For the safety and well-being of you and your animal;
please follow these post-operative instructions carefully.
NEVER GIVE YOUR PET ASPIRIN, TYLENOL OR IBUPROFEN. THEY CAN BE DEADLY.
Canine Post-Surgical Instructions
Your dog or puppy will need special care during recovery from surgery.
Please keep him in a quiet and safe place the night after surgery.
*We HIGHLY recommend purchasing an e-collar when picking up your pet. The technicians
can fit the collar for you to ensure it is the right size. Prices vary from $5-$10 per e-collar
depending on size.
Restrict your pet’s activity for 7 days following surgery. Discourage running and
jumping as much as possible. Excessive activity can lead to swelling, fluid accumulation
under the incision, or breakdown of the sutures. If you need to bathe your pet, wash very
gently around the incision site.
The evening following surgery, you may offer your pet a small amount of food and water.
Do not be alarmed if your dog has little or no appetite. Their appetite should return to
normal the next day. Some patients take longer to recover than others due to age, weight
or overall health status. Your dog may be groggy for the rest of the evening, but should be
acting normally tomorrow.
Monitor the surgery incision daily. A small amount of swelling, dried blood, or bruising
around the incision may be normal the first few days following surgery. Female dogs may
have a bloody discharge from the vulva a few days after surgery. If you are seeing signs of
excessive swelling, pain, redness or discharge, contact SPAY ILLINOIS at 877-475-7729.
They will evaluate your pet’s condition over the phone and will refer you to a veterinarian
for follow-up care if needed.
NOTE: If you allow your dog or puppy to resume too much activity after surgery,
he or she risks developing a scrotal hematoma (swelling of the scrotum), a seroma
(fluid accumulation under the incision), or dehiscence (breakdown of the sutures).
These conditions may or may not require additional surgery at your expense.
When evaluating the incision, keep in mind that green tattoo ink has been placed in or near
the incision.
Male dogs and cats may still be able to impregnate a female for about a month
after being neutered. Please keep them away from unfixed females until sperm
remaining in their reproductive tract have cleared.
Feline Post-Surgical Instructions
Your cat or kitten will need special care during recovery from surgery.
Please keep your cat in a quiet and safe place the night after surgery.
Some patients take longer to recover than others due to age, weight or overall health
status. Your cat may be groggy for the rest of the evening, but should be acting normally
tomorrow.
Restrict your cat's activity for 5 days following surgery. Discourage running and
jumping as much as possible. Excessive activity can lead to swelling around the incision,
fluid accumulation under the incision, or breakdown of the sutures.
The evening following surgery, you may offer your cat a small amount of food and water,
and a litter box. Do not be alarmed if your pet has little or no appetite. The patient's
appetite should return to normal the next day.
Monitor your cat’s incision daily. Swelling, dried blood, or bruising around the incision
may be normal the first few days following surgery. If you are seeing signs of excessive
swelling, pain, redness or discharge, please SPAY ILLINOIS at 877-475-7729. They will
evaluate your cat’s condition over the phone and will refer you to a veterinarian for followup care if needed.
NOTE: Some cats and kittens will develop a firm, non-painful lump under the
incision. This is an inflammatory reaction and should resolve within 2-3 weeks.
When evaluating the incision, keep in mind that green tattoo ink has been placed in or near
the incision.
Male dogs and cats may still be able to impregnate a female for about a month
after being neutered. Please keep them away from unfixed females until sperm
remaining in their reproductive tract have cleared.