Dogs should be brought on a sturdy leash. No retractable leashes, choke or prong collars are permitted.
Cats should be brought in a secure cat carrier. One cat per carrier is required. Label the carrier with your pet’s first and last name.
Feral or fractious cats should be brought in a humane box trap. Please contact our spay/neuter clinic at 412-847-7004 if you need to rent a trap. Feral or fractious cats brought in carriers will be turned away and rescheduled.
Signed surgical consent form. If you do not have a printer, we will have copies for you to sign at check-in.
If your pet is vaccinated for rabies, please bring their latest rabies vaccination certificate. If your pet does not have a rabies vaccine, we will be required to administer the vaccine prior to surgery. There is a $10 charge for the vaccine that will be due at check-out.
Post-Surgical Questions
Closely monitor your pet for the first 24 hours following surgery! Lethargy, vomiting or fresh blood at incision site after 24 hours is not normal. For urgent concerns relating to your pet’s surgery, call us at 412.865.9831 (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.)
If your pet is having a medical emergency, go to an emergency veterinarian right away!
It is extremely important that your pet remains calm and quiet for the first 24 hours after surgery.
There should be no running, jumping, or rough play for 10 days.
E-collar must be worn for a minimum of 10 days (24 hours a day to ensure the surgical site is not disturbed). You may need to raise the food and water bowls so your pet can access them.
Keep your pet away from other pets and children for the first 24 hours after surgery.
No bathing for 10 days to allow for proper healing of the incision.
Dogs must have short leash walks only for bathroom breaks
Owned cats should remain inside only for 10 days following surgery.
Feral/Community Cats should be kept in a climate controlled area out of the weather for 24 hours and then released in the area they were trapped.
If the surgical team notices this while pets are in our care we will place an e-collar on your pet to prevent this behavior. You will be charged at pick up for the e-collar.
You may purchase an e-collar from Animal Friends or a local pet store prior to surgery.
If you did not receive an e-collar and notice your pet is licking or chewing at their incision please stop them from doing so and purchase an e-collar immediately.
Licking/chewing leads to infection and delays healing. Animal Friends is not responsible for treating infections/further surgery needed due to incisional disruption from the patient.
An abdominal incision is made where the uterus and both ovaries are removed. Dissolvable sutures are placed in the body wall and skin. Skin glue is applied to add another protective layer.
An incision is made over each testicle. The testicle is removed from each side and the incisions are left to close on their own, which normally happens in 1-2 days.
An incision is made between the penis where the scrotum and both testicles are removed. Dissolvable suture is placed in the body wall and skin. Skin glue is applied to add another protective layer.
Female cats receive an injection of Simbadol that lasts for 24 hours. Female cats are then started on oral Onsior tablets for 3 days after surgery.
Male cats receive an injection of Simbadol, which lasts 24 hours. Male cats are then started on oral Onsior tablets for 3 days after surgery.
Female and male feral cats receive a higher injection of Simbadol during surgery. Feral cats are then started on oral Onsior tablets for 1 day the morning before being released.
Male and Female dogs receive a prescription of Carprofen, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, at a twice daily dosing for 4 days. With this medication it is essential that the patient receive the medication with or after a full meal to prevent GI ulceration.
If the patient has vomiting, diarrhea, dark tarry stools or refuses to eat discontinue the medication and call your local vet or Animal Friends at 412.865.9831 for further instructions.
Keep cat in its trap. The trap should be covered with a sheet and placed inside for the night. Place towels, newspaper or a pee pad under the trap to absorb any urine or feces. Small spots of blood on the cage pad or small amounts of bleeding from the tipped ear can be normal. Redness or swelling at the surgery site should be minimal. Do NOT attempt to pick up the feral cat to check its incision.
Cats can be fed the evening of surgery. Kittens should be fed shortly after waking up as long as they can hold up their heads. Feed canned food, since it’s also a source of water. Lift the trap door only high enough to fit food into the trap. For cats likely to bolt, drop food through the wires of the trap.
If you have a trap fork use it to pin the cat into one end of the trap. Then you can safely clean the trap and feed the cat. To use the fork: Line up the prongs with the openings at the top of the trap and ease it down to section the cat off to one side of the trap.
This means that your male pet had undescended testicles. A second abdominal or inguinal (groin) incision was made to locate the undescended testicle. Recovery time may be prolonged if this procedure was performed.
K9 Advantix is toxic to cats while it’s drying. Cats should be kept away from dogs (no licking/grooming dogs or sleeping side by side) for 48 hours until the liquid dries. Pets can co-mingle again after 48 hours.
Adult fleas are killed within 1 hour. This is given when a patient has a severe flea infestation. It does not prevent further infestations or kill any other stage of fleas. Patients may also receive a flea preventative such as revolution or K9 advantix.
For ideal immunity the immune system needs to be exposed to new things multiple times. The vaccines that require boostering have been studied to be most effective if boostered in 3-4 weeks following initial vaccination. Certain vaccines will need to be repeated every 1-3 years for the extent of the pet’s life.
You can get your pets boosters at one of our Low-Cost Vaccine Clinics.
No! The rabies vaccine incites a very strong immune response that only one initial vaccination is required for proper immunity. Rabies vaccines need updated every 1-3 years as mandated by state law.
Normal behavior post-op includes deep sleeping, head bobbing, wobbly movements and shivering. Feral cats can be released 1 day post-op as long as they are awake, alert, standing/sitting up and able to move normally. The cat may disappear or not be seen for a few days after release. Continue the normal feeding schedule even if the cat is not seen.
