The most important thing you can do the morning of your dog’s surgery is make sure he does not have access to food or water. Eating and drinking could cause your dog to aspirate during anesthesia, which is potentially life-threatening.

Routine pre-surgical blood testing typically includes a complete blood count (CBC) and a serum biochemistry profile; these tests provide important information about your pet’s health status (see handouts “Complete Blood Count” and “Serum Biochemistry”).

The night before the surgery, most pets should have fasted for at least 12 hours before going to admission for surgery or what your veterinarian instructed.

Follow the directions your clinic gives, but generally speaking, your dog should not eat for at least eight hours before the surgery because the anesthesia may cause nausea. Drinking water beforehand is usually fine, but check with your vet.

Giving your pet food before surgery could lead to vomiting or pneumonia. Pet lovers worry so much about anesthesia, often to the extent of delaying or completely avoiding procedures that can truly benefit their pets, such as comprehensive oral care, because those procedures require their pets to be put under.

Additionally, you may want to give your dog a bath the night before surgery. The day before surgery, don’t go on long walks or allow your dog to play roughly. This may cause their muscles to be extra sore the day of surgery, and they don’t need more soreness on top of the discomfort from the surgery.

Please take your dog for a walk on the morning of admission to empty their bladder and bowel. This helps prevent, any accidents, while they are under general anaesthetic. Please ensure your dogs are clean, if you regularly bathe your dog please do so in the days prior to surgery.

It is important to avoid all food and drink at least eight hours prior to having anesthesia, as the alternative may be aspiration pneumonia or other serious complications after surgery if instructions are not followed.

How do I keep my dog comfortable after surgery? It’s best to have your dog rest in familiar territory, allowing them to lie comfortably in their bed, keep their body temperature regulated (especially if it’s summer, ensure they can rest in a cool room) while having access to fresh water.

Care After Spaying

1. Take it easy. Your pet has no clue what just happened, who those people are, or why she feels funny.
2. Give water and supervise.
3. Give half the usual amount of food.
4. Restrict your pet’s activity.
5. Take caution with the stitch area.
6. Do not allow your pet to lick the area.
7. Check in the incision area daily.

How long does the spay take to perform? The procedure takes about 45 minutes to an hour to perform in most cases, including the needed time for preparation and anesthesia. In older or large-breed dogs the procedure can take longer and may require two surgeons.

Your pet will need to stop eating prior to surgery. If your dog or cat eats prior to surgery then vomits, stomach contents can travel to the lungs and cause infections, pneumonia or respiratory distress syndrome. The exact time your pet must stop eating will vary depending on when the surgery is scheduled.

Pre-operative instructions for dogs and cats over four months old: No food after 9:00 p.m. the night before surgery or the morning of surgery, but water is fine. If your pet has had anything to eat prior to surgery (found a morsel or raided the pantry), please inform us – this is very important information for your pet’s safety.

Pre-operative blood tests – If you have a dog or cat that is being admitted for a procedure that requires a sedation or anaesthetic, you will be offered a pre-op blood test.

Medical procedures will not be performed without the consent form signed. On your pet’s surgery day, please arrive at the Clinic between 7:30 a.m. and 8:15 a.m. You will return in the afternoon to pick up your pet between 3:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. that same day.

Dog and Cat Pre-Op Instructions for neutering The night before the procedure Give your pet their food around 8 pm and then DO NOT give ANY food to your pet after 9pm. (This includes treats and milk).