Pre-surgical Policy

Admissions are scheduled for a specific drop off time at least 1 hour before closing the day before the scheduled procedure. Please allow at least 30 minutes for check in. You will be asked specifics about feeding instructions for your horse and for contact information for the following day. Please be sure to bring any supplements or medications that your horse will require.

All horses that undergo anesthesia receive pre-anesthetic blood work. This blood work consists of the following:

* Chemistry panel – this tells us information about major organ function which will assist us in determining the most appropriate medications to use.

* Complete Blood Count – details information about Red Blood Cell Count and White Blood Count which can indicate infection, inflammation, anemia or other potential anesthetic risks.

Anesthesia

The top 4 reasons to test your horse before anesthesia:

1. You deserve peace of mind. Testing can significantly reduce medical risk and ensure your horse’s health and safety.

2. They can’t tell us when they don’t feel well. A healthy-appearing horse may be hiding symptoms of a disease or ailment. For example, a pet can lose up to 75% of kidney function before showing any visible signs of illness. Testing helps us evaluate health up front, so we can avoid problems related to anesthesia.

3. Testing can reduce the risk and consequences. If pre-anesthetic results are within normal ranges, we can proceed with confidence, knowing that anesthetic risk is minimized. On the other hand, if results are not within the normal ranges, we can alter the anesthetic procedure, or take other precautions to safeguard your horse’s health and reduce the risk of potential complications.

4. Testing can help protect your horse’s future health. These tests provide baseline levels for your horse and become part of his or her medical record for future references.