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.
• If not prepaid, we will collect fees for service.
• 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 and you may 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 and any questions can be answered at this time.  If there are any 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

Night Prior to Surgery:

• Your pet should not have any food after 10:00pm on the night prior to surgery.
• Water is okay.  Take up the bowl when you get up in the morning.
• Please remove food containers from carrier.

Check-in Procedures for Surgery Day:  (Please call us ASAP at 227-5555 if you are unable to keep your appointment. )

Dogs: 

•  Check-in time is between 7:15 and 7:30am. If you have not checked in by 7:30, we may replace your appointment with another dog from our on-call list. 
• Dogs must be on a leash or in a carrier. 
  

Cats: 

• Check- in time is between 7:30 and 8:30am. If you have not checked in by 8:30, we may replace your appointment with another cat from our on-call list. 
• All cats must be in a carrier or a container with a secured lid. For safety reasons, please do not carry your cat loose in your arms. Your cat will be more secure in a confined container 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, we will transfer your cat to one of our carriers or place in a kennel. Your cat will be returned to you in the carrier/container you had at check-in. 
  

Ferals: 

• Check- in time is between 9:30 and 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. 
• Once checked in you may leave with an approximate pick-up time.
  
  

POST-OP CARE

Proper Restraint: 

• Please protect your pet when leaving the Clinic by either using a leash or pet carrier.  If your pet is recovering from surgery and gets loose, excessive injury may result. 
• Do not allow your pet to become overly active or excited when you pick him/her up from the Clinic.

Food and Water: 

• With the excitement of returning home after surgery 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 or so until your pet has quieted down.
• Allow only small amounts of food and water for the first 8 hours.  Normal feeding and watering may resume the next day.

Eliminations:

• Many patients 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 your pet does not have a bowel movement after that time and is eating, please call HCWS.

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

• Loss of appetite for more than 2 days
• Refusal to drink water for more than one day
• Weakness
• Depression
• Vomiting
• 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: 

• Keep your pet confined indoors for 2 to 3 days. 
• No sutures were used in his surgery (cats only).  Dogs receive dissolvable sutures.
• Do monitor the surgery site (scrotal area) for excessive swelling, licking or any discharge or foul odor.  Mild swelling and normal grooming (licking) are to be expected.
• Male dogs go home with an E-Collar.

Spay: 

• Keep your pet confined indoors for 7 to 10 days (limit running, jumping and stair climbing).
• Sutures are absorbed and are under the skin. 
• Do 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:

• Males can remain fertile for 2 weeks after surgery and should remain indoors.
• Do not clean the incision as you may introduce infection.  The incision needs to remain dry.
• Do not put any ointment on the incision unless instructed by a veterinarian.  This may encourage licking and cause damage to the incision.
• No baths for 2 weeks after surgery
• Male cats have no sutures – male dogs have sutures.
• We highly recommend your pet NOT be left alone until the next morning after surgery.  Your pet should be periodically monitored to insure its continued recovery after surgery.

Discharge Instructions:

• Animals are released approximately between 3:00 and 5:00pm on the same day of surgery. 
• No animal will be released after 5:00pm, unless directed by staff.
•  We do not provide boarding services.
•  A $25.00 (cash only) fee per pet will be charged for any animal not picked up by 5:00pm, unless prior approval by staff.
•  Pick-up time for any animal left at the Clinic will be between 9:00 and 10:00am the following day.