Surgery-day checklist
The important stuff, all in one place.
Before surgery day
- Complete a pre-operative exam if your pet has not been examined by us within the past six months.
- Complete pre-anesthetic bloodwork if your pet is over 6 years old. We recommend it for every anesthetic procedure.
- Pay the $100 surgery deposit before booking.
- Currently taking medication? Let us know. Most long-term medications are okay to give before anesthesia, but ask us ahead of time if you are unsure.
The night before and morning of surgery
- No food after midnight. Water is fine. No breakfast. Yes, “no breakfast” is redundant, but some people don’t get it.
- Bring cats in a secure carrier and dogs on a standard, non-retractable leash.
- Cat drop-off: 7:30 a.m. We don’t open the doors early. We’ve got to get ourselves together before we can help you.
- Dog drop-off: 7:45 a.m.
- Be ready to confirm your phone number and keep your phone available for updates.
- Pay the remaining surgery balance at or before drop-off.
After surgery
- Wait for our text that your bestie is awake and our call to arrange pickup after the field sobriety test.
- Keep dogs on leash walks only and cats in a small room.
- Use the e-collar exactly as directed. If you are not actively staring at your pet, the cone stays on.
- Watch the incision for increasing redness, pus, coming apart, or licking.
- Call us if something does not look right—or if you need a pep talk about keeping the cone on.