SURGERY & ANAESTHESIA

Gold-Standard Safety Protocols for Your Pet

Entrusting your pet to surgery requires complete confidence in the care they will receive.

At Quality Veterinary Care Centre (QVCC), our approach to surgery and anaesthesia is defined by gold-standard safety protocols and meticulous attention to detail. Operating from our purpose-built Veterinary Hospital, we combine advanced surgical suites with continuous, dual-person monitoring and pre-emptive patient support, ensuring the highest level of safety and the best possible outcome for your pet, from admission through to full recovery.

COMPREHENSIVE SURGICAL SERVICES AT QVCC

We offer a broad range of procedures, ensuring your pet can often receive the advanced care they need right here in Yeppoon, backed by the rigorous safety standards of a Veterinary Hospital.

Soft Tissue Surgery

We perform all standard and many more complex soft tissue procedures, addressing conditions related to internal organs, skin, and glands.

Examples: Abdominal surgery (e.g., foreign body removal), tumour and lump removals, laceration repairs, bladder stone removal, and other internal procedures.
Routine Procedures: This includes routine de-sexing procedures (castration and spey), performed with the same strict adherence to our gold-standard safety and monitoring protocols described below.

Orthopaedic Surgery (Bones and Joints)

For complex issues affecting your pet's mobility and structure, we bring specialist expertise to you.

Specialist Access: For complex bone and joint procedures, we benefit from the regular visits of highly experienced Orthopaedic Surgeons. This allows your pet to receive advanced specialist care locally, avoiding the stress and time commitment of travelling to a distant referral centre.

Advanced Facilities: Our dedicated surgical suite is configured with features like a heated operating table and dual high-intensity theatre lights to support these complex specialist procedures.

Dedicated Dental Surgery

Dental surgery, including scaling, polishing, and extractions, is a vital part of health management.

Safety Priority: These procedures are performed in our Dedicated Dental Theatre to maintain the sterility of our main surgical suites and prevent the risk of cross-contamination from oral bacteria.

Collaboration and Referral

Where a case requires surgical expertise beyond our in-house scope (e.g., highly specialised neurosurgery), we coordinate seamless care with our visiting specialists in soft tissue and orthopaedics, ensuring access to university-level expertise.

WHY CHOOSE QVCC?

Our Gold-Standard Safety Protocols

Our facility and safety procedures are specifically designed to minimise risk and enhance patient comfort, a true commitment to quality care.

Advanced Anaesthesia Monitoring and Team Oversight

While specialists visit on a regular schedule rather than 24/7, our hospital foundation facilitates the highest possible care for complex cases.

Dedicated Team Monitoring: Every anaesthetic is supervised by both a veterinarian and a qualified nurse. This dual oversight ensures continuous, expert attention throughout the procedure.
Comprehensive Vital Signs Tracking: We use modern anaesthetic monitoring equipment to track a full range of vital signs, including Blood Pressure (BP), Electrocardiogram (ECG), Oxygen Saturation, and critically, Capnography (CO2 Monitoring), essential for respiratory safety.

Plumbed-In Oxygen Supply: Our operating theatres feature oxygen piped directly into the walls, guaranteeing a continuous, high-volume supply is instantly available without time lost connecting tanks.
Active Scavenging Systems: We use mechanical scavenging systems to actively remove waste anaesthetic gases, ensuring a safer, cleaner environment for your pet and our entire surgical team.

Proactive Patient Stabilisation: IV Fluids for All

We implement a proactive approach to patient support that begins before the procedure even starts.

Mandatory IV Fluids: All surgical and dental patients receive intravenous fluids throughout the day of their procedure, starting immediately upon admission.
Benefits: This protocol supports kidney and liver function, helps to maintain stable blood pressure during anaesthesia, and provides instant IV access for administering emergency drugs if needed. It also ensures a smoother, faster recovery by helping to flush anaesthetic agents from the system more quickly.

Identifying Hidden Risks with Pre-Anaesthetic Bloods

We always offer and recommend Pre-Anaesthetic Blood Testing for all patients undergoing anaesthesia.

Reducing Surprises: This vital blood work, performed quickly by our in-house laboratory, checks key vital organ functions (primarily the liver and kidneys) before the procedure starts.
Tailored Care: Identifying any pre-existing issues allows our veterinary team to customise the anaesthetic plan and select the safest medications possible, significantly reducing the risks associated with the procedure.

OUR PURPOSE-BUILT SURGICAL FACILITIES

Our hospital design directly supports complex and safe surgical care. We utilise dedicated spaces and high-end equipment to ensure sterility and precision.

Two State-of-the-Art Surgical Suites: Built to the highest specifications, one suite is configured specifically to support specialist work, featuring a heated operating table for critical temperature regulation and dual, high-intensity theatre lights.
The Dedicated Dental Theatre: Dental procedures are isolated in this separate room, complete with its own bank of recovery cages, to prevent the harmful bacteria associated with dental disease from reaching sterile surgical patients—a critical factor in post-operative safety.

POST-OPERATIVE CARE AND DISCHARGE

Meticulous recovery management is essential for a positive outcome.

Continuous Recovery Monitoring

Dedicated Recovery Area: Recovery cages are located strategically within the main treatment and preparation area, ensuring patients waking from anaesthesia are under the direct, constant observation of the nursing team.
Analgesia and Comfort: Comprehensive multi-modal pain management protocols are implemented before, during, and after the procedure to ensure your pet is as comfortable as possible.

Meticulous Discharge Process

All surgical procedures follow a clear, communicative process:

Pre-Surgery Admission

A 20-minute admission appointment is scheduled in the morning to confirm paperwork and discuss any concerns with the vet or nurse.

Surgical Update

Owners are sent a text message immediately once the surgery is complete and the pet is safely in recovery, offering peace of mind.

Veterinarian-Led Discharge

Discharges are conducted by a veterinarian wherever possible.If the veterinarian is attending an emergency, your pet may be discharged by a veterinary nurse under the veterinarian’s instructions. This ensures you can speak directly with the vet who performed the surgery or monitored the patient, allowing them to explain how the procedure went, clarify post-operative instructions, and address any concerns.

Take-Home Support

You will be guided through post-operative care instructions regarding medication, incision care, and exercise limits, with our team always available by phone should you have any concerns once you are home.

FAQS ABOUT SURGERY & ANAESTHESIA

Why do you put all patients on IV fluids? Is it necessary for routine surgery?

What is Capnography, and why is it important during anaesthesia?

What is the benefit of having a separate dental theatre?

How do you manage pain after surgery?