Pre-Operative Care Guidelines for cats and dogs
Post-operative care guidelines for dogs
Post-operative care guidelines for cats
Clinico Locations and Hours

Pre-Operative Care Guidelines for cats and dogs

Surgery at the Clinico Low Cost Spay Neuter Clinic is by appointment only. Check-in on the date of your dog's surgery is between 6:30 a.m. and 7:30 a.m., and will be ready for pick up between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. the same day. Please note that we close promptly at 4:30. Pets not picked up by 4:30 will be deemed abandoned and will be impounded. There is a $75 impound fee.

All cats brought to the Clinico Low Cost Spay Neuter Clinic must be in a carrier. Remember, we are checking in 25-30 other patients, including dogs, so your cat will feel and be safest in a secure carrier. We suggest covering cage-style carriers or traps with sheets or towels.

We will label and keep the carrier at the clinic. Your cat will be presented to you at patient discharge in his/her carrier. If you are bringing multiple cats for surgery, you must bring one carrier per cat for discharge. Cats may be together in one carrier for check-in. However, you must still bring sufficient carriers for each cat to go home individually.

If you are bringing a feral cat for surgery, please bring a carrier for postoperative placement. When bringing the cat in, please cover the carrier/trap with a sheet or blanket. Clients bringing feral cats for surgery do not have to wait for check-in. Bring the cat immediately to the front desk for check-in.

Dogs brought to the Clinico Low Cost Spay Neuter Clinic must be on a leash or in a carrier.

Please plan on spending 45 minutes to one hour at the clinic for patient check-in. Again, you must remain with your cat/dog. Your input is important as your pet recieves his/her pre-surgical examination.

Payment is due at pick up.

Dogs in heat will not be accepted for surgery, appointment will be rescheduled.

In order to keep our prices as low as possible we only accept cash.

IMPORTANT: The night before surgery, your dog/cat needs to be kept indoors. No food after 10:00 p.m. Pets under 4 months should not have food taken away. Water is okay for all pets.

Animals pregnant, or with un-descended (no) testicles WILL be accepted for surgery. If the patient is pregnant, the pregnancy will be terminated at the time of surgery.

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To ensure a smooth recovery, please follow these instructions carefully. It is your responsibility to read and understand these instructions.

• Check your dog's mucous membrane (gum) color when you arrive home. The mucous membrane color should be a pale pink to red. More importantly, the color must quickly return to normal after applied pressure to the gums (above the canine tooth). Check your dog's color throughout the evening to verify the mucous membrane color returns to normal.

Food/Water

• Offer ice chips or water immediately after returning home. Provide the water in small amounts throughout the evening, watching for vomiting. If your dog takes a large amount of water, he or she will likely vomit. If after 2-3 hours of offering ice chips or small bowls of water there is no vomiting, you may move to free-choice water. Small dogs and puppies 6 months and younger may eat dry food after 10pm, if they are not vomiting water. Resume normal feeding the day after surgery. Generally, a lack of appetite is normal for the first 24 hours post-op. However, your dog must be drinking water. If he or she shows no interest in food or water after 24 hours, contact the clinic. Contact the clinic if your dog continues to vomit water after 12 hours.

Incision Care

• The incision for female dogs is on the belly. The incision for male dogs is just below the penis.
  
  
• Check your dog's incision daily for redness, swelling, discharge, or wound opening. It is normal to expect some redness and swelling the size of a marble. Contact the clinic if the swelling looks excessive, if there is discharge, or opening of the incision.
  
  
• Do not clean the incision - you may introduce infection. The incision needs to remain dry. If it becomes dirty, use a cotton ball and water and gently blot around the area. Do not bathe your dog for at least 7 days. Dry shampoos are available at the local pet store.
  
  
• Your dog has buried sutures, so there is no need for suture removal unless you are told otherwise.
  
  
• Male dogs must wear the Elizabethan Collar for at least 7 days. You may take the E Collar off when you are able to watch your dog and prevent him from licking or chewing the incision. However, he must wear the E Collar when you are away or are sleeping. Male dogs can do great damage to their incision in a short amount of time, causing infection requiring further care at your expense.

Activity

All postoperative patients must be kept indoors for the next 24 hours and as much as possible for the next 7-10 days. Discourage any running or jumping and limit stair climbing as much as possible. Outdoor dogs may stay in a clean, warm garage if you are able to watch him or her closely there. Keep your postoperative dog quiet and give him or her comfort. Please also keep your pet away from small children.

• Please leash walk your dog for 7 days. Do not allow any free roaming. This can be extremely dangerous for your dog.
  
  
• Male dogs remain virile for 3-4 weeks after surgery. Keep them confined.

Pain

• Some discomfort 24-36 hours post-op is normal. Your dog should continually improve. He or she should feel better every day.
  
  
• If you purchased pain medication from the clinic, please carefully follow the directions on the container. If you have any questions, please contact the clinic.
  
  
• If you feel your dog is in need of pain relieving medication, please contact the clinic or our on call staff before administering any medicines. Some over-the-counter medications can be very dangerous to your dog.

If you have a female dog that was in heat prior to surgery, she will still show signs of bleeding, swollen vulva, and attract male dogs for up to two weeks.

If any of the following conditions occur please contact Clinico immediately:

• Loss of appetite for more than two days.
  
  
• Refusal to drink water for more than 24 hours.
  
  
• Blood coming from the incision.
  
  
• Vomiting for more than 24 hours.
  
  
• Diarrhea for more than 24 hours.
  
  
• Discharge from the incision.
  
  
• The incision has opened up.

Clinico will treat at our clinic, at minimal cost, any post-op complications resulting directly from the surgery, if the above post-op instructions are followed in full. Your regular veterinarian must address illnesses or injuries that are not a direct result of surgery. Please call for an appointment as soon as you see cause for concern. We cannot be held responsible for complications resulting from failure to follow post-op instructions, or for contagious diseases for which the animal was not previously properly vaccinated. Clinico cannot reimburse you for veterinary care.

Top

To ensure a smooth recovery, please follow these instructions carefully. It is your responsibility to read and understand these instructions.

• Check your cat's mucous membrane (gum) color when you arrive home. The mucous membrane color should be a pale pink to red. More importantly, the color must quickly return to normal after applied pressure to the gums (above the canine tooth). Check your cat's color throughout the evening to verify the mucous membrane color returns to normal.
  

Food/Water

• Offer ice chips or water immediately after returning home. Provide the water in small amounts throughout the evening, watching for vomiting. If your cat takes a large amount of water, he or she will likely vomit. If after 2-3 hours of offering ice chips or small bowls of water there is no vomiting, you may move to free-choice water. Small cats and kittens 6 months and younger may eat dry food after 10pm, if they are not vomiting water. Resume normal feeding the day after surgery. Generally, a lack of appetite is normal for the first 24 hours post-op. However, your cat must be drinking water. If he or she shows no interest in food or water after 24 hours, contact the clinic. Contact the clinic if your cat continues to vomit water after 12 hours.
  

Incision Care

• The incision for female cats is on the belly. The incision for male cats is in the scrotum.
  
  
• Check your cat's incision daily for redness, swelling, discharge, or wound opening. It is normal to expect some redness and swelling the size of a marble. Contact the clinic if the swelling looks excessive, if there is discharge, or opening of the incision.
  
  
• Do not clean the incision - you may introduce infection. The incision needs to remain dry. If it becomes dirty, use a cotton ball and water and gently blot the area. Do not bathe your cat for at least 7 days. Dry shampoos are available at the local pet store.
  
  
• Your cat has buried sutures, so there is no need for suture removal unless you are told otherwise.
  

Activity

• All postoperative patients must be kept indoors for the next 24 hours and as much as possible for the next 7-10 days. Discourage any running or jumping and limit stair climbing as much as possible. Outdoor cats may stay in a clean, warm garage if you are able to watch him or her closely there. Keep your postoperative cat quiet and give him or her comfort. Please also keep your pet away from small children.
  
  
• Male cats remain virile for 3-4 weeks after surgery. Keep them confined.
  

Pain

• Some discomfort 24-36 hours post-op is normal. Your cat should continually improve. He or she should feel better every day.
  
  
• If you purchased pain medication from the clinic, please carefully follow the directions on the container. If you have any questions, please contact the clinic.
  
  
• If you feel your cat is in need of pain relieving medication, please contact the clinic before administering any medicines. Some over-the-counter medications can be very dangerous to your cat.
  

If you have a female cat that was in heat prior to surgery, she will still show signs of heat for up to two weeks.

If any of the following conditions occur please contact Clinico immediately:

• Loss of appetite for more than two days.
  
  
• Refusal to drink water for more than 24 hours.
  
  
• Blood coming from the incision. Vomiting for more than 24 hours.
  
  
• Diarrhea for more than 24 hours.
  
  
• Discharge from the incision.
  
  
• The incision has opened up.

562-225-6864

Clinico will treat at our clinic, at minimal cost, any post-op complications resulting directly from the surgery, if the above post-op instructions are followed in full. Your regular veterinarian must address illnesses or injuries that are not a direct result of surgery. Please call for an appointment as soon as you see cause for concern. We cannot be held responsible for complications resulting from failure to follow post-op instructions, or for contagious diseases for which the animal was not previously properly vaccinated. Clinico cannot reimburse you for veterinary care.

Clinico Locations and Hours

PICO RIVERA 9325 Slauson Avenue, Pico Rivera, 90660 Sunday - Wednesday 6:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. By Appointment Only Phone: 1-562-942-2640 1-888-WE-SPAY-LA Map it

NOW OPEN! SAN PEDRO 957 N. Gaffey Street, San Pedro, CA 90731 Sunday, Monday, Thursday, Friday 6:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. By Appointment Only Phone: 1-310-241-0768 1-888-WE-SPAY-LA Map it

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