Spay & Neuter Post Surgery Home Care Instructions Follow these directions carefully

Feeding
 All animals can be fed small amounts of food and water the evening after surgery. It is very important that puppies under 16 weeks of age eat & drink small amounts directly after surgery, feeding canned food can encourage eating. All animals can eat normally the day after surgery. Your pet may have a decreased appetite and/or may vomit and have some diarrhea after surgery for 1 to 3 days.

Activity

•   Please restrict your pet’s activities for at least 10 days. Keep your pet away from other animals and small children during recovery (24-72 hours).
•   Puppies and dogs must be leashed walked for potty breaks and should have NO off- leash activity for the next 5-7 days. To reduce activity/injury a crate/kennel can be used to keep dogs from running, using stairs or rough play.

  Behavior

•   It is normal for your pet vocalize within the first 24 hours after surgery – this can be due to the anesthetic drugs given and does not necessarily mean your animal is in pain. You pet may whine, whimper, meow or moan after surgery.
•   Some drooling, shivering and panting may be seen after surgery due to stress and nausea. This should resolve over the next several hours.
•   Your animal may have disorientation and some sedation for the next 24 hours after surgery. This may be displayed as staggering walk, stumbling, and lack of coordination and long periods of rest. Anesthesia may last in their system for up to 72 hours.

  Incision Care

•   Keep the incision clean and dry for 10 days. Do NOT bathe your pet for 10 days. Please look at the incision once daily. There should be no discharge or foul odor coming from the incision. Slight swelling, redness or bruising is normal. Please refrain from applying any creams or ointments to the incision.
•   Do NOT allow your pet to lick or scratch the incision, this can delay healing and cause infection. An E-Collar is often provided to prevent licking. The collar should remain on your pet for a MINIMUM of 7 days. Some animals react negatively to wearing an e- collar, please be aware of your animal’s individual needs.