Making your appointment online is the fastest and best way. Cats should receive no food after 9 p.m. the night before surgery. Water all night is OK. Keep pets inside the night before their appointment so we can be certain they will not find anything to eat.
The norm is to fast 12 hours beforehand, but there are a few exceptions. Puppies and kittens will be allowed a small meal to give them the energy to go through with the procedure.
Your pet will need to stop eating prior to surgery. If your dog or cat eats prior to surgery then vomits, stomach contents can travel to the lungs and cause infections, pneumonia or respiratory distress syndrome. The exact time your pet must stop eating will vary depending on when the surgery is scheduled.
All pets can have water up until the time of surgery. Pets must be kept indoors or confined the night before surgery. This ensures that they are not eating unknown/foreign objects outside, which could potentially be dangerous during surgery.
Spaying makes for a calmer cat. Without the drive to mate, your cat may be quieter and won't be prone to cat calls and the incessant need to seek out a mate. The spayed pet no longer attracts males and their annoying advances and serenades. Spayed cats are also easier to get along with.
You cannot leave your cat alone for the first 12-24 hours after she is spayed, since this is a critical time to monitor for postoperative bleeding and normal urination. After this, as long as your cat seems comfortable and is urinating, you may leave her in a confined area with her E-collar in place.
Before recent research, 12 hours was the appropriate time to fast your pet. Now, guidelines are aimed towards 6-8 hours before surgery.
For healthy adult cats about to undergo an operation, the American Animal Hospital Association now recommends a 4- to 6-hour fast prior to anesthesia.
We all make mistakes, so if you accidentally give your pet food or water when he's scheduled for anesthesia, let the staff at your veterinarian's office know; they'll understand. Your veterinarian would always rather be safe than sorry, and there's always another day for an elective procedure.
Although it could take 12-24 hours for her interest in food to return, your cat should begin eating after the anesthesia and stress from the surgery have worn off.
She should be kept indoors for at least 2 days after the operation (longer if possible) to allow the wound to begin the healing process. If you have only recently acquired an adult cat it may be necessary to keep her in for a longer period after the operation until she has got used to living with you.
If your cat has not fasted prior to anesthesia, he could vomit and possibly aspirate food or fluid into his lungs, even with intubation (tube to keep the airway open). This could potentially result in a condition called aspiration pneumonia, which can be life-threatening.
The most important thing to remember is to restrict your pet from eating after midnight the night before surgery. You can leave their water bowl out until early the next morning, at which time you will need to remove it.
Pets need to fast before surgery to prevent vomiting and aspiration during anaesthesia, which is fatal. Even eating or drinking small amounts during the fasting period can be dangerous, so it's essential your pet doesn't eat or drink before their surgery.
Adult dogs and cats should receive no food after 10 p.m. the night before surgery. Water all night is OK. Kittens under 4 pounds should be fed the night before and then receive a teaspoon of food by 7 a.m. on the day of surgery.
In general, when pets come into the Animal Hospital of Statesville, and they're anesthetized, it might take 12 to 24 hours until they're back to themselves.
Keep your cat in a crate or small room to sleep, and make sure he is comfortable and secure. On the day of surgery, the incision site on your cat might look minorly red and swollen. Check it once per day if your cat allows, and be on the lookout for any excessive redness, swelling, and discharge.
Sudden jumping or stretching can disrupt the healing process and may even cause the incision to reopen. Thankfully, few procedures require a significant crate or cage rest to help your cat recover, and most outdoor cats will be able to cope well with staying indoors for a few days as they recover.
Monitoring the Cat Spay Incision
Because of that incision, you shouldn't bathe your cat for 10 days after the surgery, Bierbrier says. And your cat licking the incision can cause infections, so you may need an Elizabethan collar—otherwise known as the dreaded "cone of shame"—to keep her away from it.
Warning Signs
Keep a close eye on the incision site, and look for signs of trouble. Some red flags are redness, swelling, heat, or pus around the stitches; bleeding; and ripped stitches. Vomiting, fever, and lethargy are also warning signs. Contact your vet immediately if you notice any of these symptoms.
Will my pet become depressed or be upset with me? Getting your pet spayed or neutered will most likely not alter your pets basic personality. It can result in some behavioral changes, but usually for the better! Pets may be less aggressive, more relaxed, and more focused on you.
Patients can eat, drink, pee, poop, and sleep with a cone on. In fact, the stricter you are with the cone, the quicker they will get used to it. In addition, pets do not hold grudges, so they will not be mad at you for being strict with the rules. If the incision is over the chest or belly, a T-shirt may be worn.
Some hospitals prefer to keep surgery cases overnight so that they can rest in a properly confined area; some veterinarians believe that this first night of confinement helps the incision in healing.