Pre-operative care

Most pets will have an operation at some stage in their life, eg for neutering (spaying or castration) or to treat a disease. Nowadays most operations in dogs and cats are fairly safe but the success of treatment and recovery is also influenced by the care that a pet owner gives before and after the operation.

©Zoe Halfacree

If the operation is not an emergency it may be useful for you to arrange some time off work so that you are around to take care of your pet during the recovery period. The risks of any complications during or after surgery have been much reduced by improvements in surgical techniques and in the safety of the anesthetics used. Since the stress of an operation can lower your pet’s resistance to infectious disease check that your dog’s vaccinations are up-to-date before they have surgery. Vomiting is dangerous when your pet is under an anesthetic and to reduce the risk of this you will have been asked not to give your pet any food after a specified time by your veterinary team. Water should be freely available until the time you leave home.

To help reduce nausea associated with anesthetics and reduce your dog’s anxiety with the change in routine and hospital admittance, your veterinarian may prescribe oral medications for you to give to your dog prior to arrival at the veterinary hospital. Any prescribed medication should be given in accordance with your veterinary surgeon’s directions. 

Most veterinary clinics do their routine operations in the morning or early afternoon. Your veterinarian will ask you to take your pet to the surgery at a particular time. It is important not to be late so that there is time to prepare your pet for its anesthetic. A small patch of fur may be shaved from your pet’s leg so that your veterinarian can give intravenous injections or fit instruments to monitor your pet during the anesthetic. When you leave your pet you will be asked to sign a consent form stating that you know the purpose of the operation and agree to have it done. If you don’t understand any part of the form then it is important to ask for clarification.

When your pet is admitted for their operation, you will be asked to leave a telephone number where you can be contacted and you will usually be told a time when you can ring to check your pet’s progress. After routine operations most animals should be ready to come home within a few hours of waking up from the anesthesia. Some animals take longer to come round and your veterinarian will not allow the release of your pet until they are fully conscious. The veterinarian or veterinary nurse will tell you when your pet can eat and drink again, whether they will need any medication and when they will need to be brought back to have their stitches (sutures) removed.

Your veterinarian may prescribe pain killers, antibiotics or other drugs. Many owners find it helpful to draw up a chart and tick off each dose when it is given, so that nothing is forgotten.

Your vet will give you instructions on how to care for your pet, and you can always call them if you are worried.

Further information can be found via the Vetlexicon Canis Client Factsheet: Surgery: post-op care.