Observation by trained personnel is essential for monitoring animal health and welfare. It should occur frequently enough to detect disease, injury, or abnormal behavior and to intervene when necessary.
Each shipment of animals should be quarantined and stabilized according to procedures appropriate for the species involved. This might include a period of physiologic and psychologic stabilization.
Hospital Management
Veterinary hospitals provide medical care to sick and injured animals. The hospital’s facilities must be well-maintained to meet the sanitary requirements of animal health laws and prevent the transmission of infectious diseases. The veterinary staff uses several types of equipment and supplies. The proper equipment ensures that the veterinarians can perform their duties safely and efficiently.
Managing a veterinary practice is a complex task that should be left to those most qualified. A veterinarian who performs management functions must devote their time to something other than patient care. This results in lost veterinary revenue for the clinic.
The Humane Society of New York manages the veterinary facility, including optimizing exam rooms, equipment, and animal housing. Exam room utilization directly correlates with the amount of billable services that can be rendered. Equipment such as X-ray machines, digital scales, and surgical tools should always be available. Animal housing is essential for facilities charging for boarding and receiving animal intake for long-term treatment.
Surgical Procedures
In animal hospitals, a range of surgical procedures are performed. The facility must be designed for the space and equipment necessary to perform these operations under aseptic conditions. Surgical facility SOPs should cover all aspects of surgery, including surgeon scrubbing, scrub area, operating room, and postoperative recovery.
Pain assessments should be made using objective and subjective methods during recovery. The latter may include observing the activity and appearance of the animals, with a particular emphasis on identifying signs of distress such as guarding the surgical wound, hunched postures, piloerection, soiled fur, excessive grooming, and heightened aggression.
The type of surgical procedure will influence the equipment and supplies required. For example, limb amputations require electrocardiography equipment, while cystotomies require a particular urine collection system. A veterinary staff with good experience is essential to ensure the success of any surgery. Thorough documentation of all veterinary and research staff activities is also necessary to provide data for reporting to the PI.
Preparation of the Animals
Animal hospitals provide veterinary services such as treatment, vaccination, artificial insemination, and surgical intervention to livestock, pets, birds, small animals, etc. Unlike the veterinary dispensaries, these institutes have facilities for day-to-day treatments.
Veterinary medicine has significantly contributed to human health by reducing bacterial infection rates from animal sources and developing safe vaccines for rabies and distemper. These advancements are expected to fuel the demand for veterinary hospital services.
Preparing animals for surgery is a time-consuming process and requires sufficient workspace. The prep area should include a stainless steel table or tub, clippers, anesthetic equipment, waste gas scavenging equipment, and an insulated surface that maintains the animal’s body temperature during prep.
The increased consolidation of veterinary clinics drives the global animal hospital market, the rise in the companion animal population, and the growing adoption of pet insurance. In addition, the increasing disposable income of individuals further supports the market growth.
Postoperative Care
The postoperative care is provided after the surgical procedure is completed. This can be done at the hospital or surgicenter and also on an ambulatory basis. It includes pain control, wound care, and support to move around or perform daily tasks.
Veterinary hospitals have become more prominent and offer more services, including overnight stays. They are often equipped to perform more complicated surgical procedures and have various diagnostic tools. They also have a staff that can handle emergencies.
