Spay/Neuter & Wellness Clinic Booking

Your pet has had major surgery and recovery care is important to prevent complications. Follow these instructions to help ensure a safe and comfortable recovery.

Tonight

• Your pet may appear a bit sleepy, groggy, or agitated the first night after anesthesia. Normal behavior and energy levels should return by tomorrow. Give your pet a warm, comfortable, and quiet place to recover.

Diet

• Your pet’s appetite should return within 24 hours. Give a half-size meal tonight, then feed as normal tomorrow. Always have water available.

• To avoid stomach upset during recovery, do not change the diet or give extra treats.

• If your pet has an E-collar (cone), it can be removed for supervised feeding.

• Please contact us if there is no appetite for over 24 hours, stomach upset, vomiting, or diarrhea.

Incision Care

• Females have an incision on their abdomen (stomach). On a lactating cat, the incision may be on the side of the body.

• Male cats have 2 incisions directly on the scrotum, they do not have any stitches

• Male dogs either have an incision directly on the scrotum or directly in front of the scrotum. Male dogs with the incision directly on the scrotum DO NOT have skin sutures, the scrotal skin is closed with tissue glue to reduce irritation and allow for drainage; a small amount of blood spotting is not a cause for concern. Should the scrotal skin open, keep the area clean and dry and contact us the next business day; this is not an emergency.

• Check the incision daily to make sure it is healing as expected.

• Mild symptoms to expect: minor bruising, redness, and swelling; presence of small bump under the incision due to stitches. These can be normal and should improve.

• Contact us if you find: worsening redness and swelling, discharge, odor, or opening of the incision. Please send a photo of the incision or contact us if you have any concerns with how it is healing.

• Our surgeries use internal stitches that dissolve on their own after several weeks, unless otherwise advised.

• Prevent licking the incision. We advise an e-collar (plastic cone) or medical shirt for 10 days.

• Keep the incision dry. Do not apply any bandages, creams, antiseptics, or sprays to the incision. Do not bathe your pet for 10 days.

• All animals have a small green tattoo on their abdomen to indicate a spay/neuter has been performed.

• Surgical glue is used for the incision and tattoo, which can appear as crusty/flaking.

Pain Management

• Each patient receives pain medications before and after the surgery.

• Most patients go home with an oral pain reliever (Meloxicam). Please follow the instructions on the label and begin this medication the morning AFTER surgery.

• Side effects of Meloxicam may include stomach upset (vomiting, diarrhea, low appetite). Please discontinue Meloxicam if any of these occur and contact us to determine next steps.

• Younger kittens may receive a long acting medication instead of Meloxicam, you will be advised.

• Please contact us if you feel that your pet is painful. Do not administer any human pain relievers as these are often toxic to pets.

Activity

• It is very important to limit your pet’s activity for 10 days after surgery. Strenuous activity such as running, jumping, or playing could disrupt healing and cause the incision to become swollen or open.

• Keep cats indoors for 10 days after surgery. Keep your dog’s walks brief (under 10 minutes) and use a leash for 10 days after surgery. Avoid dog parks, off-leash running, or rough play.

• Animals returning from the clinic may smell different to other animals at home. This can cause them to fight. Be prepared to keep your pets separate for a few days following surgery.

Complications and Emergency Care

Spaying and neutering are both very safe surgeries. However, complications can still occur. Contact us immediately if you notice any of the following symptoms:

• Worsening redness or swelling of the incision

• Bleeding or discharge from the incision

• Pale gums

• Lethargy or depression

• Loss of appetite

• Vomiting

• Difficulty urinating or defecating

• Labored breathing

• Wobbly or unsteady while walking

If you have concerns with your pet’s recovery, please email [email protected] or call us at 705-775-9034. Recheck exams are provided at no charge during business hours. We are open from 9:00 am – 4:30 PM from Monday to Thursday. Please see our website for any additional closures. For concerns regarding the incision, please include a photo via email. If you have any urgent or emergency concerns outside of our clinic hours, please contact your local veterinarian or emergency clinic. If you take your pet to another facility for treatment, the cost will not be refunded by PRSNC.

Emergency Clinic Reference List

Cavan Hills Veterinary Services
303 ON-7A, Cavan, ON L0A 1C0
(705) 270-0800

Kawartha Veterinary Emergency Clinic
1840 Lansdowne St, Peterborough, ON K9K 2M9
(705) 741-5832

Port Hope Veterinary Emergency Clinic and Services
6597 Dale Rd, Port Hope, ON L1A 3V6
(905) 885-5321

404 Veterinary Emergency and Referral Hospital
510 Harry Walker Parkway South, Newmarket
(905) 953-1933

Toronto Veterinary Emergency Hospital (TVEH)
21 Rolark Dr, Scarborough
(416) 247-8387

Toronto Animal Health Partners Emergency and Specialty Hospital
1 Scarsdale Road, North York
(416) 380-7400

Content modified from original source material provided by Toronto Humane Society.