Gentle & Safe Surgical Care: How We Prioritize Your Pet’s Safety

At Animal Medical Center, we understand that surgery and anesthesia can be stressful for pet owners. Whether your pet is undergoing a spay, neuter, or a more complex procedure, you want to know they are in capable, caring hands. That’s why we hold ourselves to the highest standards for every surgery we perform.

Your pet’s well-being is our top priority, and we make every effort to ensure a smooth, pain-free experience from pre-surgical screening to post-operative care. Here’s how we set ourselves apart when it comes to surgical safety.

Comprehensive Pre-Surgical Screening

Every pet undergoing surgery at AMC receives a thorough pre-anesthetic exam to assess their overall health. We also perform comprehensive blood and urine testing to identify any underlying conditions that could impact anesthesia safety. This individualized approach ensures that each anesthetic plan is tailored to your pet’s specific needs—especially for senior pets or those with medical conditions.

Personalized Anesthesia & Monitoring

Not all anesthesia is created equal. We customize every anesthesia protocol to maximize safety and ensure a comfortable, smooth recovery. Throughout surgery, our veterinary team provides continuous monitoring of:

✔ Heart rate and rhythm (ECG monitoring)

✔ Oxygen levels and blood pressure

✔ Respiration and temperature regulation

We also place an IV catheter and provide warmed IV fluids to maintain blood pressure, protect vital organs, and aid in faster recovery.

Pain Management: Comfort Before, During & After Surgery

We believe that pain relief should begin before surgery even starts. That’s why every pet receives pre-surgical pain medication, along with sedation to reduce stress.

During surgery, we use advanced techniques to minimize discomfort and high-quality sterile suture materials to minimize tissue trauma and irritation.

During surgery, additional pain medications may be given including local blocks with injectable anesthesia in addition to inhaled gas anesthesia.

After surgery, we provide long-lasting pain relief to keep your pet comfortable during recovery. If needed, take-home pain medication is also provided, so you can rest assured your pet remains as comfortable as possible.

Advanced Surgical Techniques for a Faster Recovery

At AMC, we go beyond standard practices to make your pet’s recovery as quick and stress-free as possible:

✔ Intradermal sutures – Hidden, dissolvable stitches eliminate the need for removal and reduce irritation.

✔ Heated surgery tables & warm blankets – Maintain body temperature and prevent hypothermia.

✔ Sterile, high-quality surgical tools – Minimize infection risk and promote healing.

We Never Cut Corners on Safety

Some veterinary clinics may offer lower-cost surgeries by skipping critical safety measures, such as pain control, IV fluids, or comprehensive monitoring. At AMC, we believe that every pet deserves the highest standard of care, no matter how “routine” the procedure may seem.

While our surgeons perform hundreds of procedures each year, we know that your pet only may only have one surgery in a lifetime—and we are committed to making it as safe, smooth, and pain-free as possible.

Prioritizing safety includes referring patients who need an highly specialized and complex surgery, like orthopedic or eye surgeries, to board-certified surgeons in the Pittsburgh region. Certain surgeries are best performed by specialist surgeons who have undergone extensive training to achieve board certification in veterinary surgery and perform hundreds of specialized surgeries annually. Our doctors are committed to honesty and will advise when a surgery is better suited for a boarded specialist.

Trust AMC for Your Pet’s Surgery

You can rely on Animal Medical Center for a safe, gentle, and effective surgical experience. Contact us today to learn more or schedule a consultation with our surgical team.