Note: Surgeries are performed throughout the day, not necessarily in the order in which they were dropped off.

• Upon arrival you will sign in at front counter.
• You will be asked to review and sign the surgery authorization form.
• You and your pet will be escorted to an exam room.
• A vet tech will weigh, check animal vitals and discuss general health issues, vaccination protocols and anesthesia risk. If approved for surgery by the doctor, the animal will be taken into the surgical prep area.
• If not pre-paid, we will collect fees for service. You are then free to leave.
• Clinic staff will call you after surgery when pet is awake and alert with an approximate pick-up time.
• At pick-up you will receive after-care instructions and applicable medications. Questions may be answered at this time. If there are issues specific to your pet, they will be discussed with you.
• In case of any emergency due to spay/neuter, you will be given emergency contact information.

PRE-OP CARE FOR BOTH DOGS AND CATS

Night Prior to Surgery:
• Your pet should not have any food after 9:30 p.m. on the night prior to surgery.
• Water is okay. Take up the bowl when you get up in the morning.
• Please remove food and water containers from cat carrier.

Check-in Procedures for Surgery Day:
(Please call us ASAP at 227-5555, ext. 203, if you are unable to keep your appointment. )
• Owned animal’s check-in time is between 6:45 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
• Dogs must be on a leash or in a carrier.
• All cats must be in a carrier. For safety reasons, please do not carry your cat loose in your arms. Your cat will be more secure in a carrier as we will be checking in dogs as well. We will label and keep your cat in the carrier at the clinic and your cat will be returned to you in its carrier.
If you do not have a cat carrier that allows us to see inside at all times and to monitor your cat during its recovery, your cat will be transferred to one of our carriers. Your cat will be returned to you in the carrier/container you brought at check-in.

Ferals/Strays:
• Check- in time is between 9:30 a.m. - 10:30am.
• They will be the last of the day to be sterilized.
• A feral cat must be in a trap. Please place newspaper, cardboard, or a towel in the bottom of the trap and completely cover it with a sheet or towel. It will be returned to you in the trap.
• The trapper will fill out a sign in sheet with exact trapping address information, including zip code.
• Once checked in you may leave.
• Clinic staff will call you after surgery when the feral is awake and alert with an approximate pick-up time.

POST-OP CARE FOR DOGS

Food and Water:

1. Your pet may be inclined to drink and/or eat excessively, which may result in vomiting. To avoid this, we recommend restricting free access to water for an hour until your pet has quieted down.
2. Allow only small amounts of food & water for first 8 hours. Normal feeding & watering may resume the next day.

Eliminations:

Many pets may not have a bowel movement for 24 to 48 hours after anesthesia or surgery. This is normal and regular movements will resume as food intake resumes. If no bowel movement after that time, please call HCWS.

Monitoring:

A decrease in activity or appetite for 1 or 2 days may be observed. However, if your pet exhibits any of the following symptoms, please notify HCWS:

1. Loss of appetite for more than 2 days.                                       4. Depression.
2. Refusal to drink water for more than 1 day.                               5. Vomiting.
3. Weakness.                                                                                       6. Diarrhea

Children:

Due to your pet's grogginess or discomfort, children may be bitten or scratched when trying to comfort or hold your pet. Caution and adult supervision are recommended. Do not let small children handle pet for 2 days.

Neuter:

1. Keep your pet confined indoors for 2 to 3 days.
2. Dogs receive dissolvable sutures.
3. Monitor the surgery site (scrotal area) for excessive swelling, licking, or any discharge or foul odor. Mild swelling is okay. Apply ice pack, wrapped in towel, to the scrotal area 3-5 days, 5-10 minutes each time. If swelling is excessive, call to schedule a recheck appointment.
4. Male dogs go home with an E-Collar that is to be worn at ALL times for 7-10 days.

Spay:

1. Keep your pet confined indoors for 7-10 days.
2. Sutures are absorbed and are under the skin.
3. Monitor the surgery site (abdomen). A small, hard, painless lump is to be expected as the body begins to dissolve the stitches. If the lump is soft, painful, red, has a discharge, or your pet is licking excessively, please call to schedule a recheck appointment.

Other:

1. Males may remain fertile for 2 weeks after surgery and should remain indoors.
2. Do not clean the incision as you may introduce infection. The incision needs to remain dry.
3. Do not put any ointment on the incision unless instructed by a veterinarian. This may encourage licking and cause damage to the incision.
4. No baths for 2 weeks after surgery.
5. Male and female dogs receive a pain injection that is good for 24 hours following surgery. They do go home with pain medications to be given, STARTING THE FOLLOWING DAY.
6. Shivering is normal for the next 24 hours as the anesthesia is being expelled from the body.
7. Limit activity (jumping, running, and stairs)
8. If this is the first time your pet has been vaccinated with 5-in-1, we recommend a booster in 3 weeks by a full service veterinarian.
9. We highly recommend your pet NOT be left alone until the next AM after surgery. Your pet should be periodically monitored to insure its continued recovery.

POST-OP CARE FOR CATS