Preparing Yourself And Your Pet For Spay Or Neuter Surgery The Easy Way
Posted on: 25 August 2015
Share
According to the Humane Society of the United States, there are about 6 to 8 million pets in shelters today. About half of these pets are eventually euthanized due to lack of homes. There is no doubt that spaying or neutering your pet is the right thing to do because it helps control this rampant pet overpopulation. This surgery can also help reduce negative behaviors. Spay or neuter surgery might even help improve your pet's overall health by removing the reproductive organs that could become cancerous. While there are plenty of benefits to the surgery, some pet owners are a bit hesitant about taking their pets into the animal hospital for the operation. This hesitance may be largely due to not knowing what to expect. Here are a few simple guidelines that can help you prepare both yourself and your pet.
Before the Surgery
The animal hospital will typically tell you to withhold food from the pet for 8 to 10 hours prior to the surgery. This is a common precaution for any surgery because having an empty stomach reduces the chances of the pet vomiting due to an anesthesia reaction. There are usually no other pre-surgery restrictions, but talk to your veterinarian to make sure.
During the Surgery
The vet at the animal hospital will place the pet under general anesthesia and will not begin the operation until the pet is fully asleep. The surgery involves only a small incision that may leave a short scar.
Neuter surgery can be done in 20 minutes or less, while spay surgery generally takes 2 hours or less. The pet will typically stay in a recovery room at the animal hospital until they have awakened fully from the anesthesia. After that, your pet can usually go home immediately.
After the Surgery
The veterinarian may prescribe some pain medication after the surgery. Give this medication according to the instructions, and don't skip a dose unless the vet specifies that the medicine is only "as needed." Antibiotics are often prescribed as well because they prevent infection at the surgery site.
Your pet may be groggy and uncomfortable the day of the surgery, so allow them to rest in a quiet spot where you can keep an eye on them. Pets often have a depressed appetite the day of the surgery. This is a normal after-effect of the anesthesia.
If your pet tries to lick the incision, discourage this immediately. Licking can cause inflammation and can worsen a developing infection, so call the animal hospital if you see any redness in the incision area. Your pet may also have internal stitches, but the internal stitches will absorb into the body over time and don't require removal. If your pet has external sutures, you will need to take the pet back to the animal hospital for a follow-up appointment to get the stitches removed.
Your pet will probably bounce back from the surgery far more quickly than you'd have ever imagined. Spay or neuter surgery is one of the best gifts you can give both your pet and yourself. Now that you're prepared, call an animal hospital, such as Earlysville Animal Hospital, to schedule the surgery today!