Getting Your Cat Fixed: What to Expect

Are you planning to have your cat spayed or neutered? You may wonder what to expect during this surgical procedure. Although any surgery brings some stress and anxiety, spay and neuter operations are routine procedures with minimal side effects and risks. Tierrasanta Veterinary Hospital in San Diego, CA, is here to tell you what to expect from spay and neuter surgery to help ease your mind.

Understanding Spay and Neuter Surgery

Spaying or neutering your cat involves removing its reproductive organs to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Neutering removes your male cat’s testes while spaying removes your female cat’s ovaries and uterus. Some spay procedures also take out your cat’s fallopian tubes. Our vet will discuss what your cat’s surgery will include during its pre-operation visit.

The Surgical Procedure

Before your cat’s surgery, our veterinarian will provide pre-operative instructions to ensure the safety of its procedure. These may include restricting your cat’s food and water intake after midnight before its surgery. We may also ask you to avoid giving your cat specific medications to ensure the safety and efficacy of the operation.

We use general anesthesia for your pet’s and our staff’s safety during its spay or neuter procedure. Our team monitors your cat’s vital signs, such as heart rate and breathing, as it sleeps. The surgery usually does not take long to complete, and pets can return home the same day. Our vet monitors your cat as it wakes up, and then you can take it home once we provide post-op instructions.

What to Expect After Your Cat’s Surgery

Our animal doctor will provide detailed instructions to ensure your cat heals correctly after surgery. In general, these instructions will likely include the following:

•             Keep your cat in a quiet area

•             Have your cat wear a cone to stop it from scratching or licking its incision

•             Check the incision site for infection signs, such as redness or discharge

•             Restrict your cat’s activity for a time

Schedule Your Cat’s Spay or Neuter Surgery Today at Tierrasanta Veterinary Hospital

If you want to spay or neuter your cat and need a “veterinarian near you” that you can trust, look no further than Tierrasanta Veterinary Hospital in San Diego, CA. We can tell you more about the procedure and how it benefits your cat’s long-term health during its initial visit, so call us and schedule an appointment today at (858) 292-6116.