Please call the clinic if you pet has a non-emergent problem after surgery. If after hours, please leave a message.

Surgical rechecks are done:
Monday-Thursday: 10am-12pm BY APPOINTMENT

POST-OPERATIVE CARE INSTRUCTIONS CATS

  1. All cats must be recovered in a climate controlled area for at least the first 24 hours after surgery, due to the side effects of anesthesia. This includes transport home. Transport in an open vehicle or truck bed, even if in a crate, is dangerous and not acceptable.
  2. Full recovery will take 7-14 days, depending on the age and size of your cat. During this time, your cat must remain indoors and relatively calm, if possible. Cats over 8 months of age should remain isolated from cats of opposite sex. Do not encourage play during this time, and observe for self and mutual licking of incisions. Separate and apply E-collars as necessary if licking is observed.
  3. Lethargy, loss of appetite, mild vomiting and diarrhea are not uncommon during the first 24 hours after surgery. If these symptoms persist longer than 24 hours, please give Animal Spay & Neuter a call.
  4. For adults, start feeding normal diet gradually the night after surgery, beginning with about ¼ of a normal meal. Do not feed new or special food unless Animal Spay & Neuter directs otherwise. If no vomiting has occurred after 30 minutes, feed another ¼ meal. Resume normal feeding the morning after surgery. For kittens under four pounds offer ¼ of normal diet within the first hour of return home, and follow directions as for adults.
  5. The primary way infection can be introduced into the incision is via licking. Check your cat’s incision one to two times daily. Look for redness, swelling, discharge, or gaping of the incision edges. If you see any of these, call Animal Spay & Neuter. Females will have tissue glue on the skin which will resorb with time. You may notice a green line. That is tattoo ink to indicate your cat has been sterilized. There are no external sutures to be removed. Incisions must stay dry. No bathing for 10-14 days after surgery. Do not attempt to clean the incision unless Animal Spay & Neuter instructs otherwise. Males have no sutures or tissue glue and will heal without either, as long as the incisions are not disturbed by cleaning or licking.
  6. Males may remain virile for 3-4 weeks after surgery. Females that were in heat at the time of surgery may remain attractive to males for some time after surgery and must remain separated from males (even neutered males) for a minimum of two weeks after surgery.
  7. Ferals should remain indoors 24-72 hours to allow complete metabolism of drugs, unless they are too stressed and causing self-harm.
  8. It is very important that you adhere to these instructions. Repairing damage done to a surgery site because of improper post-operative care will be at your expense, and may necessitate referral to an urgent care or emergency facility.

POST-OPERATIVE CARE INSTRUCTIONS DOGS

  1. All dogs must be recovered in a climate controlled area for at least the first 24 hours after surgery, due to the side effects of anesthesia. This includes transport home. Transport in an open vehicle or truck bed, even if in a crate, is dangerous and not acceptable.
  2. Full recovery will take 10-14 days for most dogs, depending on size and age. During this time, your dog should remain with E-collar in place at all times while unattended. It is crucial that your dog not be allowed to lick at his/her incision, and that any other dogs in your household also be restrained from licking the incision, as this is the primary way infection can be introduced to the incision. The older and bigger your dog, the longer will be the recovery period.
  3. During the recovery period, activity must be restricted. For the first three days, your dog should be kept ON A LEASH AND UNDER CONTROL, with short walks only for potty breaks. After three days, slow walks of up to ¼ mile ON A LEASH AND UNDER CONTROL are acceptable. Discourage any kind of running, jumping or rough play for 10-14 days.
  4. Your dog will be prescribed pain medication and sedation for the first one to five days after surgery, depending on the size and age of your dog. If the sedation medication is not enough to keep your dog calm and quiet, please call Animal Spay & Neuter for additional medication.
  5. Lethargy, loss of appetite, mild vomiting and diarrhea are not uncommon during the first 24 hours after surgery. If these symptoms persist longer than 24 hours, please call Animal Spay & Neuter.
  6. Start feeding gradually the night after surgery, beginning with about ¼ of a normal meal. If no vomiting occurs after 30 minutes, feed another ¼ meal. Resume normal feeding the morning after surgery. If your dog is not interested in his or her normal food, try a bland diet such as a small amount of cottage cheese and cooked white rice.
  7. If your dog struggles to eat while wearing the E-collar, try elevating the food dish. If this still does not work, you may remove the E-collar, supervise the dog the entire time she or he is eating, then immediately replace the E-collar.
  8. Check your dog’s incision one to two times daily. Look for redness, swelling, discharge, or gaping of the incision edges. If you see any of these, call Animal Spay & Neuter. There is tissue glue on the skin which will resorb with time. You may notice a green line. That is tattoo ink to indicate your dog has been sterilized. There are no external sutures to be removed. The incision needs to stay dry. No bathing, swimming or sprinkler chasing for 10-14 days after surgery. Do not attempt to clean the incision unless Animal Spay & Neuter instructs you otherwise.
  9. Males may remain virile for 3-4 weeks after surgery. Females that were in heat at the time of surgery may remain attractive to males for some time after surgery.
  10. It is very important that you adhere to these instructions. Repairing damage done to a surgery site because of improper post-operative care will be at your expense, and may necessitate referral to an urgent care or emergency facility.

REPAIRING DAMAGE A PET DOES TO THE INCISION WILL BE AT THE OWNER’S EXPENSE.

Thank you for doing your part to end pet over-population