Post-operative Care

Your pet has had major surgery, which requires general anaesthesia. The pet is completely asleep and unable to feel or move. In female dogs and cats, the uterus and ovaries are removed through a small incision in the abdominal wall. This makes it so that females are unable to get pregnant. In both male dogs and cats, the scrotum is not removed, only the testicles. Removal of the testicles prevents the production of sperm and the male dog or cat will no longer be able to father puppies or kittens. Your pet has received an injection of pain medication. Oral medication will be sent home.

Surgical Site

Female dogs and cats have a midline incision in their abdomen. Male dogs have an incision just above the scrotum or directly over the scrotum, and male cats have one or two incisions directly over the scrotum. Check the incision site daily. What you see on the day of surgery is what we consider normal. Redness and swelling should be minimal. Males may appear as if they still have testicles — this is normal; the swelling should subside gradually through the recovery period.

DO NOT ALLOW YOUR PET TO LICK OR CHEW AT THE INCISION.

To avoid this, we strongly recommend you purchase an Elizabethan-collar (e-collar) or a surgical onesie. If your pet licks, he/she can open the incision or cause infection, incurring additional veterinary costs. For your convenience, the e-collars can be purchased (and fitted) at our clinics for $20, or a surgical onesie for $37. Both are also available at most pet stores. The collar or onesie should remain on your pet until the incision has fully healed, which can take at least 7-10 days.

In Heat

If your female dog or cat was in heat at the time of surgery, you must keep them away from un-neutered males for at least two weeks. While they are unable to become pregnant, they will still attract intact males for a short period of time.

Sutures

Unless you are told otherwise, your pet does not have external sutures. All sutures on the inside are absorbable, and the very outer layer of skin is held together with water-soluble surgical glue. Do not clean or apply a topical ointment to the incision site. If you are told that your pet has skin sutures or skin staples, they will need to return in 7-10 days to have those removed. Male cats do not have any sutures.

Vaccines

If your pet has received their first set of vaccines at the time of surgery, they will require boosters from your primary veterinarian.

Potential Complications

Spaying and neutering are very safe surgeries; however, complications can occur. Minimal redness and swelling should resolve within several days. If it persists longer, please contact us. Please contact us immediately if you notice any of the following:

• Pale gums
• Depression
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Discharge or bleeding from the incision
• Difficulty urinating
• Laboured breathing
• Open or infected incision pain

Your pet received pain medication to manage post-operative pain. Pain signs include:

• Sitting or lying in an abnormal position
• Restlessness, trembling or shaking
• Constant or intermittent whining
• Licking or chewing, or attempting to lick or chew, at the incision site
• Hiding or other unusual or unsociable behaviour