Veterinary Spay and Neuter Surgical Protocol Safety Checklist
Spay and neuter are among the most commonly performed veterinary surgical procedures. This protocol checklist ensures patient safety through pre-surgical assessment, anesthesia monitoring, and aseptic technique verification.
- Industry: Veterinary
- Frequency: Per Surgical Patient
- Estimated Time: 10-15 minutes
- Role: Veterinarian / Surgery Technician
- Total Items: 36
Pre-Anesthesia Patient Assessment
Assess patient before anesthesia induction.
- Pre-anesthesia physical examination completed by veterinarian?
- ASA physical status classification assigned (ASA I-V)?
- Appropriate fasting confirmed (4-6 hrs dogs, 2-4 hrs cats for elective)?
- Pre-anesthetic bloodwork reviewed if indicated by age or exam findings?
- Owner consent form signed including anesthesia risks?
- Current body weight obtained for drug dose calculation?
Anesthesia Equipment Preparation
Verify anesthesia equipment ready for this patient.
- Anesthesia machine pre-use check completed?
- Endotracheal tube appropriate size selected and cuff tested?
- All anesthetic drug doses calculated by weight and drawn up labeled?
- Emergency drugs (atipamezole, flumazenil, epinephrine) calculated and available?
- IV catheter placed and fluid line primed?
- Forced air warming or water-circulating blanket available?
Surgical Site Preparation
Verify surgical site is properly prepared.
- Surgical site clipped with adequate margins around incision site?
- Three-step aseptic prep (alternating scrub/alcohol) completed?
- Patient draped with sterile drapes covering surgical field?
- Surgeon performed surgical hand scrub or hand rub before gowning?
- Sterile gown and gloves donned without contamination?
- Instrument pack chemical indicator confirmed color change before opening?
Intraoperative Monitoring
Verify continuous patient monitoring during surgery.
- Continuous anesthesia monitoring assigned to dedicated technician?
- Pulse oximetry SpO2 above 95%?
- Respiratory rate and character monitored continuously?
- Body temperature monitored with intervention at <98F?
- Anesthesia depth monitored - not too light or too deep?
- Anesthesia monitoring record completed per AAHA standards?
Post-Operative Recovery
Ensure safe recovery from anesthesia.
- Extubated only when patient demonstrates swallowing reflex?
- Recovery monitored until patient is sternal and responsive?
- Pain assessment performed and analgesics administered per protocol?
- Incision checked for hemorrhage or abnormalities before patient leaves surgery?
- Written discharge instructions prepared for owner?
- Any complications documented in patient record?
Documentation
Document the surgical procedure completely.
- Complete surgical record: procedure, duration, complications, surgeon?
- Anesthesia monitoring record filed in patient record?
- All controlled drugs used documented in DEA log?
- Tissue submitted for histopathology if indicated?
- Follow-up appointment scheduled?
- Owner contacted with post-surgical update?
Related Veterinary Checklists
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- Large Animal Veterinary Practice Safety and Handling Checklist
- Feline Low-Stress Handling and Fear-Free Examination Checklist
- Veterinary Radiology and X-Ray Safety Compliance Checklist
- Veterinary Feline Housing and Welfare Standards Checklist
- Veterinary Practice Infection Control Annual Audit Checklist
- Veterinary Practice Zoonotic Disease Surveillance and Staff Health Checklist
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Why Use This Veterinary Spay and Neuter Surgical Protocol Safety Checklist?
This veterinary spay and neuter surgical protocol safety checklist helps veterinary teams maintain compliance and operational excellence. Designed for veterinarian / surgery technician professionals, this checklist covers 36 critical inspection points across 6 sections. Recommended frequency: per surgical patient.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Veterinary Spay and Neuter Surgical Protocol Safety Checklist cover?
This checklist covers 36 inspection items across 6 sections: Pre-Anesthesia Patient Assessment, Anesthesia Equipment Preparation, Surgical Site Preparation, Intraoperative Monitoring, Post-Operative Recovery, Documentation. It is designed for veterinary operations and compliance.
How often should this checklist be completed?
This checklist should be completed per surgical patient. Each completion takes approximately 10-15 minutes.
Who should use this Veterinary Spay and Neuter Surgical Protocol Safety Checklist?
This checklist is designed for Veterinarian / Surgery Technician professionals in the veterinary industry. It can be used for self-assessments, team audits, and regulatory compliance documentation.
Can I download this checklist as a PDF?
Yes, this checklist is available as a free PDF download. You can also use it digitally in the POPProbe mobile app for real-time data capture, photo documentation, and automatic reporting.