Spay/Neuter Post-Operative Instructions

Please remember that your pet has just had major surgery. Once your pet leaves our care, it is important that you adhere to the following instructions to ensure that your pet heals well, and without issue. If, at any point, you are concerned about your pet after surgery, please call your primary veterinarian immediately or Dr. Courtney Brockman with Casey County Veterinary Services PLLC at 606-787-0030. All post-operative care is the pet owner’s responsibility.

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1. Once you return home with your pet, you may keep them in a crate/carrier for a few hours.

   • Your pet will likely be very drowsy/wobbly from the anesthesia, allowing them to run loose may cause them to become injured, or it may irritate their incision. 

   • You may also notice a change in behavior of your pet when they return home after surgery. This is not abnormal and your pet should return to normal the following day.

2. Due to the anesthesia your pet received for surgery, it is not uncommon for them to experience a lack of appetite, or some mild vomiting. When offering food and water after surgery, please monitor your pet. Excessive vomiting or a prolonged lack of appetite warrants a call to your primary veterinarian. 

3. Do not bathe your pet, or get their incision wet, for 10-14 days after surgery. If needed, use baby wipes to clean your pet, but do not wipe the incision.

4. Do not allow your pet to lick, scratch, or bite at their incision site

   • If necessary, please purchase an Elizabethan collar, also known as an E-collar, or “cone of shame”. These can be purchased at your primary veterinarian’s office or most pet or feed stores.

5. Do not allow your pet to run, jump, or engage in rough play for the next 7-10 days.  If you have a medium or large breed dog, extra precautions should be taken to limit your pets activity.

6. Check your pet’s incision daily. 

   • Some redness and swelling are to be expected. 

   • If your pet’s incision opens up, or shows signs of infection, call your primary veterinarian.

7. All animals (with the exception of male cats) will have internal sutures and surgical adhesive on the outside of their incision. No suture removal will be needed for your pet, unless stated otherwise at pick-up.

8. If you seek veterinary care for your pet outside of our clinic, please be advised that the spay/neuter clinic is not financially responsible for your bills. 

9. Feral and/or outdoor cats should be held indoors for at least 24 hours after surgery. 

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If your female was “in heat” at the time of spay, please be aware that it is crucial that she must be kept away from males for 10-14 days after surgery. In this case, failure to keep your female separate from males can be life threatening. You may notice that your female may continue to have symptoms of being in heat due to her hormone levels, this is normal.

Male pets may remain fertile for up to 4 weeks after surgery.

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Please, do not give your pet’s over-the-counter medications for pain relief, nausea, or any other symptoms, without checking with your primary veterinarian first. Many OTC medications can be dangerous, or fatal, to your pet.

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We want to thank you for entrusting us with your pet’s care and bringing them in for surgery! We rely on pet guardians to be cautious with their pets after surgery to ensure they heal well. If you have general questions regarding your pet’s surgery, or post-operative care, please reach out to us via email at russellcountyanimalwelfare@gmail.com