Pre-Op & Post-Op Instructions
Pre-Op
For their safety, pets must be properly prepared in advance of their surgery.
For all animals over 4 months of age, no food, treats, snacks, or anything else considered a solid is allowed after midnight the night before the procedure. To avoid accidental ingestion of food, grass, prey, or other objects, your pet must be kept indoors overnight, and when taking your dog out in the morning to pee & poop, keep them on a leash to prevent access to anything edible. Water is allowed right up until morning and it is better not to take it away at all to prevent dehydration before surgery.
If your pet is found to have eaten anything after midnight, we will unfortunately need to reschedule their surgery. Pets that do not fast are at a high risk of vomiting and aspiration during surgery, which can be life-threatening.
Please let us know if your pet has any health conditions or is on any medications/supplements (even non-prescription or over-the-counter ones) before surgery as these can affect our anesthetic and surgical plans. If these are not disclosed to us, your pet may be at an increased risk of having serious complications.
Upon arrival at the clinic, dogs should be on a leash unless they are small enough to be held safely in your arms or in a carrier. Cats should be in a kennel or otherwise safely contained to prevent escape or injury. If your dog or cat is aggressive, please remember to warn our staff so that we may take the proper precautions before handling your pet
Post-Op
You must restrict the Animal’s activity for the next ten days to allow the tissue time to heal, and avoid causing the incision to open. Cats should stay indoors. All dogs should go out on a leash to urinate/defecate & then return inside to rest. Keep the incision site dry; do not bathe or apply topical ointment during the recovery period.
Keep males away from unspayed females for 30 days. Keep females away from unneutered males for seven days. Be prepared to keep pets separate during the recovery period.
Check the incision site twice daily. Females should have no drainage; redness & swelling should be minimal. The incision for male dogs is directly on the scrotum & is left open to allow for drainage. A small amount of drainage/discharge is normal for up to three days. Too much activity causes increased drainage, so activity restriction is very important. Do not allow the Animal to lick or chew at the incision. If this occurs, an Elizabethan collar MUST be applied to prevent additional licking/chewing that could cause infection.
Appetite should return gradually within 24 hours of surgery. Do not change the Animal’s diet at this time, & do not give them junk food, table scraps, milk, or any other people food during the recovery period. Feeding them their regular diet will help avoid gastrointestinal upset.
Minimal redness & swelling of the surgery site should resolve within several days, but if they persist longer, please call our office at 704-600-6100. After office hours, please click here. You should also contact us immediately if you notice any of the following: pale gums; depression; unsteady gait; loss of appetite or decreased water intake; vomiting; diarrhea; discharge or bleeding from the incision; difficulty urinating or defecating; labored breathing. Do not give human medication to the Animal. It is dangerous & can be fatal.
If the Animal received a vaccine at our clinic other than rabies, please discuss a “booster” vaccine with your regular veterinarian. Canine distemper/parvo vaccine & feline distemper vaccine all need to be “boostered” three to four weeks after administration of the first vaccine for maximum effectiveness.
We will make every reasonable effort to treat at OUR CLINIC, at minimal cost, any post-operative complications resulting directly from the surgery, if the above post-operative instructions are followed in full. Your regular veterinarian must address illnesses or injuries that are not a direct result of surgery. Please call for an appointment as soon as you see any cause for concern at 704-600-6100. After office hours, please click here.
