Pet Surgery at Little Mountain Veterinary Clinic

At Little Mountain Veterinary Clinic, we schedule routine pet surgeries on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, so your pet will be awake and ready to go home that afternoon. However, cats that will be declawed will spend the night and can go home the following morning after 9 o'clock AM.

We ask that you drop your pet off between 7:30 and 8 o'clock AM the day of the surgery on an empty stomach (NO food or water after 10 o'clock PM the night before). Upon arrival, you will be asked to sign a surgery consent form, giving us permission to perform the desired procedure.

• Routine spays and neuters
• Cat declawing
• Dentals
• Lacerations
• Lump/mass removal
• Cosmetic ear trims
• Cosmetic tail docking
• Dewclaw removal
• Ear hematomas (Although many are now repaired through laser therapy)

You will be asked about blood work for your pet. Blood work is required for pets over 7 years of age and is optional for younger pets. However, blood work is always recommended. Blood work helps us evaluate your pet's current status regarding blood sugar, liver and kidney functions, and tells us if your pet is anemic. Any abnormality in these areas increases your pet's surgical risk and lessens the chance of a favorable surgical outcome.

You will also be asked about post-operative pain medication to be given at home. This is optional, but highly recommended. Personally, I would want pain medicine after surgery!

Always make sure we have a correct telephone number where we can reach the owner in case we have any questions and to call you when your pet has recovered after the procedure.

• Pain injection
• Antibiotic injection
• Healing laser therapy on the surgery site
• Anesthetic monitoring by machine and surgical assistant
• E-Collar to take home

1. What age do I get my pet fixed?
I recommend routine spaying and neutering no earlier than 6 months of age. When your pet is spayed or neutered, we remove the ovaries and uterus or testicles, which supply hormones for good bone growth.

2. Does my pet stay for the night?
No. However, cats that are declawed do spend the night. Otherwise, your pet goes home that afternoon.

3. Do you recommend declawing my cat at the same time he/she is fixed?
Yes. It is definitely easier for your cat to go through anesthesia and recovery just once.

4. Why do you require vaccines prior to Pet surgery?
Vaccines protect your pet from developing certain contagious and often deadly diseases. We want your pet to be protected and to not pose a risk to other patients.

Required Canine Vaccines

• DHPP-CV
• Bordetella
• Rabies
• Current stool check

• FVRCP
• Leukemia
• Rabies
• Current stool check

6. Why does my pet need an E-collar?
To keep from licking or chewing the surgery site, which is instinctive behavior for your pet.

7. Why should I get my pet spayed or neutered?
Male dogs that are not neutered are more prone to prostate problems (especially prostate cancer), urinary issues, and developing testicular cancer, in addition to wanting to mark (urinate) on everything. Male cats also have a tendency to mark or spray. Remember, male dogs and cats will have a greater tendency to roam away from home looking for love as well! Female dogs and cats that have not been spayed are at a greater risk for developing mammary cancer and uterine infections, both of which can be life threatening.

The overpopulation of pets in the United States has hit staggering numbers. This problem not only affects our state, but our local communities and shelters. Overpopulation is everyone's burden as our shelters become overcrowded and facilities are forced to euthanize pets for lack of space and funding. Statistics show that is only takes one unsprayed/neutered pet to produce more than 16 offspring in one year! For this reason, we strongly recommend that you, as a responsible pet owner, spay or neuter your pet.