Cape Ann Veterinary Hospital    978-283-3238

What You Need to Know Before Your Pet's Surgery

(Scroll down for our Surgery FAQ)

Our veterinarians perform a wide variety of surgeries ranging from routine spays and neuters to intestinal foreign body surgery and limb amputations. Advanced orthopedic procedures are also available by a surgical specialist.

You will be contacted by our surgical team in advance of your pet’s surgery to answer your questions and discuss what you need to know about your pet’s procedure. We will discuss whether your pet will be discharged the same day or if they will need to stay overnight. Generally, all routine procedures such as spays and neuters do not require an overnight stay. (However, patients are welcome to stay overnight if it is a matter of convenience for you.)

When we contact you about your pet’s surgery, we may ask if you would like us to perform a preanesthetic blood screen or to microchip your pet. We strongly recommend both of these. Please make these decisions prior to the day of your pet’s surgery.

Most surgeries require that your pet not be given anything to eat after midnight the night before the surgery (including no breakfast the morning of the surgery). It is OK to leave water down even though you have taken your pet’s food away.

All pets being admitted for surgery or other procedures must arrive between 7:30-8:30 the morning of the procedure unless otherwise instructed. When you arrive with your pet, you will need to allow 15 minutes to finalize your pet’s paperwork. Also, please anticipate that there will be other clients arriving for appointments or dropping off their pets for surgery as well. We will work hard to minimize your wait and we appreciate your consideration and patience.

Please call after 4:00 pm to find out when your pet can be discharged. Updates will not be available before that time unless you have made special arrangements with the surgeon.
 When you arrive to pick up your pet, our staff will answer your questions and review your pet’s discharge instructions with you. Please anticipate spending approximately 15 minutes with us as we discharge your pet and review their post-op plan with you.

Please don't hesitate to call us with any questions about your pet's surgery/procedure. We will make every effort to make your and your pet’s experience as efficient and pleasant as possible.
Surgery FAQ

Is anesthesia safe for my pet?
Yes. Today's modern anesthetic protocols have made surgery much safer than in the past. Nationwide, fewer than 3% of pets undergoing routine anesthesia have a negative anesthetic event. At Cape Ann Veterinary Hospital, we have an even lower rate of anesthetic complications (less than 1%).

Is a preanesthetic blood test necessary?
Yes. We strongly recommend testing your pet’s blood prior to surgery. Through blood work, we evaluate different aspects of your pet’s health, specifically their kidney and liver function, to help minimize any risk from anesthesia. Even apparently healthy animals can have serious health problems that can only be detected with blood testing. Also, for sick or geriatric patients, additional testing such as an EKG or an x-ray may be recommended prior to surgery.

Should my pet be fasted prior to surgery?
Yes. It is very important that surgery be done on an empty stomach to reduce the risk of vomiting during and after anesthesia. If your pet vomits during these times the risk of aspiration pneumonia significantly increases. Please withhold food for at least 8 to 10 hours before surgery. Water can be left down for the pet until the morning of surgery.

Will my pet have stitches?
For most surgeries, we use absorbable sutures underneath the skin. These sutures will dissolve on their own, and do not need to be removed. Some surgeries result in tension across the incision site and therefore require stitches in the skin. You will be notified if your pet has skin sutures that need to be removed.

Do I do anything to my pet’s incision?
Usually not. Please monitor the surgery site for excessive redness, swelling or discharge. Do not scrub or apply medications to your pet’s incision unless specifically directed to do so. If your pet has skin sutures, they will need to be removed 10-14 days after the procedure. We will let you know if any special incision care is required.

Is it OK if my pet licks the incision site?
No. If your pet is allowed to lick or chew at the incision site they can easily get an infection. Infected incisions often open back up requiring additional surgery (and additional expense). Use an E-collar immediately if your pet is licking or chewing their incision.

Should I limit my pet’s activity after their surgery?
Yes. Overactivity is a major reason why surgical incisions open back up. To minimize the chance of complications with your pet’s incision, strictly limit their activity for 10-14 days unless otherwise directed by our staff.

How soon after surgery can my pet swim or have a bath?
If your pet has an incision, please wait 10-14 days before letting them swim or giving them a bath.

Will my pet be in pain?
Your pet will likely be sore but should not be in overt pain. Anything that causes pain in people should be expected to cause pain in animals. Pets can be stoic and often don’t show the same symptoms of pain that we do. We are proactive about pain management in our patients and will make sure your pet is comfortable following their procedure. When your pet is discharged form our hospital, we will review with you any pain medication your pet will be going home with.