I have a Veterinerian question.

[Raven]

My pup needs an operation for a torn ACL. In making arrangements with the Vet's staff today, they told me that the pup will have to stay overnight, but they also told me that there won't be any staff there overnight. They said that the pup will be pretty drugged up and that they had never had any problems with this. Is this normal? I'm worried. Should I be?

[leftieNanner]

1. I have left my surgical patient dog in the vet's office overnight

And have never had any problem. They are confined and safe.

Good luck to your pupper! I hope there is a good outcome from the surgery.

[PoliticAverse]

2. Suppose it was a human under the same circumstances, how would you feel?

I would think that wouldn't be acceptable.

But they are probably right that they've never had a problem. It's when things go wrong that staff being there is needed.

[hlthe2b]

6. ACL surgery on humans that have no serious health issues typically go home the same day.

More in my post downstream...

[SheltieLover]

3. If you can afford it, try a veterinary specialty hospital

Just my 2 cents, but I would want post-op monitoring after hours as well.

Gl to you & pup!

[hlthe2b]

4. I can appreciate your concerns, but remember almost all humans who have ACL surgery are

sent home the same day unless they are elderly with serious health conditions (even if they live alone, while the facility will recommend that they have someone stay with them). More and more surgeries are performed on humans with no overnight hospitalization--something that startles patients when they learn that will be the case. Often it is because improved procedures reduce post-surgical complications, but more often it is the insurance companies (a pet peeve of mine, but that's getting us off track).

That said, it is not unusual for pets following this kind of orthopedic procedure to be kenneled overnight to prevent them from becoming too active should they go home with the excitement of returning to their owners. If, however, the surgeon or other veterinarians providing post-anesthetic care felt that the dog was not sufficiently recovered or unstable, they would recommend transfer to an emergency clinic for observation (costly, but an added precaution in very rare instances). Should you feel more comfortable with that latter option, I've little doubt the veterinarian performing the surgery would be happy to arrange that, but you'd likely need to make the transfer and again, it would be costly. Some areas have specialty care (including orthopedic surgery) available in a facility that also houses an emergency all-night clinic. That could be an even better solution if available.

So, why, you might think wouldn't your dog be better at home with you where you could watch them? Well, again without a kennel they could injure themself with any lingering disorientation. Further, crying out as they become more "lucid" is not unusual but could be mistaken for something else by a concerned, but the untrained owner. Usually, that becomes a stressful night for both owner and pet.

Best wishes on your dog's full recovery.

[PoliticAverse]

7. "even if they live alone, while the facility will recommend that they have someone stay with them"

The point of someone being there is for the rare times something goes wrong.

[hlthe2b]

8. I agree. But such human patients routinely go home on their own. I almost never see them in the ER.

afterwards, which insurers use to justify the practice. The facility is telling them to have someone stay with them for their own liability reasons. But, as I said, if they meet a higher risk profile they would have a night's stay. Few end up meeting those criteria though and i don't see them in the ER, so arguably the risk is sufficiently low.

I see a lot of people argue with insurers over this. I see few succeed. And, the onus is on the patient to find someone to stay with them. Many do not have anyone to do so. Increasingly that is the case.

[happybird]

5. It's normal

Most vets do surgeries in the morning and appointments after lunch. Maybe ask their schedule?

Your pup would be observed coming out of anesthesia and for several hours afterwards, then given any evening meds before the office closes. Then someone comes in early the next morning.

That’s how it worked at a couple vet offices I worked at. At one, a tech who lived nearby would pop in at about midnight to do a check.

They won’t (shouldn’t!) mind if you ask about the schedule. If they do mind, I’d find another vet.

[SharonClark]

9. My dog had ACL surgery two years ago at an "Emergency" clinic run by ISU Vet Professors.

My regular vet wouldn't do it, it required an orthopedic surgeon. Dog was in overnight and the clinic is staffed 24-hours-a-day.

[Laurelin]

10. My dog had 3 ACL surgeries in her life

All were with an orthopedic specialist. I suspect the dog spent the night alone but I didn't ask. My daughter is doing her veterinary residency in a specialist hospital and I know they have 24/7 staff (often my kid, who works shifts up to 45 hours, which is just insane). The vets i used to work for only kept people overnight when something needed the attention. If an animal recovered from morning surgery and was doing well we left it overnight. We never had a problem. That's all anecdotal so take it for what it's worth. I know it's scary to have your pup go through this. My bad-knee dog was a big (slim 90 pound) lab/shepherd mix. She tore her first knee at 2 and died at 12, which was still way too soon.