At Ark Vets we are blessed with an experienced team of surgeons capable of dealing with the most minor to the most complicated of surgeries.
Every effort is made to make your pet’s stay as comfortable and short as possible. All pets are given a thorough health check prior to surgery and pre and post-operative blood tests can be carried out quickly and efficiently with instant results.
All surgical cases can be dealt with very efficiently and appointments for elective procedures can be made to suit you. For the patient the journey from consultation through assessment and diagnosis of possible surgical intervention is very important; speed thoroughness and the best of care are essential and this will always be treated as priority.
We would always advise that if you have any concerns, no matter how small, you contact the surgery. Not all surgical cases will require general anaesthesia, some minor procedures can be carried out under reversible sedation with local anaesthesia and oxygen supplementation. This is often a beneficial option but all cases have to be assessed individually.
Upon discharge we will discuss your pets medication and advise you on your role in post-operative care to help in your pets speedy recovery. Collars can be provided and an appointment made for a post-operative examination as necessary.
Our surgical equipment is regularly assessed and updated and significant investment is made each year. All surgeries are performed in specific theatres and we have a team available 24 hours a day to deal with any situation that may arise.
Upon discharge we will discuss medication and advise you on your role in post-operative care. Collars can be provided and an appointment made for a post-operative examination.
If your pet has been under sedation or anaesthetic they will likely need a little extra looking after, especially in the first 24‐48 hours of recovery. They may feel a little sleepy and have some discomfort, especially if they’ve had a major procedure. They will have been fully medicated with antibiotics and painkillers and you may receive further medicines to use at home for a few days. We’ll talk to you about your pet’s procedure, medicines, and their individual post‐operative needs. We can provide written discharge instructions to help you look after our pet once you’re at home. You can ask questions at any point.
Sedatives and anaesthetics may upset the tummy and your pet may not want to eat when you get home. They may experience some sickness or diarrhoea as a normal reaction to having had an anaesthetic and operation. For this reason we recommend feeding a smaller than normal meal if they appear hungry. We find something easy to digest most favourable and we can supply you with recovery packs of sensitivity food for immediate recovery phase.
Your pet’s fur may have been clipped to help with blood sampling, injections or for the operation. This should regrow naturally. If your pet has stitches, traditionally the use of a collar is recommended to prevent licking, however, there are now more modern and popular options including bodysuits so they do not disturb the healing, we have several styles and sizes available to suit your pet’s needs and can fit them for you here at the surgery.
The most common complications are usually bleeding, swelling and infection which can lead to poor healing. We provide a post‐op check‐up free of charge with every operation. Complications are uncommon but should one arise this check-up allows us to spot problems early. We ask you to keep an eye out for any heat, pain, swelling or discharge, and to contact us at any time should you have any worries or concerns.
We would expect wounds from an operation to heal within 10-14 days. They may have nylon stitches (which need to be removed) or dissolving stitches under the skin. In either case, we will see you again to make sure that the wound is fully healed and the operation successful.
Your pet may have had a dressing applied. Any dressing should be kept clean and dry. This dressing is usually expected to remain in place until you pet’s post-operative check when it will be removed. If there is a problem with the dressing we recommend removing it as slipped or soggy dressing can cause more harm than good. Please note that a small tape dressing may be applied to your pet’s leg at the injection site for the anaesthetic and may usually be removed after a few hours.
We use the most modern anaesthetics to ensure the best experience for your pet. Every animal is different and some may recover more quickly than others. If you have any concerns at home please keep in touch with us to ensure your pet gets the best of care.
Many minor procedures can be carried out with sedation and local anaesthesia but when general anaesthesia is required your pet will be closely monitored throughout, ensuring a smooth procedure and rapid recovery. This is obviously better for your pet but it also ensures peace of mind for you, the owner.
We feel it is important that you are as comfortable as possible with your pet’s anaesthetic. We will discuss any aspect of any procedure should you wish – all aspects will be explained but please ask if you are unsure.
We will contact you as soon as your pet has recovered from their anaesthetic. We know any anaesthetic is a concern to owners (we are pet owners ourselves…) but rest assured they will be looked after in the best possible way during their stay with us.
All our anaesthetic agents and instruments are regularly updated, reviewed and serviced.
Your pet’s anaesthetic will be individually tailored to the health of your pet and the procedure your pet requires. Whilst there is a risk with any anaesthetic, we will use the most modern and safest medicines possible to minimise the impact of the anaesthetic on your pet.
Blood tests are a useful way of discovering if your pet has any special needs for their anaesthetic and are available on-site with results within 1 hour. We often think of this being beneficial for the older patient i.e. those over 7 years old, but can also help us detect unexpected health issues in younger patients as well so that we can reduce the risk of the anaesthetic and prevent an issue becoming a problem.
For dogs and cats, it is important that they are fasted prior to sedation or anaesthetic. We recommend that patients are not fed after midnight the night before the anaesthetic. Water should be withdrawn on the morning of the anaesthetic. However, this is not the case for our exotic pets or smaller animals like rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, ferrets etc. Anaesthetics often have more pronounced effects on these pets and as they have a high metabolic rate with a grazing diet we recommend that these pets are fed as normal leading up to their anaesthetic and that you bring their normal food with them on the day of their procedure to be fed upon their recovery.
The need for anaesthetic can be a stressful time for both you and your pet. We are here to make sure that you have all the information you need to feel confident that your pet’s needs will be met. Please feel free to ask us any questions you may have when making your appointment or when your pet is being admitted for treatment. It is our policy to make sure you are fully updated with your pet’s progress and are informed once your pet’s procedure and anaesthetic are complete. For certain procedures or in the unlikely event of a complication we may need to contact you at short notice and we would ask that you remain contactable throughout your pet’s stay.
For elective procedures in dogs and cats we advise that food is removed by midnight the evening before any procedure and water first thing on the morning of the procedure. It is advisable to keep cats indoors overnight as they are prone to hunting.
Rabbits and herbivores should be fed as usual with no restriction on water. We also recommend you bring their normal food in with them as it is important for them to eat as soon as possible after any anaesthetic.
Some owners bring blankets and toys in with their pet as it will make their stay more comfortable if they have familiar things around them.
Please ensure your pets are clean when they arrive and allow your dogs to have a walk in the morning to pass faeces if necessary.
Your pet will be given a pre-operative health examination and you will be asked to sign a routine consent form. We will always offer the option of pre-operative blood tests which can be carried out easily and with rapid results from our in-house blood analysers. We strongly recommend this for older patients.
Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns about preparing for your pets procedure. We’re here to help you.
We’ve taken our dogs to Ark Veterinary Surgery in Mobberley for at least 12 years, and in all this time, they have been cared for impeccably.
All the staff are extremeley friendly, and helpful. Especially Bethany, who treats out German Shepherd, who it has to be said, does not like going to the vets!
The biggest thank you to Dave and staff at The Ark. During the most difficult time of owning a pet – euthanasia – we were treated with compassion and the care of our dog during her last few moments by Dave could not be excelled. All of this care made a very difficult time bearable. Thank you to everyone who works there but especially to those on our dog’s last day.
Hattie injured herself as you are aware and had a TPLO surgery at the end of June. Everyone within your practice has been outstanding to deal with and has shown so much care and professionalism in what you do including Kerri, Charlotte, Cassandra, Hannah, Andy, Jeff and the list goes on…..
I was worried knowing Hattie had to undergo such a big operation for a senior dog but you have always provided me with expert advice with regards to the standards of care she has received. She has recently began Hydrotherapy to aid her rehabilitation and this has been outstanding along with Librela injections.
Special thanks goes to Cassandra who has looked after Hattie since her diagnosis, she has been incredible and nothing is ever too much trouble for her.
Just thought would share my thoughts with you anyway. I wouldn’t take Hattie anywhere else as I know you have the best intentions and interests for the animals you treat.
Great, fantastic Vets practice. The staff, Vets, Nurses, Reception staff and Admin are compassionate, warm, welcoming and nothing is too much trouble for them. One of our dogs has to go each month for injections and he is happy to trot through the door no problem. The ‘open 7 days a week’ is also a massive plus. Would not hesitate to recommend this practice.
Myself and my family would like to thank you for saving our precious dog Luna during her recent illness. Your patience was outstanding we will never forget what you did for her and us. Also how kind and understanding you all were during the difficult time was truly amazing.