Pre-Operation Pet Care: Essential Precautions for Surge

Do I need to make an appointment for surgery, and can I request a specific doctor?

For physiological surgeries such as spaying, neutering, and dental cleaning for cats and dogs, you can schedule an appointment over the phone or come in for a checkup before booking the surgery. For dental procedures, it's recommended to choose a doctor, while for other surgeries, the choice can be made based on the situation.

Pathological surgeries, such as tumor removal, fractures, and pyometra, require an initial visit to the hospital. Once the doctor has assessed the condition, you can then schedule a surgery time.

What should I do before the surgery, and what do I need to prepare?

For physiological surgeries, it's important to ensure that your pet is in good health before the procedure. Cats and dogs should not exhibit symptoms such as coughing, diarrhea, fever, or vomiting, as these could prevent the surgery from going ahead.

All surgeries require pets to be fasting and waterdeprived prior to the procedure. If the doctor prescribes oral medication, it must be taken as directed.

Cats undergoing surgery should have a secure cat carrier or crate ready for postoperative observation and to prevent them from becoming startled and escaping.

For better postoperative warmth, it's suggested to bring a blanket or pad (though not mandatory).

For some surgeries, it may be necessary to prepare an Elizabethan collar in advance to prevent the animal from licking or biting the wound.

How long in advance should I start fasting and waterdepriving my pet before surgery?

Many pets coming in for routine surgeries have experienced overly long fasting and waterdeprivation times. Let's emphasize this point again (and let's make it clear):

For routine surgeries under general anesthesia, such as dental cleaning and spaying, an 8hour fasting period (6 hours for young animals) and a 23 hour waterdeprivation period before the surgery are sufficient. Excessive fasting and waterdeprivation can lead to dehydration, increase unnecessary risks, prolong the need for intravenous fluids, and raise treatment costs.

For some special surgeries, the fasting and waterdeprivation time should be extended according to the doctor's instructions.

Can I still spay or neuter my cat or dog if they are in heat?

Theoretically, it is not recommended to perform surgery on animals during their heat cycle. This is because the high hormone levels in the body can affect hormone regulation after the removal of the uterus, ovaries, or testicles, leading to a rapid drop in hormone levels and causing discomfort.

After surgery, male and female pets may experience prolonged bleeding. While female cats can still undergo surgery, the thickened blood vessels make it difficult to perform minimally invasive surgery, necessitating a larger incision. Therefore, unless there is a special reason, it is not recommended to have surgery during this time.

However, animals in heat are not necessarily unable to undergo surgery. In some special cases, it's best to consult with the doctor to determine if surgery is appropriate.

Therefore, if your pet is in heat, it's advisable to wait until the heat cycle is over before scheduling the surgery.

Tip: Click on "Cat and Dog Sterilization Surgery Knowledge" to learn more about the precautions to take when sterilizing your pet.