Surgical Prep 101: Essential Steps Before Your Pet’s Neutering Day.

Preparing Your Dog or Cat Before Spaying or Neutering

For pet parents who have decided to have their beloved companion spayed or neutered for their long-term health, before bringing them in for surgery, we as their loving caretakers should prepare them as thoroughly as possible -- physically, mentally, and in their environment -- so they stay safe, heal quickly, and don't experience any unnecessary discomfort. Let's take a look at what to prepare before bringing your dog or cat in for spaying/neutering.

✅ Get a Health Checkup First

Before the procedure, have a veterinarian perform a thorough physical exam, to check whether your pet is healthy enough for anesthesia -- especially for pets who are very young, very old, or have an existing health condition.

✅ Female Pets Must Not Be Pregnant or Have Mated Within the Last 2 Months

If your pet has just given birth and you'd like to have them spayed, we recommend bringing them in once the puppies/kittens are 2 months old or older (weaned), at which point the procedure can be done.

✅ Withhold Water/Food Before Surgery

Your veterinarian will typically recommend withholding food and water for at least 6-12 hours before surgery, to prevent aspiration during anesthesia.

✅ Bathe Before the Day of Surgery

After the procedure, your pet won't be able to bathe for about 7-10 days, since the wound won't be fully healed yet. So be sure to give them a good bath beforehand.

Spaying/Neutering = Better Long-Term Health + Longer Life

It reduces the risk of several conditions, such as pyometra, mammary cancer, prostate enlargement, as well as aggressive or other undesirable behaviors. Just by preparing properly before surgery, we can help keep our pet safe, recover quickly, and live a longer, higher-quality life -- without risking illness or danger from uncontrollable behavior. Love them like family, and don't hesitate to do something good for them starting today, so they can stay with us for a long time.