Survival surgery should only be performed by trained personnel using aseptic techniques in a facility equipped for this intended purpose. A person who is qualified to perform survival surgery must be technically competent to perform the procedure and understand the following definitions:

• Survival Surgery: surgery performed on an anesthetized animal, after which the animal is expected to regain consciousness
• Major Survival Surgery: surgery that penetrates and exposes a body cavity or produces substantial impairment of physical or physiologic function