Neuter

Your pet is scheduled to be neutered on: ____________________

You have made a good decision! When you decided to neuter your pet, you did more than opt against pet overpopulation; you chose to increase the length and quality of your friend’s life. Did you know that for dogs, neutering almost eliminates the risk of prostate disease, perineal hernias, and perianal adenomas? All of these problems are directly related to testosterone production. In cats, neutering decreases the drive to spray urine and mark territory, as well as reduces roaming and fighting. Healthy life verses critical illness and unacceptable behavior—looks like you made the right choice. Now let’s look at the procedure.

Pre-surgical Instructions:

Your pet must be fasted prior to surgery to prevent vomiting up food post-operatively. When vomiting occurs during recovery from anesthesia, the patient may inhale some of the vomitus into the lungs causing a serious form of pneumonia; stomach contents have a very adverse effect on the respiratory mucosa. To avoid this complication, you must take all food and water away from your pet at 12:00am (midnight), the night prior to surgery. Geriatric pets, any animal over the age of 7 years old, may have water until 6:00am the morning of surgery. No breakfast or treats no matter how pitifully they beg! Surgical patients are admitted the morning of surgery between 7:30 and 8:30am. Please inform our staff of special medications or diets required by your pet. Please leave all personal belongings at home, as we will supply everything they will need while staying with us.

Preoperative Procedures:

We recommend that all pets have pre-anesthetic bloodwork prior to anesthesia. This panel screens for abnormalities of the liver and kidneys that may not be readily apparent but may have serious effects on the body’s ability to metabolize anesthetic drugs. Pets with a normal physical exam and under seven years of age need only a short in-house screen, but older pets or patients with abnormalities should have more extensive evaluations. Also preoperatively, each patient is weighed and has a physical exam to assess for any new or previously undetected abnormalities. In the event of an abnormal exam or lab-work, you will be informed and you may elect to postpone surgery based on the degree of risk.

After ascertaining that the pet is healthy for surgery, anesthesia is initiated. An intravenous injection of an anesthetic is given to quickly induce sleep. An endotracheal tube is placed in the windpipe to deliver oxygen and anesthetic gas directly to the lungs, as well as providing a means of direct ventilation in case of adverse reactions. A monitor called a pulse oximeter is attached to the tongue or ear flap of the patient; this evaluates both heart rate and percentage of oxygen in the blood stream with a warning signal sounding if the patient goes out of safe parameters. A veterinarian’s assistant monitors the heart rate, mucous membrane color, and depth of anesthesia throughout the entire procedure.

After anesthetizing the patient, the inguinal area is clipped of hair, and scrubbed antiseptically before moving the pet to the surgery room where a final antimicrobial scrub is performed.

Surgical Procedure:

Neutering is more correctly termed castration. The purpose is to remove the source of testosterone since it is that hormone which predisposes the male to disease and behavioral problems.

Neutering in the cat is a relatively straightforward procedure due to the cat’s size and anatomy.

Vertical incisions are made into the scrotum over each testicle. Each testicle is exteriorized and ligated before being removed. The scrotal sacs are infused with an antibiotic ointment and left to heal without suturing.

Dogs require a more extensive procedure. Traditionally, castration is performed using a scalpel blade to make surgical incisions. In our clinic, neutering may also be done with a surgical laser because one of the properties of the laser is that it seals nerve endings and significantly reduces post-operative pain. An incision is made in front of the scrotum along the midline. Each testicle is exteriorized and ligated as well as the cremaster muscle. The tunics covering the testicle are sutured closed and the skin is closed with absorbable buried sutures to discourage licking post-operatively.

Post-Operative Care:

During recovery the pet is monitored until he is awake enough for the endotracheal tube to be removed. This is the critical time for post-operative vomiting so the animal is monitored for some time after extubation. When sufficiently awake, the patient is bedded down in his cage with blankets and hot water bottles. Pain relievers are administered by injection to continue the analgesia from the anesthetics. Oral pain relievers specifically for animals are also recommended for recovery at home.

Most dogs are ready to walk outside in the afternoon for urination/defecation. Cats use small low litter boxes in their cages, but will go home the same day as surgery. Dogs are hospitalized overnight to restrict activity as well as to observe that healing is proceeding normally. Any pet licking or picking at his incision will be fitted with an Elizabethan Collar to allow for unimpeded healing. All surgical animals will be offered food and water as soon as they are able to handle it.

Back Home:

Most dogs are more than ready to resume their normal routine but they have had MAJOR SURGERY! The main concerns are to restrict exercise and prevent licking at the incision. Failure to limit activity and to prevent licking will result in some truly spectacular swelling and bruising, even to the point of hemorrhage. Post-op instructions include leash walking for 10-14 days and using shorts or an E-collar if licking. Dogs’ incisions are rechecked 10-14 days post-op.

Cats, being generally speedy healers, may resume regular activity in 2-3 days. If regular urination is not occurring, the patient should be immediately rechecked. Otherwise, unless there is unusual scrotal swelling or discharge, a recheck is not required but may be requested at no additional charge.