Des Plaines Family Pet Clinic Home Page

For all surgical and anesthetic procedures your pet should be on an empty stomach for at least 12 hours prior and should not be given any food or water until at least 6-8 hours following the procedure. When you pick up your pet following surgery, you will be given specific instructions to ensure your pet's full recovery

General Information:
Scratching with the front claws is normal, instinctive behavior for cats. The purpose of this activity is to remove old, worn fragments of nails. Though scratching is normal for cats, this behaviour can be destructive and costly at home. For many cat owners, declawing is the only solution. A declawed cat should be confined indoors, since the claws are it's primary means of defence. A house cat has little need for defence and is a more suitable house pet because it can no longer ruin furniture or scratch people.

Surgical Procedure:
Declawing (onychectomy) is performed under general anesthesia and consists of surgical removal of the nail bed. The feet are usually bandage, and the cat me be hospitalized briefly. After the bandages are removed, your pet will be able to walk normally, though tenderness may be evident for a few days..
Home Care:
1. Exercise: Restricting exercise is difficult, however, you should prevent your cat from jumping as much as possible for the first 14 days.
2. Bleeding: Occasionally a cat breaks open one of the small scabs where the nail was removed. A few drops of blood followed by a rapid cessation of bleeding is normal. Call the doctor if the bleeding persists.
3. Litter Box: Follow the instructions from your veterinarian.

Castration is the surgical removal of the testicles. Such surgery is performed to eliminate sexual activities and render the dog sterile. Castration usually, but not always, reduces a dog's tendency to roam and fight. The general level of aggression may also be reduced. However, castration is not a replacement for obedience training by the owner. Your pet will be given a preoperative physical examination to help ensure its safety during anesthesia and surgery. Recovery is generally uneventful, the hospital stay is short, and aftercare is minimal. All neutered dogs will be sent home with an e-collar which should be used for the entire recovery period.

1. Check the incision site every day for heat, pain, redness, swelling, or oozing. If this is observed, please call our clinic for further instruction.
2. Do not allow your pet to lick at his incision as this will impede the healing process. If this is occurring, please call us to get an Elizabethan collar to prevent licking.
3. Watch for signs of lethargy, depression, weakness, and loss of appetite as these signs can be early indicators of infection. Please all us sooner rather than later.
4. Exercise should be restricted for 48 hours after surgery. No running or jumping. 5. Do not bathe your pet for 10 days after surgery.
6. Arrange for an appointment for a re-check and sutures to be removed (at no charge) in 10 days after surgery.

Ovariohysterectomy is the medical term for spaying female dogs. The procedure consists of surgical removal of the ovaries and the uterus. If ovaries are not removed, the bothersome heat periods still occur even though pregnancy is impossible. Surgery is usually performed at 5-9 months of age. Prevention of pregnancy and heat periods is the main reason for the surgery, but the procedure is also performed in treating severe uterine infections, ovarian and uterine cancer, and some skin disorders.

1. Check the incision site every day for heat, pain, redness, swelling, or oozing. If this is observed, please call our clinic for further instruction.
2. Do not allow your pet to lick at her incision as this will impede the healing process. If this is occurring, please call us to get an Elizabethan collar to prevent licking.
3. Watch for signs of lethargy, depression, weakness, and loss of appetite as these signs can be early indicators of infection. Please all us sooner rather than later.
4. Exercise should be restricted for 10 days after surgery to leash walks only. No running or jumping.
5. Do not bathe your pet for 10 days after surgery.
6. Arrange for an appointment for a re-check and sutures to be removed (at no charge) in 10 days after surgery.

Castration is the surgical removal of the testicles. The main advantages of neutering are that the tendencies toward aggression and roaming (especially when around females in season) are lessened. When a cat is castrated just before sexual maturity at 6-8 months of age, his sexual instincts are reduced, and he becomes sterile. However, castrated cats may still want to go outdoors to hunt. The objectionable urine odor of the mature male cat and the tendency to "spray" with urine is also reduced.
Your pet is given a preoperative physical examination to help ensure his safety during anesthesia and surgery. The operation is performed under general anesthesia. Recovery is generally uneventful, the hospital stay is short and aftercare is minimal. There are no sutures to be removed. First the patient is placed under a short anesthesia. Then, using sterile technique, two incisions are made in each scrotum and each testicle is removed while taking care to ligate (meaning to tie off) all of the blood vessels. Once the patient is fully awake and mobile they are free to go home.

1. Check the scrotal area each day for swelling, oozing, or irritation. If this is observed, please call our clinic for further instructions.
2. Watch for signs of lethargy, depression, weakness, and loss of appetite as these signs can be early indicators of infection. Please call us sooner rather than later.
3. Do not bathe your pet for 10 days after surgery.
4. There are no sutures that will require removal.

General Information:

Ovariohysterectomy is the medical term for spaying female cats. The procedure consists of surgical removal of the ovaries and uterus. If ovaries are not removed, the bothersome heat periods still occur even though pregnancy is impossible. Surgery is usually performed at 5 months of age.
Prevention of pregnancy and heat periods is the main reason for the surgery, but the procedure is also performed in treating severe uterine infections, ovarian and uterine cancer, and some skin disorders.

Home Care:

1. Check the incision site every day for heat, pain, redness, swelling or oozing. If this is observed, please call our clinic for further instruction.
2. Do not allow your pet to lick at her incision as this will impede the healing process. If this is happening, please call us to get an Elizabethan collar to prevent licking.
3. Watch for signs of lethargy, depression, weakness, and loss of appetite as these signs can be early indicators of infection. Please call us sooner rather than later.
4. Exercise should be restricted for 10 days post-operatively.
5. Do not bathe your pet for 10 days after surgery
6. Check with your veterinarian about whether you will be required to bring your pet back for a re-check and suture removal 10 days after surgery.