CARING FOR YOUR PET AFTER SURGERY

ACTIVITY: For the next 7-10 days, keep your pet indoors in a quiet, dry, warm place.  No strenuous exercise or activity should be permitted.  Dogs should be walked on leash for exercise/bathroom breaks.  No dog parks or rough play.  Ensure cats are not climbing on cat trees/furniture for 24 hours after surgery; their balance may be poor due to the effects of anesthesia and there is a possibility they could fall/injure themselves.

PAIN MEDICATIONS:  Your pet received pain medication prior to surgery.  These medications will last for 24 hours.

• CATS:  Cats generally do not require additional pain medications.  If you elected for Buprenorphine SR (slow-release injectable pain medication– lasts 72 hours) please keep your cat indoors and safe until this medication has worn off.  
• DOGS:  Dogs are sent home with 3 days of pain medication.  Follow the instructions on the prescription label.  Your dog should receive 1 dose of medication each morning for 3 days starting the morning after surgery.

INCISION CARE:  Female pets will have a small incision in the abdominal wall.  Male cats will have incisions on their scrotum.  Male dogs will have one incision near the base of their penis.  

• Keep the incision dry.  Your pet should not go swimming, have any baths or go to the groomer for at least 14 days after surgery.
• Do not apply topical creams or ointments to the incision.
• Dogs must wear an e collar (cone) anytime they are not directly supervised and at night for 7-10 days after surgery.  Incisonal damage due to licking is by far the most common post-op complication we see.  
• Cats are not sent home with e collars.  If your cat is licking their incision you can purchase a cone at PAAWS or at any pet supply store.
• Check your pet’s incision daily.  Incisions for dogs and female cats are closed internally with dissolvable suture and surgical glue on top.  Male cat incisions are left open to heal.  As long as the incision is kept clean and dry it should heal on its own with no intervention.  Strenuous activity will disrupt the healing process so it is important to keep your pet calm for the post op period.  
• Your pet will have a small tattoo next to their incision; this indicates to other veterinary professionals that your pet has been spayed/neutered.

VACCINATIONS:  FVRCP & FeLV (cats) and DA2PP + Lyme (dogs) vaccines will need a booster in 3-4 weeks.  To schedule, you can visit the Appointments tab on this website or give us a call and we’ll help you schedule.  Prepayment policies apply.

FEEDING:  Your pet may have a suppressed appetite for a day or two after surgery.  Do not change your pet’s diet at this time, stick to what they are used to eating.  Your pet can eat and drink as soon as they get home from surgery.  

MICROCHIPS: If your pet received a microchip, we will register with the contact information you provided on your pet’s intake form.  Minn-Kota PAAWS uses 24PetWatch microchips https://www.24petwatch.com 

24Petwatch offers free microchip registration, with no mandatory fees to receive the standard services.    The Standard (free) plan includes unlimited access to the 24PetWatch online portal with the ability to:

• Update contact information online
• Be notified when your pet is found
• Alert 24PetWatch if pet becomes lost
• Add a picture of your pet
• Set Emergency Contacts
• Instantly generate a lost pet poster

You can expect an email from 24PetWatch within the next week. Keep an eye on your junk/spam folders.  If you already have a pet registered with 24PetWatch your pet will be automatically added to your profile.  

Questions?  Fill out a contact email: https://www.24petwatch.com/contact-us or call 1-866-375-7387

AFTER HOURS QUESTIONS/CONCERNS:  If there are any issues directly related to your pet’s surgery during the recovery period (7-10 days after surgery) please contact us at:

(701) 356-0523 (call or text) between the hours of 7:30 am - 5:00 pm Monday - Thursday

(701) 793-0602 (call or text) after regular business hours 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm Monday - Thursday and 8:00 am - 8:00 pm Friday, Saturday, Sunday.

** For emergent assistance please contact the Red River Animal Emergency Hospital & Referral Center (701) 478-9299 

Any treatment obtained at a clinic other than Minn-Kota PAAWS is the financial responsibility of the pet owner.  Minn-Kota PAAWS cannot be held responsible for any animals requiring attention after business hours.  Minn-Kota PAAWS cannot be held responsible for complications resulting from a failure to follow discharge instructions or for a contagious disease for which the animal was not previously properly vaccinated against.  Minn-Kota PAAWS will treat any complications arising from surgery at our clinic at minimal or no cost if it is determined that the post op instructions were followed in full.