At the Moab Veterinary Clinic we perform castrations routinely, where we remove both the testicles. This procedure is also known as a “neuter”. Neutering prevents male animals from impregnating females and dramatically reduces the risk of reproductive cancers when done at a young age (around six months old). We do not remove the scrotum when neutering. Occasionally one (or both) of the testicles does not descend and the veterinarian will need to go into the abdomen to find it. These testicles can become cancerous and pets can still breed with a testicle that hasn’t descended. Our normal neuter surgeries are discharged the same day.
Discharge and Feeding
Your pet will be groggy upon discharge. This is normal and can last the rest of the night. Usually pets are back to their normal alertness the following day. If your pet is an outside pet, please keep them inside at least for the night where they can be warm. Anesthesia can disrupt the body’s ability to regulate its heat and pets are frequently cold after having surgery. Feral cats sent home the same day will need to be kept in their traps overnight (again, somewhere warm) and released in the morning. Anesthesia can also cause nausea and vomiting upon awakening, which is why it’s important to have fasted your pet the night before. You may offer food and water to your pet in the evening if they are alert enough but we ask that you restrict it to ⅓ to ½ of their normal ration to minimize vomiting. It’s okay if they do not feel like eating that night or if they vomit some (even if they don’t eat anything and vomit a little that’s normal). They may return to their normal feeding the following morning.
If your pet is having difficulty waking up following surgery, please contact the veterinary clinic. The veterinarian may need to see your pet to decide what course of action would be best and may decide to hospitalize.
If your pet is having difficulty waking up following surgery, please contact the veterinary clinic. The veterinarian may need to see your pet to decide what course of action would be best and may decide to hospitalize.
Sutures
Normally, there are no sutures that need to be removed after a neuter surgery and male cats will not have any sutures. You may feel a knot on one end of the incision in dogs and this is just the knot of the suture and may take a little longer to go away. Occasionally we need to close the skin with a different suture that does not dissolve and these will need to come out 14 days after surgery. Please schedule an appointment with us for suture removal so we can make sure staff is available. If your pet had a testicle or testicles that were in the abdomen there will be an additional incision.
Activity, Licking, and Bathing Restrictions
It is important to restrict activity after surgery. We do not want the incision to come apart or the ligatures on the vessels to work loose. With male dogs, being too active can cause their scrotum to swell up with fluid. If this occurs, please bring him back in so the veterinarian can determine if the area needs drained, if your pet needs medication to help with pain and swelling, and what other measures can be done at home to provide relief. We understand sometimes it is difficult to keep pets quiet.
Do not bathe your pet for two weeks after surgery or otherwise allow the incision to get wet. This includes swimming. Do not allow your pet to lick the incision. Licking can open up the incision and cause infection. If your pet is licking please come back to the clinic for a “cone”. The cone will need to stay on when you cannot watch your pet. You may take it off if you can supervise your pet or leave it on. They can eat and drink while wearing the cone, but may need help to figure out how to position themselves. The cone will need to stay on for two weeks. We do not recommend the “donut” collars as pets frequently work around them. Alternatively, you can try onesies for smaller pets or t-shirts for larger ones. Onesies will need undone or removed for bathroom access. Backwards t-shirts (tail through the neck hole and back legs through the arm holes) also work but may need removed for bathroom access. Additionally, the Moab Vet Clinic now offers special “sputer” shirts which are unisex (put it on one way and it’s acceptable for a male dog including a hole for urination, turn it around and the V-neck allows females to urinate). Any clothing used to deter pets from licking should be checked twice a day for any drainage from the surgery site and changed as needed to be kept clean, and changed immediately if wet.
Do not bathe your pet for two weeks after surgery or otherwise allow the incision to get wet. This includes swimming. Do not allow your pet to lick the incision. Licking can open up the incision and cause infection. If your pet is licking please come back to the clinic for a “cone”. The cone will need to stay on when you cannot watch your pet. You may take it off if you can supervise your pet or leave it on. They can eat and drink while wearing the cone, but may need help to figure out how to position themselves. The cone will need to stay on for two weeks. We do not recommend the “donut” collars as pets frequently work around them. Alternatively, you can try onesies for smaller pets or t-shirts for larger ones. Onesies will need undone or removed for bathroom access. Backwards t-shirts (tail through the neck hole and back legs through the arm holes) also work but may need removed for bathroom access. Additionally, the Moab Vet Clinic now offers special “sputer” shirts which are unisex (put it on one way and it’s acceptable for a male dog including a hole for urination, turn it around and the V-neck allows females to urinate). Any clothing used to deter pets from licking should be checked twice a day for any drainage from the surgery site and changed as needed to be kept clean, and changed immediately if wet.
Discharge and Other Complications
Small amounts of drainage from the incision are okay and can be perfectly normal. If you notice any discharge that is concerning to you, please bring your pet back to us for a recheck. Discharge that looks like pus or smells bad should be checked out. A small amount of swelling and redness can be normal post surgery, but any swelling or redness you have questions about should be addressed by a veterinarian.
If your pet chews out his sutures or licks open his incision, he will need to return to the clinic for examination by a veterinarian. Sometimes incisions need to be stapled, sometimes animals must go back under anesthesia to clean the incision and close it surgically, and other times the veterinarian may choose to let the area “granulate in” and heal on its own. We cannot say what decision the veterinarian will make without seeing your pet.
If your pet chews out his sutures or licks open his incision, he will need to return to the clinic for examination by a veterinarian. Sometimes incisions need to be stapled, sometimes animals must go back under anesthesia to clean the incision and close it surgically, and other times the veterinarian may choose to let the area “granulate in” and heal on its own. We cannot say what decision the veterinarian will make without seeing your pet.
Cats
Male cats will not have sutures and this is a normal practice in most, if not all, veterinary practices. If your cat uses a litter box, please switch to shredded paper (newspaper works just fine) for 1-2 weeks until the incisions are healed. If your cat had an undescended testicle, they will have their abdomen shaved and an incision.
