MEDICAL PROCEDURES
Having reached a diagnosis it is often a relief to know that if treatment is necessary the majority of procedures can be performed safely and effectively at Moor Cottage.
Where surgery is necessary the overriding concern is quite often the general anaesthetic. To reduce the risks as much as possible we have a number of protocols and equipment that we utilise:
- Pre-anaesthetic blood tests are offered to all patients with the results available before even sedation is given, so that dose rates and any other precautions can be directly geared to that individual.
- Pain relief is a priority and a minimum of three different analgesics (pain killers) are used in most of our patients.
- The drugs and gaseous agents used are directly comparable to those used in human anaesthesia.
- Monitoring equipment is used on all our patients with a Veterinary Nurse responsible for and charting every anaesthetic.
- Recovery is also monitored as soon as the patient’s anaesthetic is over and continues in their return to the hospital ward.
Surgery is carried out in the surgical theatre where no other procedures other than operations are allowed. Special clothing has to be worn by the Veterinary team and strict cleaning procedures adhered to thus making the environment as safe as practical, thus avoiding wound infections or other complications. The wide range of instruments and equipment that we use are cleaned and sterilised and then stored allowing easy access at any time to the surgical team. This ready availability allows the surgery time to be kept to a minimum for our patient’s benefit. The patient recovers more rapidly from a shorter anaesthetic and healing has the best start in such optimal conditions.
Non theatre procedures (see below) are dealt with in a similar way with regards to the anaesthesia and its monitoring, the instrument care and the patient preparation. Such procedures include:
- DENTISTRY – we use high speed dental equipment to ease and simplify potentially painful procedures as much as possible. Tartar and dirty teeth are dealt with via such high speed sonic and ultrasonic scalers making for quick and thorough cleaning prior to polishing. The dental x-ray unit is essential to complete a thorough evaluation and subsequent procedure.
- RADIOGRAPHY – sedation or anaesthesia is generally needed to reduce the level of patient stress and to provide accurate diagnostic pictures as quickly as possible.
- Cleaning infected wounds and abscesses – although the wounds may already be infected we always use clean or sterile instruments again to help patient healing and to avoid complications.
Medical procedures are more difficult to categorise but we have a wide range of drugs; extensive equipment available and staff present to deal with a great variety of therapies for the majority of conditions. Some examples include:
- Fluid therapy and drip (intravenous)feeding/treatment: special infusion pumps ensure that the patient accurately receives the volume needed at the optimum rate.
- Tube feeding: via nasal or pharyngostomy tubes. 24 hour nursing care and special diets allow regular specific feeding to take place speeding up the recovery of high dependency cases.
- Intensive care: oxygen tent, humidifiers and warming systems are all in place for very sick patients in their recovery.
- Chemotherapy: a number of cancer treatments are possible for different tumours – making sure that we help the patient without compromising its quality of life.
- Chest drainage: where indicated e.g. infection in the chest, after a car accident, we may have to place drains in the chest and flush the contents or remove air or pus. This is obviously an intensive care situation and needs constant monitoring – our nursing team undertake such care under the guidance of our Veterinary Surgeons.
During our Open Days or client visits, we often find our guests are surprised at the extent of what we can do and all the equipment involved! Rather than expanding further here, if you are interested in any specific area please contact us or ask for a guided tour