Performing Routine Surgical Procedures in Pets

What to Expect When a Dog or Cat Undergoes a Spay or Neuter Surgery

May 9, 2009 Lorie Huston

An appointment to have surgery performed on a pet can make a pet owner apprehensive. Knowing what to expect before, during and after a dog or cat's surgery may be helpful

When a pet needs to undergo surgery, even if the surgery is routine as with a spay or a neuter, a pet owner is often nervous about the possibility of complications occurring. While the potential for complications can never be completely eliminated, a pet owner can work with the veterinary team to make certain that the pet is properly prepared for surgery and recovers uneventfully after the surgery.

Preparing the Pet for Surgery

Prior to the surgical appointment for the dog or cat, the pet owner should contact the veterinary hospital for directions. Pre-surgical instructions will vary depending on the veterinary practice protocols, the type of surgery the pet is undergoing and the age and physical condition of the pet.

Often, fasting is advised prior to surgery so that the pet has an empty stomach when anesthesia is induced. However, in very young puppies and kittens, such as those undergoing early spaying and/or neutering, the veterinarian may prefer a shorter fasting period or no fast at all.
The pet owner should know when the pet is expected to arrive at the hospital
The pet owner should know when the pet is expected to be discharged from the hospital.
The pet owner should be ready to provide any documentation which the hospital requires (vaccination documentation, etc)

Performing the Surgical Procedure for the Pet

While surgical protocols will vary between veterinary practices, there are a few things which are pretty standard.

Prior to the pet's surgery and before inducing anesthesia for the pet, the veterinarian will perform a thorough physical examination to identify any health factors that may interfere with the surgery or the general anesthetic.
Pre-surgical blood testing may be recommended or required prior to the surgery to verify that the pet is a good surgical candidate with no organ dysfunction which is not detectable via an external physical examination.
The pet will normally be sedated and pre-medicated prior to surgery.
Anesthetic protocols are best left to the veterinarian and staff to formulate. Common anesthetic protocols use an injectable anesthetic agent, followed by maintenence of anesthesia with a gas anesthetic agent.
An endotracheal tube will likely be placed in the pet's trachea to maintain his airway through the surgical procedure and deliver the gas anesthetic agent, if used. This tube may leave the pet's throat a bit tender for a few days after the surgery, even resulting in a mild cough. These signs usually resolve without incident though.
Often, an intravenous catheter is placed to allow access to the vein in case of an emergency situation during the surgical procedure. The intravenous catheter is also often used to deliver fluids to the pet during the surgical procedure to keep the pet's blood pressure stable. If your pet returns home with a shaved leg, this is likely where the catheter was placed.
Immediately prior to the surgical procedure, the surgical team will shave the surgical area and perform an aseptic cleansing of the area to help prevent infection of the surgical incision.
The pet's vital signs will be monitored throughout the surgical procedure and the immediate recovery period until the pet is fully recovered from the anesthetic.

After the Pet has Undergone Surgery

The pet owner should receive detailed post-surgical instructions from the veterinary hospital upon the pet's discharge after surgery. These instructions should be followed closely to avoid complications after the pet's surgery.

Pain medications and other drugs should be administered following hospital directions.
Surgical wounds need to be kept clean and dry.
Care must be taken to ensure that pet's do not lick at or otherwise damage surgical incisions. If the pet is licking, chewing or biting at the surgical incision, it may be necessary to place an Elizabethan collar on the pet's neck or use another form of restraint to keep the dog or cat from damaging the surgical wound.
Anesthetics can sometimes make pets nauseous and the veterinarian may recommend avoiding food and/or water immediately after surgery. Follow these directions closely as ignoring them could become dangerous for your pet.

With good communication and cooperation between the pet owner, the veterinarian and the veterinary team, the pet may be insured a successful recovery from surgery, regardless of whether the surgery consists of a spay, a neuter or another type of surgical procedure.

The copyright of the article Performing Routine Surgical Procedures in Pets in Pet Care is owned by Lorie Huston. Permission to republish Performing Routine Surgical Procedures in Pets in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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