Spay Neuter Pre/Post-Ops

Pre-operative

Please read the following instructions carefully, as any animal that does not meet the outlined physical parameters for surgery (over/underweight, undisclosed medical conditions, vomiting anything other than bile), will be declined for surgery, and charges will apply. If your pet has a medical condition or is currently on medications, please call us to confirm whether they are a good candidate for surgery within our program.

At the time of booking, please notify staff of any behavioural issues(fear, nervousness, aggression), to protect the safety of our team members and enable surgery to proceed.

In order to protect your pet from the possibility of contracting an illness while in our care, we recommend that you have your pet vaccinated at least two weeks prior to your appointment. Otherwise, vaccinations will be available at the time of surgery. We do recommend pre-anesthetic bloodwork for all animals. Please note that bloodwork must be done within two weeks of your surgical appointment. We do no accept animals over the age of 5. While these animals can still be done they fall outside of our normal surgical protocols. Please contact your local full service clinic to talk to them about having these pets spayed and neutered.

Animals must be no older than 5 years, within normal weight range according to the Royal Canin Large Dog Body Condition Chart, Royal Canin Small Dog Body Condition Chart or Royal Canin Cat Body Condition Chart, and must be in good health. Please advise us of any illnesses/treatments at the time of booking, or as soon as anything develops prior to surgery. Animals with certain allergies will not be accepted. Any female dogs that demonstrate signs of heat (bleeding and/or swelling of the vulva) shortly before their scheduled surgical appointment will need to be rescheduled to reduce surgical risks – contact us as soon as signs are noticed. Males require both testicles present in the scrotal sac. If your male only has 1 testicle present, an exam can be done to determine if we are able to locate the second testicle and proceed with surgery.

All food should be removed from adult animals at midnight the evening prior to surgery, as vomiting while under anesthesia could be fatal! They should continue to have access to water. Pets must be kept indoors or confined to ensure no food is consumed. Animals that vomit undigested food, clothing or foreign objects at any time during the medical process will be declined for surgery. Charges will apply, and the appointment will have to be rebooked.

*Note: Bulldogs and other brachycephalic breeds must be free of any breathing difficulties.

Check-in at designated time. If you are running late please call the clinic and we will let you know if we will still be able to proceed with surgery or if will need to reschedule
• When you arrive at the clinic please text the number you have been given. Wait in your car until you are told it is your turn to bring your pet to the front door.
• All dogs must be on a leash and all cats must come in individual carriers.
• All appointments are prepaid at the time of booking. We accept credit card over the phone, debit, Visa-debit, cash payments in person and online fund transfers.
• Appointment changes and cancellations need to be made more than 1 business day before the appointment in order to avoid a late cancellation fee.
• Additional services, such as vaccines, microchips, etc, can be paid for the morning of surgery.
• Pick up animal at designated time. You will be given a pick up time the same day. Please make sure you arrive at your scheduled time.

Post-operative

What to expect when you get your pet home

Your pet has had major surgery, which requires general anesthesia. The patient 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. 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 pain medication.

Surgical Site
Female dogs and cats have a mid-line incision in their abdomen. Male dogs have an incision just above 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. There should be no drainage. 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 $17, or a surgical onesie for $31. Both are also available at most pet stores. The collar or onesie should remain on your pet until your pet’s 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.

Activity
Some animals are active after surgery, while others are quiet. It is very important that you limit your pet’s activity for the next 7-10 days. No running, jumping, playing, swimming, , bathing or other strenuous activity for 14 days after surgery. Pets must be kept indoors where they can stay clean, dry, and warm. Do not bathe your pet during the recovery period. Dogs must be walked on a leash and cats must be kept inside. Keep your pet quiet. Dogs and female cats have internal sutures and external skin glue that provide strength to the tissue as it heals. Any strenuous activity could disrupt this healing process. The healing process takes a minimum of 7 days.

Feeding
Your pet’s appetite should return gradually within 24 hours of surgery. Lethargy lasting for more than 24 hours after surgery, diarrhea, or vomiting are not normal and you should contact us immediately. Do not change your pet’s diet at this time and do not give junk food, table scraps, milk or any other people food for a period of one week. This could mask post-surgical complications.

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

If you have any questions or concerns directly related to the surgery during the recovery period, please call 905-898-6112 Ext 2, or toll-free at 1-888-668-7722 x387 (Stouffville) or 705-734-9882 x2 (Barrie).

If there is an emergency after hours, contact your regular veterinarian or emergency hospital.

We will treat, at minimal cost, any post-op complications resulting directly from the surgery. 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 cause for concern. We cannot be held responsible for complications resulting from failure to follow post-op instructions, or for a contagious disease for which the animal was not previously properly vaccinated.