Surgery Instructions

Thank you for scheduling an appointment for spay/neuter. Please read the pre-operative instructions so you are prepared on the day of the appointment.

Drop Off

• The Clinic is located at 157 W. Grand Avenue, lower level. Free parking for drop off and pick up is available in our parking garage just south of Grand Avenue on Wells Street.
• If walking, enter 157 W. Grand Avenue
• To access the clinic, take the elevator to LL or the stairwell one level down
• No food after 9:00 p.m. the night before surgery
• Withhold medications 24 hours prior to surgery. This includes any anxiety or pain medications which could have an adverse effect on our anesthesia protocol
• Water should be freely available until the time you leave home
• Drop off times is between 8–9:15 a.m. 
• Please arrive on time for your appointment and be prepared to remain until you visit with a veterinarian while they conduct an exam on your pet
• Cats must be in a secure carrier and dogs must be on a leash

Pick Up

• Release times are between 4–5:15 p.m.
• Due to limited space, we are not able to board animals overnight. A $150 boarding fee will be accessed for any animal not picked up on the day of surgery​​​​​​

It is important to keep your pet comfortable and healthy during the recovery period following a spay or neuter surgery.

A note about medication: A long-lasting injection of pain medication is given at the time of surgery. Additional pain medications are generally not necessary. If your pet experiences discomfort during the days following surgery, please call the clinic at 312-645-8051.

In order to comply with current standards of The Association of Shelter Veterinarians, a small green tattoo will be applied to the abdomen of male and female cats and female dogs. For male dogs, the tattoo will applied near the scrotum.  This is meant as an indicator of the sterilization status of these animals thus preventing unnecessary surgery later in life.

Post-Surgical Instructions:

• Provide a normal serving of water when you arrive home.
• Resume normal eating schedule the following day.
• Mild exercise, such as walking, is allowed, but do not allow your pet to jump or run, as this may cause the incision to open.
• Do not allow your pet to chew or lick the incision. If you notice excessive licking, you can purchase a cone collar at your local pet supply store or veterinarian.
• Check the incision daily. Contact the Clinic at 312-645-8051 if you notice any discharge, swelling, or opening at the incision site .
• Do not bathe your pet or apply any flea products for 10 days.
• Know that your pet did not receive any external sutures, so removal is not necessary. There are two layers of internal sutures, which will dissolve, and surgical glue has been applied on your pet’s skin.
• A green tattoo has been placed near the incision to make it easy to identify that your pet is altered.
• If needed, post-surgical care will be provided at no charge until the incision heals. Contact the Clinic at 312-645-8051 Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. or call 312-644-8338 between 5–6 p.m. to make a follow up appointment.
• Please note that the Clinic is closed weekends, and holidays. During this time please call 312-644-8338 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. and dial 0 to speak to an operator.

Your pet's spay/neuter surgery includes complimentary distempter and rabies vaccines and a microchip. If your pet has already received these services elsewhere, you can opt out of these complimentary services.

If your cat or dog received its first distemper combination vaccine during the surgery, note that this is the first in a series of at least two vaccinations meant to provide protection against common diseases. In order for this vaccine to be effective, a booster needs to be scheduled in approximately 3 weeks. You must schedule an appointment with your own veterinarian for this important booster vaccine.

If your pet received a rabies vaccination, he or she is protected for one year and will not need a booster until then. A current rabies vaccination is required by law for all cats and dogs. You must schedule a booster rabies vaccination with your own veterinarian in approximately one year. 

It is common to for your pet to display some of the following after her/his spay/neuter surgery. If you see any of these symptoms, please call our clinic at 312-645-8051.

•    The incision site is red/swollen
•    There is a small amount of discharge coming from the site
•    The pet is not eating the next day
•    The pet is lethargic the next day
•    The pet appears to be in pain 

Owners should NOT use any products on the site nor give any medication for pain until they have consulted with the vet.