Post-Neutering Pet Care

I’d like to remind everyone about the importance of spaying or neutering their cat or dog. Lately, I’ve been noticing an increasing number of feral cats hanging out around the neighborhood. Now I haven’t seen any dogs roaming about the message of spaying and neutering their dog is still the same – get it done! Believe it or not, your dog or cat will be better off for it.

Having your cat or dog spayed or neutered is a great idea for several reasons:

• Your pet will live a longer, healthier life.
• Your spayed female won't go into heat.
• Your neutered male will be much better behaved.
• Spaying and neutering your pet is good for the community.
• Spaying and neutering helps fight pet overpopulation.

Now that you’ve done the responsible thing and taken care of your pet’s reproductive ability, your responsibility to the pet doesn’t stop there. You still need to care for your post-op pet just as you would your boyfriend, husband, or wife who just had surgery.

The ASPCA recommends the following:

Monitor your pet for any signs of abnormal recovery from anesthesia and/or surgery.

DO NOT GIVE HUMAN MEDICATION TO YOUR PET.  It is dangerous and can be fatal. Your pet was given long-acting pain medication in conjunction with the spay/neuter surgery.

When it comes to food and water – “Approximately half your pet’s normal serving of food and water should be offered about two hours after returning home from surgery. If your pet is less than 16 weeks of age, feed him/her proximately half the normal amount of food and water as soon as you return home. If your puppy or kitten will not eat when he/she returns home and you can do the following without risk of being bitten or scratched, rub maple or Karo Syrup on the pet’s gums.”

Don’t forget about caring for the surgical wound - “Wounds can take several days to several weeks to fully heal, depending upon the depth of the surgery. You will need to make sure that it's kept clean; your pet will probably prefer to perform these types of tasks by themselves with a good licking, which is frowned upon. Keep a good eye on the wound, so you'll know immediately if it becomes infected or aggravated.” I’ve found a good E-collar does the trick.

If the surgery site is very red, has green/yellow or reddish discharge, has a bad odor, has something sticking out from it, is warm to the touch, or has bruising or a bump that seems to be growing, contact your veterinarian immediately.