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Patient Preparation Protocols: Surgery & Lab Work

Proper preparation is essential to ensuring your pet’s safety during anesthesia and guaranteeing the most accurate diagnostic results from our laboratory. Please review the instructions below prior to your pet’s procedure or lab visit.

If you are unsure about any of these steps, or if you have questions, please call us at (540) 955-2171! If your veterinarian gave you specific instructions that differ from this page, always defer to your doctor’s orders.

Pre-Surgical & Ultrasound Instructions

Anesthesia is very safe when proper protocols are followed. Because anesthetic medications can cause nausea, an empty stomach is critical to prevent vomiting and discomfort while your pet is asleep. Fasting is equally important for abdominal ultrasounds to ensure our imaging is as clear as possible.

  • Our “Comfort Care” Package: We want your pet to be as relaxed and comfortable as possible! For surgeries and ultrasound appointments, we typically prescribe a pre-visit comfort package to be administered at home. This usually includes an anti-nausea medication given the night before, and a gentle anti-anxiety medication (like Gabapentin and/or Trazodone) given the morning of the procedure. Please follow the exact dosing instructions on your prescription labels.
  • Fasting from Food: Unless specifically instructed otherwise by your veterinarian (such as for very young puppies/kittens or diabetic pets), do not feed your pet any food or treats after 10:00 PM the night before their scheduled surgery or ultrasound.
  • Drinking Water: Your pet may have access to fresh drinking water overnight and the morning of their procedure, unless otherwise specified by your care team.
  • Morning Medications: If your pet takes daily medications, please ask your veterinarian during your pre-surgical consultation whether you should administer them on the morning of surgery. Diabetic pets require specific instructions regarding insulin and food on surgery days.
  • Morning Drop-Off: Please arrive promptly at your scheduled drop-off time. This allows our surgical team to perform mandatory pre-anesthetic bloodwork, place an IV catheter, and conduct a thorough pre-surgical physical exam.
  • Bathroom Breaks: Please allow your dog time to urinate and defecate outside before bringing them into the clinic for admission.

Pre-Lab Work & Blood Draw Instructions

To get the clearest picture of your pet’s internal health, we often need them to be prepped specifically for their blood draw. Food in the bloodstream can alter chemical balances and create “lipemia” (excess fat in the blood), which can artificially skew results or make the sample impossible for our machines to read.
  • General Fasting for Bloodwork: For routine wellness bloodwork and abdominal ultrasounds, please withhold food for 8 to 12 hours prior to your appointment. Water is perfectly fine and encouraged.
  • Thyroid Testing (Dogs & Cats): If your pet is being tested to monitor their thyroid medication (such as Levothyroxine or Methimazole), timing is crucial. Please schedule your appointment so their blood is drawn exactly 4 to 6 hours after they receive their pill.
  • Phenobarbital (Seizure Medication) Monitoring: To accurately measure the effectiveness of seizure medication, please ask your veterinarian whether peak levels (4 hours after a dose) or trough levels (right before the next dose) are needed. Schedule the blood draw accordingly, and follow the doctor’s specific instructions on exactly when to give the pill on the day of your appointment.
  • NSAIDs & Daily Medications: Unless you are instructed to fast your pet, give all other routine medications as normal. If your pet must be fasted but requires food to take their medication, please call our front desk at (540) 955-2171 for guidance.
  • Urinalysis: If we are checking your pet’s urine for a suspected infection or kidney issue, the first morning urine is always the most concentrated and provides the best diagnostic data. If possible, try to prevent your dog from urinating right before walking into the clinic so we can collect a sterile sample during the exam.
  • Blood Glucose Curves: Please plan to arrive at the clinic with your pet at the start of the day. Maintain your pet’s normal feeding and insulin routine at home. If their routine normally occurs later in the morning, please bring their food and insulin with you so we can replicate their exact schedule here.
  • Endocrine Testing: If your pet is being tested to monitor medications for their thyroid or Cushing’s disease (hyperadrenocorticism), timing is crucial. Please schedule your appointment so their blood is drawn exactly 4 to 6 hours after they receive their morning pill.

What to Expect After Your Procedure or Visit

Here is what you can typically expect as your pet recovers from a procedure, sedation, or fasting that disrupts their normal routine:
  • Grogginess and Sleepiness: It is completely normal for your pet to feel drowsy, sleepy, or a bit “out of it” for the rest of the day following anesthesia, sedation, or their pre-visit comfort care medications. Give them a quiet, comfortable place to rest away from other pets and busy household areas. Keep them away from stairs and off furniture to prevent potential falls.
  • Delayed Bowel Movements: Don’t panic if your pet doesn’t poop right away! Because they were fasted the night before, received anesthesia, or experienced a change in routine, it can take a couple of days for their digestive tract to get back to its normal rhythm.
  • Appetite Adjustments: Offer a small, light meal (or whatever specific post-op diet your veterinarian recommended) once they are fully awake and settled at home. A mild lack of appetite for the first evening is normal, but they should be eager to eat by the following morning.

Every pet recovers at their own pace. If you notice persistent vomiting, extreme lethargy, prolonged distress, or if you simply have a question about how your pet is acting, please don’t hesitate to call us.

Questions About Your Pet's Visit?

We are here to help! If you are unsure about fasting, medication timing, how to prepare your pet for their upcoming visit, or recovery, please reach out to our medical team.
Call us at (540) 955-2171

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