (562) 579-4899 or send an email to info@stitchesvet.com.

It’s not unusual for pets to go several days without a bowel movement after surgery, and delays of up to 7 days or longer have been documented in some cases. If your pet is eating normally, that’s a positive sign that their intestinal movement is functioning properly. To encourage bowel movements, consider introducing a high-fiber prescription diet specifically designed for this purpose. You can also add fiber to their regular diet using options like canned pumpkin, bran cereal, or products such as Metamucil, Konsyl, or Siblin. A member of your pet’s surgical team can guide you on the appropriate amounts to use.

Please keep an eye out for any signs of straining or discomfort while your pet is trying to defecate. If your pet is straining, appears to be in pain while attempting to defecate, or has not had a bowel movement for more than 5–7 days, please contact us, an emergency veterinarian, or your primary veterinarian if it’s outside of our business hours. Please stop meds for 12 hours and call us ASAP. Your pet’s comfort and health are our top priority.

It’s not unusual for pets to experience a delay in urination after surgery. Several factors can contribute to this including, but not limited to, the the placement of a urinary catheters, bandages, sedation, and the effects of anesthesia. In select cases, orthopedic surgical patients may have a urinary catheter in place during their hospital stay. This is typically removed just before discharge. As a result, some pets may not have a full bladder until the following day. In patients that have not had a catheter placed, a delay in urination may be due to sedation, anesthesia, pain medications, or a change in schedule (behavioral).

To support your pet’s recovery, ensure they have regular access to fresh water and encourage frequent outdoor bathroom breaks. It’s best to avoid using piddle pads or introducing new potty areas, as changes to their routine may affect their willingness to eliminate. If your pet is straining, appears to be in pain while trying to urinate, or hasn’t urinated for more than 36 hours, please reach out to us, an emergency veterinarian, or your primary veterinarian if it’s outside of our business hours. Your pet’s well-being is our top priority!

No, this is not okay. Licking significantly increases the risk of post-surgical infection. Additionally, licking, chewing or excessive grooming can traumatize the region or induce additional inflammation. An E-collar should be worn at all times to prevent this. Please ask if alternatives are suitable.

Please monitor your pet while they are wearing the E-collar to ensure it is the proper size for your pet and that they are not able to remove the E-collar on their own volition. Placing the loops of the E-collar through your pet’s personal collar may prevent the E-collar from being easily removed.

Increasing anti-anxiety medication may also help your pet maintain the E-collar. If you need help adjusting your pet’s sedative medications, please call our office or refer to your discharge instructions, and/or medication label.

Please do not apply topical medications unless instructed to do so by a veterinarian. If the surgical site becomes severely soiled with dirt, urine or feces, light cleaning with a moist toilette (baby wipes) is appropriate.

Please remove all soiled bedding from your pet’s crate/pen. Assess your pet, as well as the wound dressing, bandage, splint or incisions (if no bandage in place) to see if any urine or feces have transferred through the bandage to the skin level. Gently clean any areas that are not bandaged with mild soap and water or baby wipes.

If moisture has penetrated all layers of the bandage, it will need to be removed, and/or replaced. Please call the office during business hours to set up an appointment. If this occurs over the weekend, please consult an emergency clinic or your primary veterinarian.

Surgery can be an unusual experience for pets and it takes them a while to adjust to feeling normal. It may take your pet several days to regain their appetite. Medications and the type of surgery they had may also influence their appetite. Although rare, you may also notice that your pet is drooling or lip-smacking, which may represent nausea.

If your pet is feeling nauseous but has not vomited, offer a bland diet and do not administer an NSAID (Carprofen, Meloxicam, Galliprant, Onsior) or antibiotic until they regain their appetite which may take several days. If your pet is vomiting, discontinue food for 12 hours and all medications for 24 hours. Offer only a bland diet (see attached bland diet handout). Medications can be resumed once your pet eats and does not vomit.

If vomiting persists, call your primary veterinarian’s office, or an emergency facility or Stitches Veterinary Surgery if during our normal business hours.

Diarrhea can occur following surgery. If your pet is experiencing diarrhea, discontinue all medications for 12 hours and offer a bland diet (see attached bland diet handout). Make sure your pet does not soil their bandages or incisions. Diarrhea can be gently cleaned using wet wipes. If skin irritation develops from cleaning, Desitin (infant diaper rash cream) can be applied to the affected areas. If diarrhea persists, call your primary veterinarian’s office, or an emergency facility or Stitches Veterinary Surgery if during our normal business hours.

Dogs can pant for many reasons. Dogs can pant to cool off when they are anxious, playful or in pain. If your dog is panting and crying at the same time this could be a sign of anxiety and/or pain. While we strive to ensure our pain management protocol is comprehensive, if you feel your pet is in pain, we encourage you to call Stitches Veterinary Surgery during normal business hours, your pet’s primary veterinarian, or an emergency facility for additional pain medication. Cats rarely pant, so if open mouth breathing is seen in your cat, please call an emergency facility.

The level of sedation required can vary for every pet. Your pet should still be able to respond to their name, or touch. If your pet cannot lift its head or doesn’t respond to you, they are likely over-sedated. If your pet is urinating or defecating while asleep (urinary and fecal incontinence) or inappropriately eliminating while away (i.e. defecating without recognizing that it is happening), your pet may be over-sedated. If you feel your pet is over-sedated, please lower dose of anti-anxiety medications (ie. Trazodone, acepromazine, etc) by half for 24 hours, then restart at that lower dose.

Please follow your discharge instructions and prescription labels regarding the dose range for their sedatives. If your pet is non-responsive or you see changes to their respiration rate, heart rate or gum color please seek emergency care.

The level of sedation can vary for every pet. Please see the above question regarding over-sedation in pets. Ideally, your pet will be resting calmly at home with the assistance of anti-anxiety medications. Pacing, whining, excessive barking, jumping, or standing for prolonged periods in their confinement are all signs that suggest an increase in anti-anxiety medications are needed. Please follow your discharge instructions and prescription labels regarding dose range of sedative medications. If your pet is initially over-sedate when commencing a sedation medication regime then postponing or canceling the next dosage will help the sedative effect normalize.

Restarting sedation with a half dose initially to determine if some fine-tuning of medication is necessary is often helpful. Further discussion of these changes in medication amounts and frequency of administration can be done by calling our staff during normal business hours.