Pre/Post-op Care Information

Thank you for choosing Helping-PAW to care for your pet. We promise the best care possible while your pet is in our hands. Along with your estimate for care, please note the following instructions for before and after any surgical procedures.

Instructions Before Surgery for Dogs and Cats

• Please take away all food after 11 PM the night before.
• Please make sure you allow your pet to drink water.
• All animals must be healthy and over 5 pounds (unless otherwise approved)
• If you feel your pet is not healthy or has been diagnosed with a condition, you must advise us. We cannot be responsible for complications due to withheld information.
• Please arrive at pre-designated appointment time.
• You will then leave your pet with us and come back for pickup when advised.

What to expect now that you have dropped off your dog or cat:

• We have many procedures each surgery day and will give every patient the highest level of care and attention.
• When your pet is awake and stable and ready to go home, we will call you.
• If you need to reach us, please call 516-385-4527. Please only call if necessary, as we are busy working on your pet and others.
• We promise to call you when your pet can be picked up. Please pick your pet up within one hour of being called. There will be a charge for late pick-ups.

Dog and Cat Post-Operative Instructions

1. There are typically no stitches/sutures or staples that need to be removed. The suture material used is absorbable and the stitches are under the skin (unless we have informed you otherwise).
   
   
2. After arriving home today, please keep your pet in its carrier or in a small, confined space for 3-4 hours. After 3-4 hours, keep your pet in a quiet, small place such as a bathroom overnight so you can best observe and keep them quiet. At that time provide a litter box for cats, and food and water for dogs and cats.
   
   
3. You can feed your pet his or her normal meal if they are wide awake, alert and hungry. You can give any prescribed medications at that time as well, if appropriate.
   
   
4. No running, jumping, playing, swimming or other strenuous activity for 7 days. Keep your pet quiet. Pets must be kept indoors where they can stay clean, dry and warm. No baths for one week during the recovery period. Dogs must be walked on a leash and cats kept indoors.
   
   
5. Check the incision site twice daily. If your pet is wearing an Elizabethan collar, they should not be able to reach the incision to lick it. This will ensure that the site remains clean and dry and heals well. There should be no drainage. Redness and swelling should be minimal.
   
   
6. Do not allow your pet to lick or chew at the incision. If this occurs, the Elizabethan collar must be adjusted so your pet cannot reach the incision. The number one complication we see is from licking the incision. Complications as a result of that will be your financial responsibility. We strongly recommend getting a collar from us today or from a local pet store.
   
   
7. Your pet’s appetite should return gradually within 24 hours of surgery. Lethargy lasting for more than 24 hours post-op, diarrhea or vomiting are not normal and your pet should be taken to your regular veterinarian should that occur. Dogs may have a slight cough for a few days after surgery.
   
   
8. Do not change your pet’s diet at this time and do not give junk food, table scraps, mild or any other people food during the recovery period. This could mask post-surgical complications.
   
   
9. We recommend your pet receive a post-operative examination with your regular veterinarian 7 to 10 days after surgery. Have the incision checked for complete healing and to discuss additional needs, follow-up care and vaccination boosters.
   
   
10. If there are any questions or concerns directly related to the surgery during the recovery period, please call this emergency only number: (516)655-8720. If there is an emergency after hours, contact your regular veterinarian or the closest emergency hospital.
    
    
11. THE MOST COMMON COMPLICATION HAPPENS WHEN PET’S LICK THEIR INCISIONS! This is preventable by using the correct sized Elizabethan collar- we will provide one for you at an additional fee. If you get one elsewhere, you must be sure it is properly fitted. We cannot be responsible for self-trauma by the pet if the wrong sized collar does not work. This can be a costly and dangerous problem. Please allow us to help you pick the correct size.
    
    
12. HELPING PAW will treat at a designated location, at minimal cost, any post-op complications resulting directly from the surgery, if the above post-op instructions are followed in full. Your regular veterinarian must address illnesses or injuries that are not a direct result of surgery. Please call for an appointment as soon as you see cause for concern. We cannot be held responsible for complications resulting from failure to follow post-op instructions (including a poor-fitting e-collar or licking surgical sites) or for contagious diseases.
    
    
13. Please note that with any vaccine it is possible to see a reaction. Reactions can be as mild as pain or swelling at the injection site, itching , tenderness in the area to severe facial swelling, difficulty breathing, and rarely collapse. These reactions usually occur within the first 30 minutes after injection but can occur up to 24 hours later and should be considered emergencies. We will certainly address that Should it occur. Often owners claim their pets are a bit tired or lethargic the day of vaccines. If all is not right in 24 hours, please let us know.

Rabbit Pre and Post Operative Instructions

 What to know before your rabbit’s surgery

 Before surgery:

 ·       In the days leading up to the surgery stick to your rabbit’s regular routine.

 ·       On the day of surgery feed the usual diet consisting of hay, pellets, water, and leafy green vegetables. Unlike cats and dogs,         rabbits should not fast before operations. As a matter of fact, rabbits should have food and water available right up to the time         of surgery. Feeding keeps the gastrointestinal tract moving, which helps them to recover quickly.

·        Bring some of your rabbit’s food (especially favorite greens) with you to the veterinary clinic on the day of surgery. This food         will be offered post-surgery and is an important part of the recovery process.

 ·        You don’t need to change your rabbit’s routine or feeding schedule to prepare for spay/neuter surgery, however giving extra          love and snuggles is always appropriate!

 ·        Please bring your rabbit in a carrier, preferably a hard carrier which is safer. The bottom of the carrier should be lined with a          thick towel and be non-skid.

 ·        Please know that we perform spay and neuter services for rabbits but do not offer general care for rabbits.

After taking your pet home, place them in a quiet, enclosed area away from other animals. It takes 7 to 10 days for the surgery site to heal. During that time, restrict their activity by minimizing handling and preventing your pet from running, jumping, climbing, or any other activity that may keep the incision from healing.

 ·        Most small mammals don’t eat well the night and morning after surgery. Offer your pet all of their regular foods as soon as                  you get home. Encourage return to normal eating by presenting a variety of leafy greens 

 ·        If your pet is not eating 6 hours after surgery, please reach out to your full-service veterinarian.

 ·        Check your pet’s incision site at least once a day for any abnormal swelling, redness, discharge, or painful reaction when                touched.

 ·        Your pet may look “wet” around their eyes. This is from the eye lubrication we use during surgery and it will go away after a                few days.

 ·        Keep your pet’s cage and cage/litterbox bedding extremely clean and dry for the next 7-10 days. Clean out urine and feces at          least twice a day or more often if needed.

 ·        If your MALE pet was neutered and will be living with an intact female of the same species, you should keep them separated          for 6 more weeks. Males can still impregnate females after being neutered for this time.

 Contact your full-service veterinarian if your pet is having diarrhea, is not eating for 12 hours, is not producing feces, or seems excessively painful and lethargic.

 We are sending your rabbit home with oral medication called meloxicam. This is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication that will help with post operative discomfort. Please follow the labeled instructions for dosing.

If you have any questions, feel free to email us at info@helping-paw.org