Please read and follow our post operative instructions carefully. While sterilization is a routine surgery comparable to outpatient services, it does require attention on your part to ensure the safety of your pet.

Post-surgical occurrences include:

• Sleepiness or grogginess for a full day after surgery.
• Slight puffiness or bruising around the incision line.
• Decreased appetite for 24 -36 hours.
• No bowel movement for a day or two after surgery.

Contact your veterinarian if:

• Your pet is non-responsive to handling on arrival home.
• You notice listlessness lasting more than 2 days.
• You see severe redness or swelling around the incision.
• There is evidence of bleeding or discharge from the incision site.
• Your pet has difficulty urinating or moving bowels.
• You notice loss of appetite lasting more than 2 days.
• You see any vomiting or diarrhea.

If you have any questions or concerns after surgery, please contact the Humane Society Spay/Neuter Center at 410-833-8848 ext. 209 during regular business hours, Monday through Friday from 8:00am until 4:00pm. For after hours emergencies, please contact your veterinarian or one of the emergency facilities listed below:

Post-Surgical Instructions

Food and Water

All Pets:
Wait 2 hours after returning home to give your pet food or water. Remember, anesthesia can make pets nauseous.

Activity

For Cats:
Cats should be confined to a clean, small, dry, warm area indoors. Limit your cat's activity level. We realize some cats are wild (feral), in which case this point may be difficult. In any circumstance, do not allow the cat to go outdoors at all for at least 7 days after you pick them up from the clinic.

For Dogs:
Dogs should be confined to a clean, small, dry, warm area indoors. Limit your dog's activity level for the next 10 - 14 days (i.e. no running, jumping, etc.). Leash walk only and try to hinder anything that will stretch the incision area. Do not allow your dog to be unattended around stairs the night after surgery or the following day. He or she may still be groggy and a little uncoordinated.

Sutures

For Cats:
Female cats do get sutures, but you will not see them as they are internal. They will dissolve so you do not need to have them removed. You do need to check the incision area (on their belly) daily for 7 - 10 days to make sure the area is healing and not oozing, swelling or opening. It is common for them to get a small, non-painful lump at the site of the incision. Male cats do not get sutures but you do need to check the incision area (under the tail) daily for 7 - 10 days to make sure the area is healing and not oozing, welling or opening.

For Dogs:
Unless otherwise stated, all dogs have internal sutures that will dissolve. Check the incision twice a day for the next 10-14 days to make certain it is healing and not oozing or swelling. Some bruising is normal.

Baths

All Pets:
Do not bathe your pet for the next 10-14 days. Also, do not allow your pet to swim or take outings in the rain during this time.

Download Spay/Neuter Application or apply online.