How To Prepare Your Pet For Anesthesia:

To prepare your cat or dog for anesthesia, please do not offer any food or treats after midnight prior to the procedure (no breakfast!). Access to water is okay up until the time you head our way in the morning.

When To Drop-off At Firehouse:
Please plan to drop off your pet between 7:30 and 8:00 am. When you arrive, we will review and finalize the treatment plan for the day. This process typically takes 15-30 minutes.

What Happens At Firehouse:

• Once your pet is checked in, we will get ready for the dental procedure by running lab tests (if not already done), placing an IV line in one of the front legs, and giving pain medication for comfort.
• We begin the procedure by delivering anesthesia and then cleaning, polishing, and taking x-rays of all the teeth. Our doctors and technician team are with your pet every step of the way.
• We also perform a thorough mouth and teeth examination, including below the gumline. If we find any issues that need additional treatment, the doctor will call you to discuss our recommendations to come up with a plan. In case we cannot reach you, our drop-off forms include an area for you to note how you would like us to proceed.
• Once the treatments are completed and your pet has woken up from anesthesia, we will call you to tell you all the details and to set a pickup time.

What To Expect When Picking Up Your Pet:
At pickup, we will discuss the procedure and send you home with more detail about how to care for your pet. The pickup process typically takes 15-30 minutes. Below are our general recommendations:

• Your pet will be groggy the evening after surgery and might whine or vocalize more than usual. This should pass by the next morning.
• The evening after surgery, you can offer half of your pet’s regular amount of food. Offer small amounts of water every 1-2 hours until bedtime. You can resume a normal feeding schedule the next day.
• If we perform tooth extractions or other surgery, please feed either a canned or soft food diet for 7 days to minimize pressure and pain.
• Small amounts of blood on your pet’s lips, nostrils, or in the water bowl the first 48 hours is normal. If you see large amounts of blood, or bleeding that does not stop, call us 24/7 or come in for a progress exam with a veterinarian.

When Will We Want To See You And Your Pet Back?
We also recommend a progress exam two weeks after your pet’s dental procedure – we do not charge for this service. During that visit, we will check your pet’s mouth to make sure everything is healing properly, and we can give you tricks and tips for home dental care.