Cat & Dog Post-Operative Instructions

This section will go over everything you need to know following your cat or dog's surgery.

Spay and neuter surgeries are performed often, but it's still considered major surgery. All animals need a clean, warm, dry place indoors to rest while they heal and recover. Please do not hesitate to ask our staff if you have any questions or concerns.

A PDF copy of these instructions can be downloaded below.

In Case of Emergency

In the event that you notice any concerning symptoms...

Call or text us at (724) 201-9413 (Monday-Friday 10am to 5pm).
If it is after hours, contact your regular veterinarian or a 24-hour emergency clinic.
A PDF copy of emergency clinics based on counties in Western PA can be downloaded below.

Monitor Your Pet

Spay and neuter surgeries are performed often, but it's still considered major surgery. Complications can occur for numerous reasons. Monitor your pet for these signs of complications...

Lethargy, depression, weakness or unsteady gait
Excessive bleeding
Vomiting and/or diarrhea
Increased or decreased body temperature
Labored breathing
Pale gums
Decreased appetite lasting more than 24 hours
Difficulty urinating or defecating

The Incision

Your pet will have one surgical incision and one green tattoo (unless your pet was a cryptorchid neuter or had a hernia repaired, in which case more than one surgical incision may have been made).

Female Cats & Dogs: Abdominal Incision
Male Cats: 2 scrotal incisions, clotted close (no sutures)
Male Dogs: 1 pre-scrotal incision

Monitor The Incision

Please check the surgery site 2 to 3 times daily for the next 10 to 14 days for any issues, such as...

Green/yellow discharge
Bad odor
Warm to the touch
Opening of the incision site
Swelling
Excessive bruising
Something sticking out of the site

There are no external sutures to remove. All sutures are underneath the skin and will dissolve over several weeks.

Tissue glue may also be present on the skin that will come off on its own over several days.

Cat neuters do not have any sutures and are left partially open to allow for drainage. Male cats may have some spotting for the first 24 hours. They will not bleed to death from their incision. Remain calm if you see a large amount of blood and call our office for further instructions.

Incision Site Care

Please keep the surgery sites clean and dry. This means...

No swimming or bathing or going into dirty/muddy areas for 10-14 days.
Do not apply products to the surgery site unless recommended by the staff at Fix'N wag"N or a licensed veterinarian.

E-Collar (AKA Cone of Shame)

An e-collar (or cone) is highly recommended to prevent your pet from licking or chewing at the surgery site. This must remain on 24 hours a day for 7 to 10 days.

Excessive licking or chewing can lead to complications such as infection or even additional surgery to repair any damage. Just one lick can cause infection!

E-collars can be purchased from any major pet store or we sell them for $5 each.

Do not remove your pet's e-collar for feeding unless you are able to supervise your pet with their e-collar off.

A note regarding recovery suits: we do not recommend these, nor will we place them on patients following surgery. Patients typically are able to get around them and they can lead to infection of the surgical site.

Restrict Exercise

Too much activity can keep the surgery site from healing properly and can even cause the incision to open up. Your pet should not be running, jumping, playing, using stairs, or jumping on/off furniture for the next 10 to 14 days. Animals that need to go outside to go to the bathroom should be walked on a leash and should not go on long walks.

Placing your pet in an appropriate-sized carrier, crate, kennel or small room when you're not able to supervise them may be helpful.

Some pets may want to be left alone after going home from surgery. Please keep these pets in a quiet room by themselves where you can check on them regularly with a small amount of food and water (and a litterbox for cats).

Feeding After Surgery

Some pets may have gastrointestinal upset and/or nausea following surgery. They may also not be interested in food right away. If your pet wants to eat and drink, offer about half the normal amounts of food and water.

For puppies and kittens not interested in food that will allow you to, rub a small amount of Karo syrup on the upper gums every few hours to help maintain blood sugar until they are wanting to eat.

If any vomiting/diarrhea persists or worsens, please call us or an emergency clinic as soon as possible.

Pain Medication

Your pet received a long-acting pain injection at the time of surgery. Please give any prescribed medications as directed. These usually can be started in the morning on the day after surgery.

If your pet is showing signs of discomfort, additional pain medications can be purchased for $10.

Important: Do not give any other medications to your pet without the approval of a veterinarian. If you feel your pet is in pain, please call us to discuss further options.

Other Pets/Animals

Keep recently neutered males away from unspayed females. Neutered males can still impregnate an unspayed female for up to 30 days after surgery.

Keep recently spayed females (especially if she is in heat) away from unneutered males for 10 to 14 days. Mounting by unneutered males can result in pain for the female and internal damage to the surgery site.

Animals coming home from the clinic may smell differently to the other animals in the household, which may cause them to fight. Keep animals separate for several days if necessary.

Cat Litter

Male cats do not receive sutures, but dust-free litter such as Yesterday's News (available at pet stores) or shredded paper is recommended for 10 to 14 days after surgery to prevent dust getting into the surgery site and causing irritation or infection.

Vaccination Side Effect

If your pet received vaccinations at the same time as surgery, please also monitor for any of the following...

Swelling of the face
Hives
Limping
Pain/swelling at the vaccine site (shoulder or back leg)
Drooling
Itchiness