Surgery

Surgery can feel overwhelming, but at City Paws Veterinary Clinic your pet is in capable, caring hands. Whether it’s a routine spay, neuter or dental procedure, or a more complex orthopedic case in partnership with Gateway Veterinary Surgery, we’ve built a state-of-the-art suite, assembled an expert team, and adopted industry-leading protocols to keep your companion safe, comfortable, and on the road to a smooth recovery.

Comprehensive Surgical Safety & Comfort

Surgical Monitoring on ALL Patients

Every patient at our clinic is continuously monitored by a dedicated anesthesia assistant throughout their procedure. We connect them to state-of-the-art EKG and pulse oximetry equipment to track heart rate, oxygen saturation, and temperature in real time. This vigilant oversight—guided by AAHA standards—ensures any changes are caught immediately, keeping your pet safe and stable from induction through recovery.

Sterile Surgical Suite

Our brand-new surgical suite was custom-designed in collaboration with board-certified specialists like Dr. Jennifer Wardlaw and follows both AAHA and Fear Free Pets recommendations. Meticulous sterilization protocols, advanced air filtration, and thoughtfully arranged instrumentation minimize infection risk and stress, while allowing our surgeons to work with peak efficiency.

Proactive Pain Control

Comfort is critical to a smooth recovery, so we employ multimodal pain management before, during, and after surgery—using the industry’s safest drug protocols. In our calm, Fear Free–inspired recovery area, we continue to monitor and manage pain closely, reducing stress and promoting faster healing. Your pet’s comfort isn’t an afterthought; it’s the foundation of our surgical care.

Specialist Access

We’ve cultivated strong relationships with multiple board-certified specialists who travel regularly to our practice—like Dr. Wardlaw of Gateway Veterinary Surgery—bringing advanced expertise directly to your pet. Through secure teleconsultations, we also connect with leading specialists nationwide for real-time input on complex cases. And when a referral is the best option, we’re happy to coordinate with the right experts throughout the region to ensure your pet receives the highest level of care.

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Preparing for Surgery

Withhold food from your pet after midnight the night before. Small amounts of water are ok.
Bring your pet's favorite toy or a familiar scented T-shirt for them to have in recovery.
Complete the surgical authorization form online or in our office at dropoff.
Arrive for your pet's appointment by 9 AM.

What to Expect for Your Pet's Surgical Stay

Your pet will have a full exam and pre-anesthetic blood work prior to surgery.
They'll be given pre-anesthetic sedation and pain medication prior to inducing anesthesia (plus a bunch of hugs and kisses).
The majority of procedures will include your pet having an IV catheter placed for delivery of fluids and medications, an endotracheal tube placed to protect their airway and deliver anesthesia, and appropriate pain medication like regional and nerve blocks to deliver the best care.
We use state of the art monitoring equipment, including EKG, pulse oximetry and temperature monitoring to monitor your pet under anesthesia. A technician monitors your pet's vitals continuously throughout the procedure.
Our team will safely recover your patient including providing warming support (no cold bare cages for our patients!) and they will be monitored throughout the rest of their stay.
We'll call you when your patient is out of surgery and in recovery. Please be sure to leave a phone number where you can be reached during the day!
Based on your pet's procedure, we'll work with you to schedule a discharge appointment to go over post-op care, medications and next steps. Most patients go home the same day!