BEFORE AN ANESTHETIC:
Pets may have dinner the night before, but all food should be removed for all pets in the home by 9PM.
Pugs, Boston Terriers, and Bull Dogs should have no food for 18 hours before the procedure.
Water may be available until morning. The owners should pick up the water as soon as they get up in the morning.
The pet should be dropped off at least 2 hours before the procedure is any blood work needs to be done the day of the procedure. Otherwise pets should be dropped off at least 1 hour before the start of the procedure.
Always tell us if any medication was given at home on the morning of the procedure.
AFTER AN ANESTHETIC:
The pet may be offered food and water, but the quantity of food offered should be half of what is usually given.
The pet may be slightly groggy after the procedure and should be kept away from stairs and off furniture unless supervised.
The pet should be kept in a warm, quiet area if it is at all groggy.
Pain medication may make the pet groggy. If it causes excessive sleepiness, the subsequent dosage should be reduced to half the previous dose.
Sedatives, like acepromazine, will also cause sleepiness.
The pet should not chew or lick an incision. If they are doing so, the owner should call or bring the pet back immediately. (They can chew out sutures in a matter of minutes.) The pet will need a Bite-Not or an Elizabethan collar.
The owner should check an incision daily and call if it appears red or swollen.
Most sutures are removed in 14 days.