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For pet owners

What actually happens, from referral to recovery

Your pet's surgery happens in one of two places: at your own veterinarian's hospital with the surgical team traveling to them, or at our outpatient center in Lake Grove. Here is how each one runs, and who does what.

How to prepare631-946-8269

Before surgery

Getting to a surgery date

Nothing gets scheduled until the groundwork is done. That is deliberate, and it is what keeps anesthesia safe.

  1. Step 1

    Your vet examines your pet

    Your own veterinarian does the exam and decides surgery is the right call. That judgement stays with the person who knows your pet.

  2. Step 2

    They send us the case

    Your vet contacts us directly and submits a referral with the full history through their portal.

  3. Step 3

    Testing comes across with it

    Bloodwork (CBC and chemistry profile), urinalysis where relevant, and any imaging are submitted with the referral.

  4. Step 4

    We discuss it, then schedule

    We talk the case through with your veterinarian, agree whether the case is better done at their hospital or at our center in Lake Grove, and book the date together.

One firm rule: no surgery is scheduled without the basic bloodwork and the necessary imaging. It is the difference between a safe anesthetic and a guess.

The night before

Four things that matter the evening before

Get these right and surgery day is uneventful, which is exactly what you want it to be.

  • 1Imaging and testing should be current, within a month of surgery, sooner if your pet is unwell.
  • 2No food after midnight the night before surgery.
  • 3No water on the morning of surgery.
  • 4All medications given on the morning of surgery, with a treat if that is the only way.

Your veterinarian is always welcome to contact us about pre-operative testing, and if anything about your pet's routine makes fasting complicated, tell your practice rather than guessing.

Surgery day

Two settings, one standard of care

Your pet is operated on either at your own veterinarian's hospital or at our center in Lake Grove. Your veterinarian will tell you which one applies before the day.

Option one

At your veterinarian’s hospital

Your pet never leaves the practice they already know. The surgery travels to them.

  1. 1You drop off at your own veterinarian’s office, the same building as always.
  2. 2We arrive with every surgical instrument and implant the case needs, apart from suture material and suction.
  3. 3We prepare the operating room, set up our instrumentation and finish positioning and scrubbing your pet.
  4. 4Your veterinarian’s team runs anesthesia and monitoring throughout, so the people who know your pet stay with your pet.
  5. 5Your own veterinary team walks you through the discharge instructions and medications at pickup.
Option two

At our center in Lake Grove

Some cases are better served by a dedicated surgical suite, with CT imaging in the same building.

  1. 1You bring your pet to 3070 Middle Country Road, Suite 4. Arrive a few minutes early so you can gather your things calmly in the parking lot before coming in, which makes the walk through the door easier on your pet.
  2. 2Our front office confirms your details and your pet’s, and has you fill in anything still outstanding.
  3. 3Surgery is done in our own surgical suite, with CT imaging on site when the plan calls for it.
  4. 4It is an outpatient center, so most pets go home the same day. If a case needs overnight monitoring, that is arranged with a local 24-hour facility.
  5. 5We go through the discharge instructions and medications with you at pickup, and the same instructions go to your veterinarian.

Either way, this is the same

  • Once your pet is in recovery you get a phone call: how it went, how they are doing, and when they can likely go home.
  • Detailed, custom discharge instructions are written for your pet specifically, and your veterinarian gets a copy.
  • Dr. Lombardi advises on post-operative pain relief and antibiotics whenever your veterinarian wants that input.
  • Your veterinarian stays in charge of your pet’s ongoing care, rechecks and medications either way.

Then comes recovery

Rest, restriction and the e-collar do most of the work. We have written the whole recovery stretch out separately.

Preparing & recovery

Still not sure what happens next?

Ask your own veterinarian first, because they hold your pet's history. If the question is surgical, call us directly and we will answer it plainly.

631-946-8269

Next step

Questions about your pet's procedure?

Call or send the details. We would rather answer a question early than have you worry about it.

Call631-946-8269Emailinfo@operationalwellness.orgRequest a consultation