Pick-up time Monday through Thursday: We will let
you know the day of the surgery what time to pick up, it is
usually 3 or 4 pm. Please arrive on time for pick-up. We will
give you pick up instructions the morning of the surgery.
The healing process usually takes 7-10 days. During this
recovery time, it is very important that you keep a close eye
on your pet and prevent them from running, jumping, playing,
swimming or other strenuous activity. Pets should be kept quiet
and calm. Dogs should be walked on a leash only. For 7-10 days
following surgery, pets must be kept indoors where they can
stay clean, dry and warm. Do not bathe your pet during the
recovery period.
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.
Please check the incision site twice daily. There should be no
drainage. Redness and swelling should be minimal. Please do not
allow your pet to lick chew at the incision. An E-collar (we
have them available for purchase) will prevent this. Unless you
are told otherwise, your pet has absorbable (dissolvable)
sutures (male cats do not have any sutures). Large dogs may
have staples at the incision site (see below for staple
removal). Do not clean or apply topical ointment to the
incision site; it needs to be kept dry. As noted above, your
pet must be kept quiet and calm during the recovery process, so
as not to disrupt the internal and external sutures that
provide strength to the tissue as they heal.
Your pet's appetite should return gradually within 24 hours
of the surgery. Lethargy lasting for more than 24 hours
post-surgery, diarrhea, or vomiting are not normal and you
should contact us if these symptoms are present. Dogs may have
a slight cough for a few days after surgery. Your pet should
have a small snack the night of surgery (given here for
Monday-Wednesday surgeries, given at home for Friday
surgeries).
Do not change your pet's diet at this time and do not give
junk food, table scraps, milk or any other people food during
the recovery period. This could mask post-surgical
complications.
Animals may receive a post-operative anti-inflammatory
injection.
If you have any questions or concerns directly related to
the surgery during the recovery period, please call us at (337)
264-1088. If there is an emergency after hours, please contact
your regular veterinarian or the Animal Emergency Clinic at
(337) 989-0992.
Your pet received a small tattoo next to their incision.
This tattoo is a scoring process in the skin; it is not an
incision.
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. It
a male tries to mate with your female pet, serious bleeding and
trauma to the reproductive tract may occur, possibly leading to
death.
Spaying and neutering are very safe surgeries. However as
with all surgeries, complications can occur. Please contact us
if you notice any of the following:
