Before Surgery
1. You must have an appointment. Please call (260) 420-SPAY (7729) to schedule your pet for surgery.
2. We recommend that you have your pet vaccinated at least two weeks prior to your appointment.
3. All adult animals must have food withdrawn the night before surgery at 12:00 midnight. Pets must be kept indoors or confined.
Any pet that remained outside all night without being confined will not be admitted for surgery.
Animals 4 months or younger may have food until 6:00 AM the morning of surgery.
4. Check-in time is at 8:00 AM for everyone
We have a very strict surgical schedule that must be followed in order for your animals to be ready to go home the same day.
5. You must complete the necessary admission form when you arrive.
You may stop by the clinic prior to your pets' scheduled surgery day and pick up the paperwork to save time the morning of your appointment. Admission forms typically take 10 minutes to complete.
6. We do require that you have a current rabies vaccination for your pet.
Please bring proof of current rabies vaccination with you to your appointment. If you are not current, we can provide the vaccination for you at the time of surgery for $14.00.
7. All dogs must be on a leash and all cats must be in a carrier. If you do not have a carrier for your cat, you can either purchase a cardboard carrier for $5.00 or we will loan you a carrier with a deposit.
8. Owners must arrive at 3:45 PM on the day of surgery to make payment and pick up their animal. Payment is taken at 3:45pm, post-operative instructions will be presented at 4:00pm and your pet will then be released to you. You will be going home with a copy of your post-operative instructions.
9. We do not board pets. However, if you do not pick up your pet prior to our closing time, you will be charged an extra $10.00 fee for the overnight stay.
10. We offer City Pet Registrations.
*$5 per year (if your pet is spayed/neuterd and current on rabies)
*$30 for lifetime of pet (if dog is spayed/neutered, current on rabies, and microchipped), senior citizen lifetime $5
2. We recommend that you have your pet vaccinated at least two weeks prior to your appointment.
3. All adult animals must have food withdrawn the night before surgery at 12:00 midnight. Pets must be kept indoors or confined.
Any pet that remained outside all night without being confined will not be admitted for surgery.
Animals 4 months or younger may have food until 6:00 AM the morning of surgery.
4. Check-in time is at 8:00 AM for everyone
We have a very strict surgical schedule that must be followed in order for your animals to be ready to go home the same day.
5. You must complete the necessary admission form when you arrive.
You may stop by the clinic prior to your pets' scheduled surgery day and pick up the paperwork to save time the morning of your appointment. Admission forms typically take 10 minutes to complete.
6. We do require that you have a current rabies vaccination for your pet.
Please bring proof of current rabies vaccination with you to your appointment. If you are not current, we can provide the vaccination for you at the time of surgery for $14.00.
7. All dogs must be on a leash and all cats must be in a carrier. If you do not have a carrier for your cat, you can either purchase a cardboard carrier for $5.00 or we will loan you a carrier with a deposit.
8. Owners must arrive at 3:45 PM on the day of surgery to make payment and pick up their animal. Payment is taken at 3:45pm, post-operative instructions will be presented at 4:00pm and your pet will then be released to you. You will be going home with a copy of your post-operative instructions.
9. We do not board pets. However, if you do not pick up your pet prior to our closing time, you will be charged an extra $10.00 fee for the overnight stay.
10. We offer City Pet Registrations.
*$5 per year (if your pet is spayed/neuterd and current on rabies)
*$30 for lifetime of pet (if dog is spayed/neutered, current on rabies, and microchipped), senior citizen lifetime $5
After Surgery
What to expect when you get your pet home
Most pets are fully awake and active when you pick them up. Some pets will seem tired and a little woozy. This will pass. Cats especially need some additional time to relax and get comfortable with their surroundings again. They may resume their normal feeding schedule, however they may not be hungry right away. It is best to offer them their next meal in smaller portions. It is important to monitor and control thier levels of activity for the next 7-10 days to avoid complications from their surgeries. Pets should seem themselves after a day or two. If you notice any unusual behavior, vomiting, swelling, redness or bleeding, please contact us right away.
Surgical Procedure
Your pet has had major surgery. The surgery 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 production of sperm and male dogs or cats will no longer be able to father puppies or kittens. Your pet will likely be tired and a little woozy. Please give them time and space to fully recover.
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 two incisions, one in each side of the scrotum. Check the incision site at least twice daily. What you see today is what we consider normal. There should be no drainage. Redness and swelling should be minimal. Male cats 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. If this occurs we recommend you purchase Bitter Apple spray to deter licking and chewing. If this does not deter them an E-collar must be applied to prevent them from being able to reach the area. Your pet has received pain medication.
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 two incisions, one in each side of the scrotum. Check the incision site at least twice daily. What you see today is what we consider normal. There should be no drainage. Redness and swelling should be minimal. Male cats 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. If this occurs we recommend you purchase Bitter Apple spray to deter licking and chewing. If this does not deter them an E-collar must be applied to prevent them from being able to reach the area. Your pet has received pain medication.
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. If a male dog attempts to breed the female it can cause serious, possibly life-threatening, damage to the female.
Sutures
Unless you are told otherwise, your pet does not have external sutures. All sutures are absorbable on the inside and the very outer layer of skin is held together with surgical glue. Do not clean or apply 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.
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, or other strenuous activity during the 7-10 day recovery period. 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 and external sutures that provide strength to the tissue as they heal. Any strenuous activity could disrupt this healing process. The healing process takes at least 7 days.
Feeding
Your pet may want a small snack the night of their surgery. Their 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 immediately if you notice any of the following:
HOPE for Animals will treat or pay for the treatment of any post-op 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 a cause for concern. We cannot be held responsible for complications resulting from failure to follow post-op instructions or for contagious disease for which the animal was not previously properly vaccinated.
If it persists longer, please contact us immediately if you notice any of the following:
- Pale gums
- Depression
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Discharge or bleeding from the incision
- Difficulty urinating
- Labored breathing
HOPE for Animals will treat or pay for the treatment of any post-op 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 a cause for concern. We cannot be held responsible for complications resulting from failure to follow post-op instructions or for contagious disease for which the animal was not previously properly vaccinated.
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