Pre and post operative information

Pre-operative

Please read the following instructions carefully, as any animal that does not meet the outlined physical parameters for surgery (over/underweight, undisclosed medical conditions, vomiting anything other than bile), will be declined for surgery, without refund. If your pet has a medical condition or is currently on medications, please call us to confirm whether he/she is a good candidate for surgery within our program.

  1. You must have an appointment. Please call 905-898-6112 (Newmarket) or 705-734-9883 (Barrie) to schedule your pet for surgery.
  2. In order to protect your pet from the possibility of contracting an illness while here at the clinic, we recommend that you have your pet vaccinated at least two weeks prior to your appointment. Otherwise, vaccinations will be available at the time of surgery.
  3. Animals must be between the ages of 4 months and 5 years, within normal weight range (please see www.purina.com/dogs/health/bodycondition.aspx or www.purina.com/cats/health/BodyCondition.aspx to determine if your pet meets these requirements), and be in good health. Please advise us of any illnesses/treatments at the time of booking, or as soon as anything develops prior to surgery. Females must be finished nursing kittens/puppies for at least two weeks prior to receiving surgery.
  4. All food should be removed from adult animals at 6pm the evening prior to surgery, as vomiting while under anesthesia could be fatal! Pets must be kept indoors or confined to ensure no food is consumed. Animals that vomit undigested food, clothing or foreign objects at any time during the medical process will be declined for surgery. Surgical fees will not be refunded, and the appointment will have to be rebooked.
    ** Note: Due to breed-specific concerns, we are unable to accommodate Great Danes in our Newmarket spay/neuter program. Please see your full-service veterinarian for this surgery.
  5. Check-in time is at 8:00 AM. Your pet will not be admitted before 8:00 AM. If you arrive after 8:30 AM we will not be able to admit your pet for surgery - we will ask you to reschedule. We have a very strict surgical schedule that must be followed.
  6. Please leave your animal in the car until you have completed all of the required paperwork. A technician will advise you when to retrieve your pet.
  7. You must complete the necessary admission form when you arrive. Admission typically takes 10 minutes to complete.
  8. All dogs must be on a leash and all cats must be in a carrier. Cats that are not confined in proper cat carriers will not be accepted for surgery.
  9. We only accept cash, debit and credit card payment (VISA & Mastercard). Payment is due at morning drop-off.
  10. Animal pick-up is at 5:00pm on the same day. It is imperative that you be here by 5pm, as this is when post-operative instructions are given for all animals. We do not board pets.

Post-operative

What to expect when you get your pet home
Your pet has had major surgery. The surgery requires general anesthesia. The patient is completely asleep and unable to feel or move. In female dogs and cats, the uterus and ovaries are removed through a small incision in the abdominal wall. Females are unable to get pregnant. In both male dogs and cats, the scrotum is not removed, only the testicles. Removal of the testicles prevents production of sperm and the male dog or cat will no longer be able to father puppies or kittens.

Surgical Site
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. Check the incision site daily. What you see today is what we consider normal. There should be no drainage. Redness and swelling should be minimal. Males may appear as if they still have testicles -- this is normal, the swelling should subside gradually through the recovery period. DO NOT ALLOW YOUR PET TO LICK OR CHEW AT THE INCISION. To avoid this, we strongly recommend you purchase bitter apple or orange spray for cats and e-collars for dogs. If your pet licks, he/she can open the incision or cause infection, incurring additional veterinary costs. For your convenience, the spray and collars can be purchased (and fitted) here for $15, but are also available at most pet stores. The collar should remain on your pet until new (pink) tissue appears at the incision site (7-10 days). Your pet has received pain medication.

In Heat
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.

Sutures
Unless you are told otherwise, your pet does not have external sutures. All sutures are absorbable on the inside and the very outer layer of skin is held together with surgical glue. Do not clean or apply topical ointment to the incision site. If you are told that your pet has skin sutures or skin staples, they will need to return in 7-10 days to have those removed. Male cats do not have any sutures.

Activity
Some animals are active after surgery, while others are quiet. It is very important that you limit your pet's activity for the next 7-10 days. No running, jumping, playing, swimming, or other strenuous activity during the 7-10 day recovery period. Pets must be kept indoors where they can stay clean, dry, and warm. Do not bathe your pet during the recovery period. Dogs must be walked on a leash and cats must be kept inside. Keep your pet quiet. Dogs and female cats have internal and external sutures that provide strength to the tissue as they heal. Any strenuous activity could disrupt this healing process. The healing process takes at least 7 days.

Feeding
Your pet's appetite should return gradually within 24 hours of surgery. Lethargy lasting for more than 24 hours after surgery, diarrhea, or vomiting are not normal and you should contact us immediately. Do not change your pet's diet at this time and do not give junk food, table scraps, milk or any other people food for a period of one week. This could mask post-surgical complications.

Potential Complications
Spaying and neutering are very safe surgeries; however, complications can occur. Minimal redness and swelling should resolve within several days. If it persists longer, please contact us. Please contact us immediately if you notice any of the following:

If you have any questions or concerns directly related to the surgery during the recovery period, please call this office at 905-898-6112 Ext 2, or toll-free at 1-888-668-7722 ext 387 in Newmarket or 705-734-9883 (Barrie).  If there is an emergency after hours, contact your regular veterinarian or emergency hospital.

We will treat at our clinic, at minimal cost, any post-op complications resulting directly from the surgery, if the above post-operative instructions are followed in full. Your regular veterinarian must address illnesses or injuries that are not a direct result of surgery. Please call for an appointment as soon as you see cause for concern. We cannot be held responsible for complications resulting from failure to follow post-op instructions, or for contagious disease for which the animal was not previously properly vaccinated.

Thank you to our sponsors

It is our privilege to thank the following partners who helped to make these milestone projects happen. And in a class by themselves, we thank the incredible volunteers at Spaycentral Toronto for their vision, resourcefulness and perseverance.