FAQs

At Neighborhood Veterinary Hospitals of San Diego, we take all anesthetic cases very seriously. We utilize the safest, multi-modal approach that is individually created for each dog or cat. It includes injectable medications for sedation and pain management as well as gas anesthetic agents. The combination of pre-anesthetic assessment of your pet (including blood work), use of modern anesthetic agents, and the latest anesthetic monitoring equipment means that anesthesia is generally considered to be a very low risk for your pet.

During the procedure, we closely monitor your pet and the recovery process using advanced monitoring equipment. Parameters often monitored include oxygen concentration in the blood stream (pulse oximetry), electrocardiogram (EKG), core body temperature, respiratory rate, heart rate, blood pressure, and carbon dioxide level. The monitoring findings allow us to perform safe anesthesia.

When we place your dog or cat safely under general anesthesia, a breathing tube is inserted into the trachea (windpipe) to administer oxygen mixed with the anesthetic gas. As with people, an intravenous catheter is placed into your pet's leg to deliver fluids during the procedure. Once the procedure is completed and the anesthetic is turned off, oxygen continues to be delivered to your pet until it awakens and the tube is removed.

A multi-modal approach refers to the layered administration of small amounts of different medications to achieve the desired levels of anesthesia and pain management. We administer lower doses of each individual anesthetic, which generally equates to fewer side effects, complete pain relief, and faster post-operative recovery.

Anesthesia in otherwise healthy, older pets is considered safe. It is important to have recommended pre-operative testing performed prior to anesthesia to check major organ function and allow us to tailor the anesthesia to any pre-existing medical conditions.

We accommodate emergency appointments during normal business hours (8am-6pm). Please call our offices in advance of arriving, if possible. After regular business hours and on holidays please visit our after hours page.

After Hours Emergencies

Exams and consultations are by appointment only. Same day appointments may be available. Please call us and we will do all that is possible to accommodate your schedule.

The fees we charge for services are based upon what is needed to maintain the high quality of care we are proud to provide. Payment is required at the time service is rendered.

Many of the pets that visit us on a regular basis need professional teeth cleaning. When bacteria irritate the gum line, the gums become inflamed in the early stages of dental disease causing gingivitis. Left untreated, this leads to periodontal disease, which causes the loss of the bone and gingival support structure of the tooth and subsequent tooth loss. In addition, the bacteria are consistently released into the blood stream allowing for systemic infections, which can cause damage to internal organs, such as the kidneys, liver, and heart.

The good news is that a dental exam is included in all physical exams conducted at Neighborhood Veterinary Hospitals of San Diego. Through routine physical exams, our veterinarians will guide you on when and how often your individual pet is in need of a teeth cleaning.

We understand that you may wish to obtain your pet's medications from alternative sources other than our hospital. We will write prescriptions for outside pharmacies. Your pet is required by law to be examined annually to continue to refill medications.

Our kitten wellness program at Neighborhood Veterinary Hospitals of San Diego is designed to help get your new cat started on the right path to a long and healthy life. The first few months in a young cat's life are critical to his or her health and development. We want to provide you with the support and tools you need to help that little guy or gal grow into a well-mannered, healthy cat.

Vaccines keep your pet healthy and prevent serious diseases. We highly recommend annual wellness exams and a comprehensive Preventative Care Plan for all of our clients' pets. These programs include vaccinations and parasite protection, as needed.

Neighborhood Veterinary Hospitals of San Diego requires current rabies vaccines for all pets being seen at our hospital.

How often does my pet need a Rabies vaccination?

The first Rabies shot your pet receives is good for one year. Subsequent canine Rabies vaccinations immunize your pet for three years. Dogs are required by California State Law to be vaccinated for Rabies at 16 weeks of age. For cats, we use feline exclusive Rabies vaccines which are given annually.

The first Rabies shot your pet receives is good for one year. Subsequent canine Rabies vaccinations immunize your pet for three years. Dogs are required by California State Law to be vaccinated for Rabies at 16 weeks of age. For cats, we use feline-exclusive Rabies vaccines which are given annually.

Dogs could get sick or even die if placed on heartworm prevention when they have heartworm disease, with symptoms including vomiting and diarrhea. Even if they have been on heartworm prevention year-round there is always the possibility that the product may have failed for various reasons (your pet spit out the pill, did not absorb the pill appropriately, topical medicine was not applied properly, forgot to administer medication on time, etc.). The earlier we can treat your pet for heartworm disease the better the prognosis. When starting heartworm prevention, it is important that you perform an initial heartworm test.

Yes. Heartworm disease is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito and all mosquitoes can get into houses.

In preparation for the procedure, your pet will receive pre-anesthetic medication to ease anxiety and to smooth the induction of an intravenous catheter that delivers medications and fluids to support blood pressure and organ function. In addition, it gives your pet a chance to acclimate to the hospital environment making the situation less stressful. This all needs to be completed BEFORE your pet's scheduled procedure time.

Please do not feed your pet after 10:00pm the evening before a scheduled procedure. There is no restriction on drinking water; however, the water bowl should be removed first thing the morning of the procedure. Plan to arrive at the office at 7:30am, and allow 15-30 minutes for check-in procedures.

We believe in performing surgery with advanced pain management techniques because we want to maximize the comfort of your pet during and after his or her procedure. Comfort control improves your dog or cat's recovery and speeds the healing process. We administer pain medication before beginning the procedure, during, and post-operatively as needed by your pet.

Pets undergoing outpatient procedures will be ready to go by close of business the same day unless noted otherwise during the post-operative phone update.