At Animal Hospital of Nicholasville, we offer a wide range of surgical services—from routine spays and neuters to advanced soft tissue and orthopedic procedures.

Our doctors routinely perform procedures such as mass removals, foreign body surgeries, cruciate ligament repairs (for pets under fifty pounds, pets over fifty pounds are referred to our board certified travel surgeon), fracture repairs, Cesarean sections, and exploratory surgeries, among others. While many procedures are completed on an outpatient basis, some may require a short hospital stay to ensure a safe and comfortable recovery.

We understand that surgery—and especially anesthesia—can feel overwhelming. Our goal is to care for your pet as if they were our own, while keeping you informed, supported, and confident every step of the way.

Focused on Safety and Comfort

Anesthesia is often one of the biggest concerns for pet owners. While modern anesthesia is very safe in healthy pets, there is always some level of risk. That’s why we take a proactive, individualized approach—carefully tailoring each anesthetic plan to your pet and using the lowest effective doses while maintaining comfort and safety.

We strongly recommend (and in many cases require) pre-anesthetic bloodwork, IV fluids, and continuous monitoring throughout your pet’s procedure.

Pre-Anesthetic Bloodwork

Pre-anesthetic bloodwork allows us to evaluate your pet’s internal organ function before surgery. Many conditions—especially in early stages—may not show obvious signs at home but can impact how your pet responds to anesthesia.

This screening helps us:

  • Choose the safest medications for your pet

  • Identify any underlying concerns before surgery

  • Establish a healthy baseline for future comparison

Bloodwork can be completed ahead of time or the morning of surgery. If anything unexpected is found, we will always contact you to discuss next steps.

IV Fluids During Surgery

IV fluids play an important role in supporting your pet during anesthesia. They help maintain healthy blood pressure, improve circulation, and allow for quicker recovery by helping the body process anesthetic medications.

To provide fluids, a small area (typically on the front leg) is clipped and cleaned, and a catheter is placed in a vein. This also gives us immediate access to administer medications if needed.

Continuous Monitoring

Your pet is never alone during surgery.

A dedicated, trained technician is present throughout the entire procedure, closely monitoring vital signs including heart rate, respiratory rate, and body temperature. Advanced monitoring equipment, including ECG, provides real-time information so adjustments can be made immediately to keep your pet safe and stable.

Before Scheduling Surgery

To ensure your pet receives the safest and most appropriate care, we do require an exam prior to scheduling most surgical procedures.

If your pet’s surgical need has not already been identified and recommended by one of our doctors during a recent visit, we will need to see your pet first. This allows us to evaluate their condition, answer your questions, and schedule the appropriate amount of time and resources for their procedure.

Routine spays and neuters are the exception and can typically be scheduled without a prior exam.

Please give us a call to schedule a visit with one of our doctors—we’ll walk you through the next steps and help you plan with confidence.