How to Prepare Your Pet for Spaying or Neutering Surgery

Spaying or neutering is one of the most common surgical operations your vet near you can perform on your puppy or kitten. However, knowing how to prepare your pet for this procedure is vital for ensuring the surgery goes smoothly and your pet remains healthy. Our team at Arbor Ridge Pet Clinic in Fitchburg, WI, is here to tell you ways to prepare your puppy or kitten for spay or neuter surgery and what to expect from the procedure.

Preparing Your Pet for Spaying or Neutering Surgery

Preparing your pet for its spay or neuter surgery requires several steps. You should first have your pet fast 6-12 hours before the surgery since anesthesia can sometimes cause nausea. However, you should always follow the directions given by your vet near you since each animal has unique needs.

You should also give your pet a good bath one or two days before surgery. Cleanliness decreases infection risk during and after surgical procedures. You should stick to your standard routine to keep your pet calm. Your pet will likely have anxiety before the procedure, but you can reduce this by sticking to a routine.

What You Should Expect During and After Surgery

Your vet near you will place your pet under general anesthesia during the surgery. Doing this allows your veterinarian to perform the surgery safely while eliminating your pet’s pain. The veterinary team will constantly monitor your pet's vital signs to ensure they are always stable. Your veterinarian will then watch over your pet until it recovers from the anesthesia. You can typically pick up your pet and take it home the same day as the surgery.

Your veterinarian will give instructions on post-surgery care to keep your pet healthy. These include providing a comfortable space where your pet can rest and maintaining a clean environment to prevent infections. Your veterinarian may also prescribe pain medications tailored specifically for dogs or cats since their metabolisms process drugs differently. Regular check-ups after your pet’s surgery ensure your pet does not feel prolonged discomfort or side effects from its medications.

Call Your Vet Near You in Fitchburg, WI, for Spay & Neuter Surgery Today

Knowing how to prepare your pet for spay or neuter surgery and how to care for it after its procedure are vital for ensuring its health and well-being, so contact Arbor Ridge Pet Clinic in Fitchburg, WI, to learn more about ways to care for your pet before and after spay and neuter surgery. Call us and schedule an appointment today at (608) 274-3880.