Anne

It's a ways to Ft. Collins, I know, we drove from north of Salt Lake City, UT. I can imagine after the surgery, you would probably like to sit in your car outside the clinic all night, taking frequent peeks in window of the building. The vet and staff are probably comfortable with this protocol because it works for them. If doc is good, you just have to have faith (hold your nose). The very best to you and your dog and post as soon as you hear he's okay.

Apologies to Anne and Alice...I got you mixed up and I'm banging my head on the keyboard! Duh!!! I'm a bit of a newbie at forums.

I do have a P.S. Alice. Can you request the vet schedule your dog's surgery first thing in the morning so he will have all day to present complications?

 Quote:

.........in fact, everyone i've contacted says he is the best guy to go to, if only because he is closer and qualified and a specialist......even my dog's breeder, who is a vet tech, just emailed me and said leaving a healthy post-surgery dog unattended overnight is pretty standard....... wish me luck. <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

I will be wishing you luck and sending great health-waves! I'll bet it will all work out fine.

Maybe it IS S.O.P. to leave post-surgical patients unattended overnight, or maybe it is the procedure at the practice where your breeder works.

I googled the subject and found that Canada and Australia have pretty darned clear rules for post-op overnight supervision, but no such guidelines here (that I can find). The Royal College of Vet Surgeons is pretty clear...... QUOTE:
i.  Intensive Care
ii. Post-operative recovery
iii. RTAs and some orthopaedic procedures
iv. Whelping and kittening
v. Stabilising procedures — e.g. for diabetics ........

24.  Clients are entitled to have their animals housed in a comfortable environment, monitored and treated by day and night, as appropriate to the animal's condition, by persons with the requisite knowledge and expertise. ........There are circumstances in which it may be appropriate for an experienced owner to provide nursing attention at home.
25.  The above guidance applies to all veterinary surgeons and practices. END (excerpt only)

Anne Jones has a great suggestion about transfer to an attended facility for the night, sounds like. Or possibly you can request a tech check-in at your expense maybe at midnight?

I don't know........... maybe I'm obsessive. But if I am, I'm not alone. And my own vet agrees, with their overnight tech for post-surgery and critical care........

When is this scheduled?

 Quote:

.......Can you request the vet schedule your dog's surgery first thing in the morning so he will have all day to present complications?

OH! Brilliant!!! <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

The ER/critical care hospital where I worked did lots of post-op monitoring. Either the doc or tech would bring the dog over themselves or the dog would be transferred via a local pet pick-up/drop-off service. I would fret myself into an ulcer if I didn't know my dog was being watched. Of course, I'm lucky. If (knock wood) any of mine should need sx, I can go sit with them myself.

Has your dog bloated before or just a familial history of bloat? Just wondering why the decision to go ahead w/the gastropexy.

we always did sx mid-morning just for this reason--gave us all day to look for problems.

i sometimes think i'm CRAZY for what i do for my freakin' dogs <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

 Quote:

.......Has your dog bloated before or just a familial history of bloat? Just wondering why the decision to go ahead w/the gastropexy.

http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/showf...rue#Post4180331

 Quote:

.....i sometimes think i'm CRAZY for what i do for my freakin' dogs <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

I don't! <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Just chiming in....I don't leave dogs overnight unsupervised at the vets either, but then I don't even leave healthy dogs at home overnight unsupervised, so I may be a little over the bend.

thanks everyone for your good wishes, support, and ideas.

i am having a really, really hard time with this.

i was on my way out the door when i discovered there was a message on my answering machine from the vet's office that they would not be sending me an email explanation of the charges, and confirming the higher charge.

basically, they have said they will not answer my question or break down the charges for me. basically, i feel like they have just said "f-- you" to me. they will do what they want their way and i will take it and like it or go somewhere else.

i think it is reasonable and usual to have all one's questions answered before entrusting one's dog to a vet for surgery. i do ask a lot of detailed questions, but that is because i have done my homework. i also have asked these same questions of about ten other vets, some of whom are extremely busy and prominent specialists, and i was answered generously and politely and without any kind of an attitude by every last one of them. except for this guy.

the clinic ended the phone message by asking me to call them back and confirm that i would be keeping the appointment for the surgery.

i am not interested in getting into a pissing contest with this vet. i want the best possible care for my dog, and that is all. logic points me to going to the closest specialist possible who has the most experience with the procedure, regardless of his lack of a decent bedside manner.

most of my other questions have been answered--though not by him.

here's the thing: should i trust a specialist who treats his referrals in this way? my big fear is that this somehow reflects on how my dog will be treated in surgery and in their facility. is that an unreasonable fear on my part?

i really need to be able to trust this vet, and so far he is not inspiring confidence in his personal relations. so should i still trust the good medical referrals i'm being given?

this is scary.