CARE BEFORE SURGERY

CANCELLATION

We appreciate as much notice as possible if you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment as we often have a waiting list of animals in need of our services. We have reserved a surgical slot for you. We require 48 hours for cancellations to be eligible for rescheduling.

NIGHT BEFORE SURGERY

  1. If the animal normally stays outdoors overnight, he/she must stay indoors the evening before surgery.
  2. Animals over four months old MUST have food withdrawn at midnight the night before surgery. This ensures that the animal’s stomach is empty by the time he’s put under general anesthesia. If your adult pet has eaten the morning of surgery, please let us know.
  3. Pediatric animals (4 months or younger) should have food available until 6:00AM on the morning of surgery. This helps to avoid decreased blood sugar level.
  4. Water should not be withdrawn prior to surgery.

DROP OFF TIME

  1. Check-in time is 8 – 9 a.m. for DOGS. Check-in for CATS is 8 – 9 a.m.
  2. One family at a time will be allowed in the clinic.

PICK-UP SAME DAY

Pets are discharged the same day of surgery, following recovery from anesthesia.

We will review the written after-care instructions with you so that you know what to expect during the next few days as your pet recovers.

We will call or text you when your pet is ready to be picked up.  If you have not heard from us by 4 p.m., please arrive at the clinic’s parking lot at 5 p.m.

PRE-SURGERY EXAM

  1. Our veterinarian will perform a pre-operative physical examination to make sure that your pet is a good candidate for surgery.
  2. If your pet is too fractious to handle, a physical exam will be performed under anesthesia.
  3. Feral cats receive their physical exams under anesthesia.
  4. If your pet shows signs of illness or if there are any concerns (such as age, a heart murmur, severe upper respiratory infection, obesity, food in the stomach) we may refuse surgery if we feel surgery is a health risk.
  5. Our clinic is designed to accept healthy animals for spay and neuter surgeries. If your pet has underlying health problems, the surgery should be performed at a full-service vet clinic. If your pet has not been feeling well, it is best to reschedule the surgery for a later date.

CATS – WHAT TO BRING TO YOUR APPOINTMENT

  1. You must bring your cat in a clean pet carrier.
  2. Do not put multiple cats in one carrier. Your pet needs to be able to lie down comfortably in the carrier after surgery. Your pet may be agitated or aggressive when they go home due to the after-effects of anesthesia. Cats that routinely get along well may not be tolerant of each other in the immediate post-operative period.
  3. If you have multiple cats in one carrier when you arrive, you will be asked to transfer your cat(s) to one of our cardboard carriers to go home ($5.00 each). 

DOGS – WHAT TO BRING TO YOUR APPOINTMENT

  1. Dogs must be under control on a leash or in a clean pet carrier.
  2. If your dog is not good-natured around other dogs, cats or people a muzzle is required.
  3. Please take your dog for walk before you arrive as he/she will be in a kennel all day.