Post-Operative Instructions

Please read and follow the post-operative instructions to avoid the risk of injury or infection to your pet. Your pet’s care after surgery is extremely important.

Activity
Activity must be minimal for 7 days after surgery. Keep your pet in a room where it will be quiet and warm 24-36 hours. Running, jumping, and wrestling with other pets or children are known to cause damage to the incision. Your pet should be kept indoors only and activity must be minimal for seven days.

Pain
Some discomfort or soreness will follow surgery for 24-36 hours. If you have purchased pain medication from the Low Cost Spay Neuter Clinic, Inc., please follow the instructions given to you by the veterinarian that are written on the packaging of the medication. If you should have any questions please call the clinic immediately at (317) 706-0537 for further assistance. Do not give aspirin, Tylenol, or any human pain medications to your pet.

Food and water
You may offer water and small amounts of food to your animal the evening of the surgery, but do not allow your pet to gorge because this may cause vomiting. Resume normal feeding the day after surgery. Vomiting, depression or lack of appetite is normal following surgery, but after 24-hours any one of these many indicate a problem you may call the clinic during business hours at (317) 706-0537 for a recheck.

Urinating and defecating
Your pet should still be urinating even if it is not eating. It is important to verify that your dog or cat is urinating. If you have more than one cat you must watch the litter box to assure your cat is urinating. Anesthesia may cause diarrhea or constipation for a day or two, but if your pet does not defecate normally within two days please contact us.

Incision
Check your pet’s incision daily for swelling, bleeding, discharge, or wound opening. Some bruising, redness or swelling are expected and are not cause for alarm, but if it seems excessive please call the clinic during business hours at (317) 706-0537 for a recheck. Keep your pet clean and dry for 7 days after surgery. Do not wash or clean the incision as this may introduce infection. Bathing your pet is prohibited for at least one week after surgery.

Color
Check your pet’s gum color when you arrive home. The gum color should be pink and quickly return to that color after you press on the gum with your finger (above the large canine tooth). Repeat this check throughout the evening after surgery; please call the clinic at (317) 706-0537 if your pet’s gums become pale and do not return to pink color during your check.

Stitches
Your pet has buried sutures (stitches) under her outer layer of skin. There is no need to return for suture removal.

Licking
Discourage your pet from licking or bitting at the incision line. Male dogs especially are notorious for this and we encourage the purchase of an Elizabethan collar to prevent damage to the incision. Fixing damage a pet does to the incision will be at the owner’s expense.

Virile
Male cats and dogs remain virile for 3-4 weeks after surgery. Please keep them confined.

Emergency After Hours
Please call the Low Cost Spay Neuter Clinic at (317) 509-8272 and follow the instruction of the auto attendant to reach the on-call staff member. You will be given directions for treatment, either at the clinic or through a 24-hour emergency clinic. We will not be responsible for post operative care provided without contacting the Low Cost Spay Neuter Clinic staff.