Sykesville Veterinary Clinic

Make an Appointment

410–549–7798

How to Prepare for a Spay or Neuter Surgery

Every year, around 2.7 million dogs and cats are euthanized because there aren’t enough homes for them. Much of this excess of lovable pets is due to unplanned litters from pets who were never spayed or neutered.

Aside from saving little-fur-friends from being euthanized, spaying and neutering your dog actually comes with a whole host of perks–from helping your pup manage his temper, to reducing her risk of some serious health conditions, spaying and neutering is always a good idea.

If you’re preparing to spay or neuter your pup, our veterinary clinic in Sykesville has you covered. Here’s how to prepare for your pup’s procedure.

1. Be Sure Your Pup is of Age

When can you spay or neuter your pup?

It depends on what type of puppy you’ve got, including its gender and breed, whether or not he’s the only unneutered dog in the house and several other factors.

When it comes to determining whether or not your puppy is ready to be spayed or neutered, there’s no clear, cookie-cutter answer. While some smaller dog breeds may be matured enough for the procedure at 2 months, larger dogs tend to mature more slowly and may take a few more months before they’re ready to go.

2. Take Care the Night Before

There are certain guidelines your pup should follow the night before her surgery.

If your dog usually spends the night outside, you’ll have to bring her in to stay inside the evening before her surgery. You’ll need to take her food away by ten o’clock the night before so her stomach won’t be full by the time she’s put under general anesthesia (if you let her snack, she’ll be prone to vomiting during surgery, which can lead to suffocation).

You’ll want to set aside your dog’s carrier and leash the night before so you’re ready to head to the clinic by morning.

3. Take it Easy Afterwards

During his procedure, you can be sure your pup will be in good hands. When he’s back in your arms, you’ll need to be sure to help your pet take things easy and stay relaxed as he heals.

Following his surgery, your dog may experience a bit of a “hangover.” He may seem agitated or uncharacteristically aggressive. He’ll probably sleep more than usual over the 18-24 hours following the procedure while he recovers from anesthesia.

Keep your puppy in a crate or other small space for the first day or so after his procedure. He should be kept away from your other animals and from small children since his activity should be very limited as he heals.

Make sure your dog is comfortable after his procedure. And make sure you follow all other instructions from your vet.

Want More on Spaying and Neutering with Sykesville Veterinary Clinic?

Even with routine procedures like spaying and neutering, it’s always a great idea to do your research beforehand so you know just what to expect.

At our veterinary clinic in Sykesville, we do everything we can to make sure you’ll feel comfortable and prepared as you make arrangements to have your puppy spayed or neutered. For more information or to get in touch with our clinic, check out our site.