Animal Care Center of Huntington Beach-FAQS 3

Q: At what age should I consider spaying or neutering my pet?

A: We recommend spaying or neutering at five to six months of age.

Q: What is preanesthetic bloodwork and why do you require it?

A: Preanesthetic blood work is an important whenever your pet requires sedation or anesthesia. A preanesthetic panel is a blood panel focusing on red blood cells, kidney and liver function run here at our hospital within 30 days of the procedure. Because the kidneys and the liver aid in the body’s processing of the anesthesia or sedative, it is important to make sure they are healthy before we put a patient under for a procedure. Anesthesia or sedation always involves a risk. It is important to understand that there is no way to completely eliminate that risk, but a preanesthetic panel can minimize it significantly.

We require preanesthetic bloodwork in any pet going under anesthesia or sedation. A smaller panel is required for animals under 2 years of age while a larger, more comprehensive panel is required for pets over 2 years of age.

Q: My dog or cat is having blood drawn. Does he or she need to fast?

A: Yes. We recommend a 12 hour fast before all blood collection appointments in dogs, cats and ferrets (in adult pets over 1 year of age only). Rabbits, guinea pigs and birds are not to be fasted. Water does not need to be withheld. A member of our reception staff will advise you if any additional instructions need to be followed before a specific test when the appointment is made.