Loading

Surgery Guide


» My pet might need surgery. What should I expect?
» How much will it cost?
» Is financing available?
» What kind of aftercare will be necessary?

Preparing for Surgery
» Pre-Surgical Instructions
» Traveling from out of town?

Aftercare
» Diligent aftercare: an important component of successful intraocular surgery
» What to Expect Following Surgery
» When is it an emergency?

What to Expect

Surgery recommendations are made following an ophthalmic exam. Many of our surgeries require additional diagnostic testing such as electroretinograms, ocular ultrasound, and bloodwork before deciding if the patient is a good candidate. We will provide you with written estimates of all recommended procedures before performing them. With your consent, diagnostics and surgery can be scheduled.

How much will it cost?
The cost of surgery will vary depending on the procedure and variations during the surgery. We include the first post-operative recheck in this cost (not including additional medications or unexpected tests). However, most of our procedures require several follow-up exams and an intensive medication regimen in the months following surgery. The financial and time commitment this entails is important to consider when deciding if surgery is the right thing for you and your companion.

Is financing available?
We offer financing through a company called CareCredit, who can finance the cost of surgery for up to one year without interest. You may apply for a line of credit online or on the phone at 1 (800) 365-8295. If you are approved, you will be given an account number that you can begin using right away. You will receive a CareCredit card in 7-10 days, and a statement will be mailed to you monthly. If you are using a CareCredit payment plan to cover the cost of surgery and would like to lump future rechecks into this sum, please let us know and we can make the necessary arrangements.

What kind of aftercare will be necessary?
Though some surgeries, such as enucleations (eye removal), will only need one post-operative examination and minimal medications, the majority of our procedures require several follow-up examinations in the weeks and months following surgery, along with daily topical and oral medications, some of which may be tapered over time.

In the case of intraocular procedures such as cataract surgery, a more intensive medical regimen following surgery is required, including post-operative exams at 24 hours, 1 week, 3 weeks, 2 months, and possibly more based on your pet’s recovery. The 24-hour recheck is included in the cost of surgery, barring additional medications that may be prescribed. These rechecks are necessary to monitor your pet’s healing and ensure the surgery’s success. Intraocular procedures also require many topical and oral medications given several hours apart in the weeks following surgery, along with strict use of an Elizabethan collar to protect the surgery site from damage. Due to the commitment required, we want every owner considering this surgery for their pet to be aware and prepared for the aftercare they will need to provide.

Back to Top

Preparing for Surgery

All surgery patients should receive our Pre-Surgical Instructions (PDF) to prepare for their procedure. If your pet is scheduled for surgery and you do not have these instructions, please review them carefully:


Pre-Surgical Instructions
  • Please be sure any tests, cultures, or blood work that have been requested by our clinic is completed and the results sent to our office within one day of the scheduled surgery date.
  • Clean and groom your pet before surgery. Depending on the type of surgery, it may be a while before you can bathe your pet again.
  • If you have oral medications to give your pet, please give them as directed.
  • Please do not discontinue eye treatments prior to surgery without calling us, as some of these medications are preparing your pet’s eye for the procedure. Please notify us if your pet becomes ill leading up to their scheduled procedure.
  • Withhold food after 6:00 p.m. the night before surgery. If you need to give your pet a very small amount of food (like a bite of cheese or hot dog) to take the oral medications, that will be fine, but do not give a whole bowl of food. Please take away water at midnight the night before surgery or before you go to bed.
  • Walk and/or exercise your pet the morning of surgery.
  • If your pet is diabetic, do not give insulin the morning of surgery. Bring the insulin bottle and syringe with you (do not draw the insulin up into the syringes). We will check blood glucose levels before and after surgery, and administer what is necessary.
  • Be sure to treat your pet’s eyes the morning of surgery with the medications they are on.
  • Bring all medications with you (as well as your pet’s elizabethan collar, if you have one). We use these medications after surgery, and we will also need to know how much more to give you to take home. If you do not bring them, we may need to charge for new medication.
  • A 50% deposit is required at the time your pet is admitted for surgery, with the remaining balance due at pick-up.
  • All of our surgeries are outpatient procedures, so your pet will not need to stay overnight at our practice. Patients are dropped off between 7:00 and 7:30 the morning of surgery and are usually ready to be picked up between 1:00 and 4:00 that afternoon. However, every surgery day varies, so we may have you pick them up earlier or later in some cases. We prefer that our patients be here early so that we can sedate them, perform surgery, and then be sure they are well awake before they go home. When you arrive, a technician will give you a time to call for an update so we can let you know the best time for pick-up.


Traveling from out of town?
At this time, all of our surgeries are performed at our main office in Nashville. Certain procedures, such as cataract surgery, require a 24-hour recheck, so owners traveling from out of town may need to stay overnight in Nashville. We have several pet-friendly hotels within half a mile of our clinic (both on Sidco Drive):

  • La Quinta Inn, (615) 834-6900
  • Red Roof Inn, (615) 832-0093 or toll free (800) 733-7663

Though the 24-hour recheck may need to be done in Nashville, subsequent exams can take place at our Chattanooga or Goodlettsville locations if they will be closer for you.

Back to Top

Aftercare

Diligent aftercare by owners is an important component of successful intraocular surgery. Many of the procedures we perform at VOS require intensive medication regimens immediately following surgery. This can include eye drops and ointments every 2 hours for a week or more for procedures such as cataract surgery, in addition to multiple oral medications to control pain and infection. Your pet will also need to wear an Elizabethan Collar (the “cone”) for several weeks to prevent them from damaging the surgery site.

What to Expect Following Surgery
When you arrive, your tech will go over in detail how the procedure went, what to expect during the recovery process, and your medication schedule. Once your pet is home, place her in a quiet, dark area. She may sleep for several hours. You may notice occasional whining, whimpering, and restlessness from confusion as the anesthetic medications wear off, but this does not necessarily indicate pain. However, be sure your pet receives her oral pain medications that night as directed. It’s easier to control pain before they feel it, so don’t wait. This will also allow you to more easily administer her other medications.

  • Food and Water
    You may offer your pet small amounts of water later on that night, and if she seems alert, you may try small amounts of food, totalling about half the amount you would normally provide. Your pet can have normal amounts of food and water the next day. If your pet is diabetic and doesn’t want to eat, do not give insulin. Some pets may have a decreased appetite the night after surgery, but they should feel more normal by the next day. Since your pet has been fasted and under anesthesia, don’t be alarmed if they do not have a bowel movement the night of or the morning following surgery.
  • Medications
    Please be sure you understand your pet’s medication schedule, and call us if you have any questions. We also have a comprehensive Medication Guide with tips for administering medications, how to refill your prescriptions, printable schedules to help you know where and when to give drops, and other information. Let us know if you are having any trouble giving medications to your pet, especially those that control pain.
  • Elizabethan Collar
    To prevent your pet from rubbing or damaging the surgery site, she will be fitted with a protective Elizabethan collar (E-Collar). Please keep this on at all times! Your pet should be able to eat, drink, and sleep with the collar on, but if you feel she is having difficulty, check out our guide below or call our office for suggestions.

    » Elizabethan Collar Guide (PDF) answers common questions and concerns when dealing with E-Collars.

  • Grooming
    The site of your pet’s procedure (as well as the spot on their leg where the catheter is placed) will be shaved for surgery.


When is it an Emergency?
Please feel free to call us with ANY questions or concerns you have, but especially in the event of vision loss or other abnormalities such as excessive redness, cloudiness, discharge, or squinting. Except for vision loss, some of these symptoms may be present to a mild degree following certain procedures, but don’t wait for the next appointment to address these situations.

For cataract surgery patients, we have a comprehensive Cataract Discharge Information (PDF) explaining what owners will need to watch for during their pet’s recovery.

Questions or Concerns?

Please contact us! We are here to help in any way we can.
(615) 690-9399
(877) 551-9399 toll free
office@vostn•com  (office@vostn•com)