No food and water: Food and water are often withheld the night before the surgery to prevent vomiting and aspiration. 4. Be calm: Pets tend to feed off their owner's emotions and if you are nervous your pet can sense that. When you bring your pet in for surgery do your best to be calm and reassuring.
If a cat ingests food or water before surgery, it may aspirate (inhale) stomach contents into the lungs during anesthesia. This can lead to pneumonia, a serious and potentially life-threatening condition. It is generally recommended that cats do not eat or drink for at least 6 hours before surgery.
This is very important. If your cat eats or drinks right before surgery, make sure you tell your veterinarian. It doesn't necessarily mean the surgery will be delayed; it just warns your vet that if your cat becomes nauseous when the anesthetic is given, he needs to watch for vomiting.
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.
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.
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.
Since your cat can experience pain or discomfort from her procedure for 5-7 days after the surgery, it's important to make sure she's as comfortable as possible.
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.
Before recent research, 12 hours was the appropriate time to fast your pet. Now, guidelines are aimed towards 6-8 hours before surgery.
Cat sedatives and anesthesia allow us to keep your cat perfectly still, pain and stress free during the procedure. During anesthesia, your cat will be in an unconscious state and will not feel any discomfort.
Best Places to Put a Cat After Surgery
“airplane-style” dog crate for their cat's post-op recovery space. These crates often have more than enough room for a bed where a cat can lounge and relax, but not get into too much trouble. A large enough crate should provide space for their litter box and food/water.
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.
Common Post-Operative Questions:
Vomiting: Vomiting is the most common post-anesthesia complication. Vomiting once or twice the night after surgery is very normal. However, if your pet vomits several times, or if the vomiting persists into the next day, you need to contact us.
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.
While both spaying and neutering are major surgical procedures, they are also the most common surgeries performed by veterinarians on cats and dogs. Like any surgical procedure, sterilization is associated with some anesthetic and surgical risk, but the overall incidence of complications is very low.
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.
Recovery Immediately After the Procedure
The impact of the anesthesia may cause your cat to act aggressive or agitated, so keep your distance and don't handle him unless necessary. Keep your cat in a crate or small room to sleep, and make sure he is comfortable and secure.
The cone should stay on until the site is fully healed, and/or the sutures are removed. Most sutures and staples are left in for 10-14 days. Other lesions may take less or more time than that to heal completely.
FAQ: Why can't my pet eat prior to their procedure? Your pet's stomach needs to be empty before anesthesia. That's because anesthetic drugs can cause vomiting in some pets, and that can lead to aspiration pneumonia.
What does a spay surgery involve? This major surgical procedure requires general anesthesia. You will need to fast your cat the night prior to surgery. Most cats return home within 48 hours after 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.