After Surgery

The first 24 hours post-surgery

 Allow your pet to recover in a quiet place (away from children) indoors.

 Be aware that your pet’s behavior may be slightly altered in the first 24 hours after surgery. For example, they may be sleepy, nauseous, wobbly, vocal, or irritable.

 Offer small amounts of the food that they eat regularly and water an hour after getting home. Your pet may feel nauseous, and it can take up to 48 hours for their appetite to return to normal.

 You may notice your pet received a small green tattoo, indicating they've been sterilized.

 A small amount of blood is normal immediately after surgery.

The following days after surgery.

 Your pet should still be closely supervised and on an exercise restriction for ten days. Keep your pet quiet as possible. Avoid running, jumping, and excessive playing. Strenuous activity increases your pet’s risk of developing swelling around the incision site that could result in premature dissolving of sutures, the opening of the incision, and costly medical care that would be your responsibility.

 Keep the incision dry—no bathing, swimming, or playing in deep snow.

 Check the incision twice daily until healed.

 A little redness and swelling of the incision is expected and normal.

 Do not let your pet lick, scratch, or chew the incision. Dogs should wear the Elizabethan collar (E-collar) to help prevent serious post-operative complications. Licking can cause costly medical care that will be your responsibility.

 Male dogs and cats can still impregnate an unsterilized females up to one month after surgery. Please keep a close eye on your pet.

Important

 Do not give human medication to your pet because it is dangerous & can be fatal

 All cats receive an injection for pain control.

 Dogs will receive pain medication to take home and start when you get home unless directed otherwise.

Wild Cats: If the cat is truly feral, do not try to touch it. Please keep the cat in the trap and in a temperature-controlled environment, like a shed or garage, for at least 24 hours during their recovery. Keep the traps covered. Offer soft food and water when you get home, but be careful opening the trap to slip in food. You can place newspaper under the trap so you can clean accidents easily.

You should call or text our Emergency Tech at (479) 633-7623 if you have a surgery-related emergency.