PRE-OP INSTRUCTIONS
What Must I Do for My Pet Before Surgery?
- All pets 3 months of age or older are required by Hamilton County law to be vaccinated for rabies. Please bring proof of a current rabies vaccination (rabies certificate or vet record) with you the day of surgery. A rabies tag alone is not sufficient proof. If you do not have a rabies certificate or vet record showing a current vaccination, your pet will be given a 1-year rabies vaccine for $10.00.
- Do not give your adult pet ANYTHING to eat after 10 p.m. the night before surgery, including bones, rawhides, treats, etc. You should continue to give your pet water. Puppies and kittens 6 months of age and younger may eat up until 6:00 a.m. the day of surgery.
- If within the last 30 days your pet has been injured or had any symptoms of illness, including vomiting or diarrhea, or has been on any medications, you must let the staff know when you make the appointment or at check-in. If your pet is on steroids, it cannot have surgery until at least 30 days after its last dose of steroids. For the safety of your pet, approval for surgery is at the sole discretion of the veterinarian.
- Any pet that has had a seizure of any kind or duration will not be approved for surgery under any circumstances; for the safety of the pet, it should have surgery at a full-service veterinary clinic with the resources and medications to treat seizures.
- On the day of surgery, please arrive at the clinic promptly at 8:00 a.m. If you are late, you may be asked to reschedule your appointment. Please allow at least one hour to complete the check-in process.
- You will need to complete a short admission form for each pet having surgery.
- For everyone’s safety, please leave dogs in the car until the check-in process is complete and the staff tells you to bring your dog in. Cats may be brought into the lobby as long as they are in a secure carrier - carriers should have newspaper or a towel on the bottom in case the cat has an accident on the way to the clinic.
What Happens Following Surgery?
- Your pet will recover at the clinic and, if staying overnight, will be given food and water.
- Dogs must be picked up the day of surgery at 3:00 p.m. The clinic closes at 3:30 p.m., so please get here before then. If you do not make it by 3:30, you can pick up your dog the following morning at 7:30 a.m.
- Cats stay overnight at the clinic because their surgery is completed later in the day and they must be picked the following morning promptly at 7:30 a.m. If you arrive late, you may have to wait during the 8 a.m. check-in of that day's surgery patients to be completed before you can check-out your cat from the prior day.
- A boarding fee of $15 will be charged for any animal not picked up by 9:00 a.m. the morning following surgery.