The Vet Nurse’s Role in Your Pet’s Surgery

May marks Vet Nurse Awareness Month, a time to recognise the incredible skill and dedication of our veterinary nurses at Milton Keynes Veterinary Group—especially in surgical care.

If your pet needs surgery, vet nurses play a central role at every stage of the process.

Before surgery begins, they prepare the theatre, ensure all equipment is sterile, and assist with pre-anaesthetic checks. This preparation is essential for ensuring everything runs smoothly and safely.

Once your pet is anaesthetised, the vet nurse’s responsibility is continuous monitoring. This includes tracking heart rate, breathing, oxygen levels, temperature, and depth of anaesthesia. These readings help guide any adjustments needed during the procedure.

Vet nurses are trained to notice even subtle changes and respond immediately. This constant attention helps ensure your pet remains stable and safe throughout surgery.

They also play a key role in pain management, ensuring your pet receives appropriate medication during and after the procedure to support a comfortable recovery.

After surgery, vet nurses remain with your pet during recovery, carefully monitoring them as they wake from anaesthesia. This is a critical stage where comfort, warmth, and reassurance are provided.

Vet Nurse Awareness Month highlights just how essential this role is—your pet is never alone during surgery or recovery, and a trained vet nurse is always there watching over them.