What to do if you’re spaying or neutering your pet
- June 8th 2021
Welcome! You’ve taken the decision to spay or neuter your pet, and now you’re wondering: what’s next? If you haven’t taken a decision to spay or neuter your pet and you’re still undecided, then you’re looking for our blog “Should you neuter or spay your pet?”. We can’t promise it will clear the confusion, but it will give you all sides of the argument so that you feel better prepared to get into a vet’s office and have an open conversation about what they think is best for your beloved.
But if you have
gone through that debate and you’ve decided to spay or neuter them, then you’re
at the right blog! Neutering or spaying your pet is a surgical procedure.
Here’s what you need to know.
How to neuter
or spay your pet
As mentioned,
neutering or spaying your pet is a surgical procedure, which means it will
conducted by a doctor and your pet will be put under anaesthesia for the
duration. Some clinics require that the pet be kept overnight so that they can
be monitored, while other clinics let you take them home straight after—it just
depends on what their policy is.
Once you’ve
decided on neutering or spaying your pet, set up an appointment with your vet
for the surgery. Remember, there are different camps on
when to neuter
your pet. Several say that neutering your pet at eight weeks of age is
absolutely fine, as long as they weigh at least two pounds. In fact, they say
that waiting longer is archaic wisdom, and shouldn’t be listened to. Others say
you should wait for at least three months of age or until the pet has achieved
puberty.
Again, check with
your vet on what they advise—they will have the best answers for your pet. Then
set up the appointment at the right time, and wait.
What to do
before neutering your pet
Don’t wait idly
however. There’s a bunch of things you need to get done before you take your
pet to their surgical appointment.
Crate
training.
This one is very important, and will
take some time—so don’t start it the day before the surgery. Training your pet
to understand that their crate is not a prison but a safe space is a crucial
part of ensuring this surgical process goes smoothly. If your pet has learned
to trust and feel safe in their crate, then they will be relaxed when you put
them in the crate and carry them to the car. They’ll be relaxed in the car, and
before they get to the surgical table. And they’ll be happy and comfortable
when you bring them home in the crate and they recover in their crate.
The trick to good
crate training is to make it
your pet’s space. So it should have their
favourite blanket, their favourite toys, and you should definitely use treats
in the beginning to get them in there. Simply teach them that this crate
belongs to them, so that they learn to associate it with safety and belonging.
Don’t feed
them food or water before the surgery.
Most
surgeries require patients to have an empty stomach. Check with your vet on
what is recommended and then remember to follow the instructions.
Do any
pre-op tests required.
Some clinics may need
blood work for your pet. Make sure you follow your pet’s instructions to the T
to ensure your pet is prepped for surgery and the vet has all the best
information possible.
What to do
after your pet is neutered
So you’ve got your
pet to operating room and the surgery is over. If the clinic requires you to
keep them overnight, you’ve done that, and now you’re ready to take them home.
Where do you go from here?
Pain
management.
Pets go through pain just like
humans do, even though they don’t express it in the same way. Most likely, your
pet will have been given a painkiller shot at the clinic, and you’ll have a few
tablets to take home as well. Check with your vet on what pain management
strategy they advise. And remember—don’t give your pet your human painkillers!
It’s important to use the pills that are pet-appropriate.
Monitor your
pet.
Pets are like toddlers—they not going to
keep still. Monitor your pet to make sure they aren’t moving around too much
and disrupting their stitches or harming themselves. Just like humans, your pet
needs rest after their surgery and you should do your best to ensure they get
it. Keeping them in the crate for a while will limit their range of movement.
Again, discuss with your vet what’s the best strategy for your pup.
Watch the
incision.
Your pet has just had a surgical cut.
Monitor the incision line to make sure there is no redness, or swelling. If
your pet has external sutures—i.e. the stitches are on the outside and are
visible—then make sure they’re not licking it or, worse, trying to unpick it.
Keep them away from the cut as much as possible so that they heal.
Bond with
your pet.
A surgery is a big deal for anyone,
and your pet is no exception. They may feel a little disoriented and nervous,
and may be looking to you for reassurance. Give them loads of one-on-one time
to both keep them occupied and remind them that everything is okay—they’re
safe, they’re loved, and they have nothing to worry about.
Comments
No posts found