Companion Animals

Dog Perioperative Welfare Standards

Perioperative welfare encompasses the full period around any veterinary procedure, from pre-operative assessment through recovery, and standards have advanced significantly.

Key Facts

WSAVA perioperative pain management guidelines provide international best practice standards
Pre-operative assessment identifies anaesthetic risk factors enabling targeted monitoring
Intraoperative blood pressure, temperature and oxygenation monitoring reduces anaesthetic mortality
Post-operative care plans including analgesia, nutrition and wound management support recovery
Veterinary nursing skill in perioperative monitoring is central to achieving good welfare outcomes

Welfare Considerations

Perioperative welfare is a team responsibility spanning vets, nurses and owners. High standards at each stage of the perioperative period significantly improve outcomes for the animals in our care.

What You Can Do

Ask your vet about pre-operative assessment protocols before any planned procedure
Request a written post-operative care plan including analgesia schedule for your dog
Report any post-operative concerns to your vet immediately rather than waiting for a follow-up appointment