Veterinary · Free Template · ~9 steps
Veterinary Surgery Prep Procedure
A vet practice owner who wants every surgery prep to follow the same protocol regardless of which tech is on.
Free SOP template — copy it, adapt it, or generate a custom version for your business in 5 minutes
Who it's for
Vet techs, surgical assistants, veterinarians.
When to run it
Every scheduled surgical procedure, before the patient enters the OR.
Before you start
- •Patient pre-anesthetic bloodwork on file
- •Owner consent form signed
- •Sterilized instrument pack ready
- •Anesthesia machine checked and gas levels confirmed
The procedure
Step-by-step, in order. Each step has the action and the reason it matters.
- 1
Verify the patient and the procedure
Two-person verification: patient name, owner name, procedure, side (if applicable). Cross-reference against the surgical schedule and consent form.
Why: Wrong-patient or wrong-procedure surgery is a malpractice event. Two-person verification is the only reliable defense.
- 2
Pre-anesthetic exam
Vital signs documented within 1 hour of induction. Temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, mucous membrane color, hydration status. Anything abnormal escalates to the vet before proceeding.
- 3
IV catheter and pre-medication
Place IV catheter. Administer pre-meds per the anesthesia plan. Document time and dose on the anesthesia sheet.
- 4
Induction and intubation
Induce per anesthesia plan. Intubate immediately. Confirm tube placement (capnography, chest movement, breath sounds). Inflate cuff to seal.
- 5
Position the patient and secure
Position per the procedure. Secure with leg ties — never tight enough to cut circulation. Eye lube applied. Heating pad on (hypothermia is the #1 anesthesia complication in small animals).
- 6
Surgical site prep — clip and scrub
Clip the surgical site with margins per the procedure. Vacuum the loose hair. Three-pass scrub: chlorhexidine and alcohol alternating, working from incision site outward in concentric circles.
Why: Insufficient prep is the #1 cause of post-op infections. The three-pass rule is non-negotiable.
- 7
Drape the patient
Sterile drapes covering everything except the surgical field. Drape edges clamped. Sterile field is established once draped — anyone who touches it without scrubbing in contaminates it.
- 8
Surgical team brief
Vet, surgical assistant, anesthetist all confirm: patient verified, procedure confirmed, instruments ready, anesthesia stable. Time-out before incision.
- 9
Hand off to the surgeon
Vet scrubs in. Anesthetist begins the anesthesia record. Surgical assistant maintains sterile field and instrument count.
Verify when done
- ☐Two-person patient/procedure verification done
- ☐Pre-anesthetic vitals documented within 1 hour
- ☐Three-pass surgical scrub completed
- ☐Time-out brief before incision
Common mistakes
- ✕Single-person patient verification
- ✕Skipping the heating pad — patient hypothermia
- ✕One-pass surgical scrub
- ✕No time-out brief because 'we all know what we're doing'
Trainer notes
The time-out brief is the single most-skipped step because it feels redundant. It's not. It's the last chance to catch wrong-patient, wrong-procedure, or unprepared anesthesia. Make it non-negotiable.
Common questions
Who should run the veterinary surgery prep procedure?
Vet techs, surgical assistants, veterinarians.
When should this veterinary procedure be run?
Every scheduled surgical procedure, before the patient enters the OR.
How many steps does the veterinary surgery prep procedure have?
9 steps. The procedure starts with "Verify the patient and the procedure" and ends with "Hand off to the surgeon". Each step in between has the action and the reason it matters.
What's the most common mistake when running this procedure?
Single-person patient verification. The time-out brief is the single most-skipped step because it feels redundant. It's not. It's the last chance to catch wrong-patient, wrong-procedure, or unprepared anesthesia. Make it non-negotiable.
Can I get a custom version written for my veterinary business?
Yes. TalkNDone generates a custom SOP from your voice or text description in about 5 minutes — written using your team's words, your equipment, and your specific procedure. $49 one-time, free preview before you pay, no subscription. Start at talkndone.com.
Tool comparison
Trainual is $300/month. TalkNDone is $49 per SOP, no subscription.
See the side-by-side breakdown of when each tool is the right call.
SOPs generated this week — restaurant owners, HVAC shops, gym managers, landscapers
One-time · $49 · PDF in your inbox within minutes
Want a custom version of this SOP written for your business?
This template is a starting point. Generate a personalized version that uses your team's words, your equipment, and your specific procedure — delivered as a formatted PDF in 5 minutes. $49 one-time.
Works for any physical or operational process. Talk through it or type it out — we turn it into a professional PDF.
Your SOP will be formatted like this — written in your words, specific to your business.
Operator Plan
$99 / month
New hire every quarter. Seasonal staff each spring. Stop re-explaining from scratch every time someone leaves.
- ✓ Unlimited SOP generation
- ✓ Opening, closing, onboarding, service calls, equipment operation
- ✓ PDF emailed immediately — ready to print and post by the station
- ✓ Break even at 3 SOPs — everything after is free
More industries