Urgent Care Request

In need of urgent care?

We can assist your pet with urgent care needs. Take a look below at services we can provide.

Eye, ear and skin problems, anal gland scooting and licking, mild pain, weakness, lameness, minor bites, wounds, lacerations, and burns, urinary problems, coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge, lumps and bumps, fleas, ticks and mites, worms, broken toenail and euthanasia.

Please note these are by appointment only.

For Emergency Care: If you believe your pet is experiencing a life-threatening medical emergency, please take your pet directly to a 24/7 emergency and specialty hospital. Emergencies should contact or go DIRECTLY to an emergency veterinary clinic. Check out MedVet Dayton and Care Center Dayton.

 

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Pets in Stitches

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Open at 7:30am
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday

8265 Springboro Pike
Miamisburg, Ohio 45324

937-630-3320

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Postoperative Care

For Your Dog

Surgeries Wellness Care Dental Care Urgent Care

Overview

Below you’ll find all of the information you need to prepare for postoperative care for your dog. We’ve also included frequently asked questions and related blog posts.

In general, Pets In Stitches will recheck your dog at no charge for complications resulting directly from surgery. There could be a charge for medications or an Elizabethan collar, if needed. Please be aware that some complications must be referred elsewhere. When in doubt, just give us a call text or send us a note and we will point you in the right direction.

Use these quick links to navigate to specific sections.

Spay or Neuter Care

Dr. Rastetter shares what all to expect in videos for both males and females. In addition, please read the following:

  • Please keep females that were in heat away from non-neutered males for two (2) weeks. While they are unable to become pregnant, they will still attract males. If a male attempts to breed the female, it can cause life-threatening damage to the female.
  • Male dogs can still impregnate a female dog for up to one month after surgery.

General Care

  • It is very important to limit your dog’s activity for the next seven (7) days. Keep your dog quiet in a cage or a small room like a bathroom. No running, jumping, playing, or swimming. Very short leash walks for elimination only are allowed.
  • If you are having difficulty keeping your dog inactive, please contact us regarding purchasing go-home anti-anxiety medication. If your dog is active, complications can occur such as failure of the internal sutures with life-threatening herniation or painful swelling at the surgical site.
  • Your dog may or may not want to eat but should be eating by the morning after surgery.
  • Your dog must be kept indoors to stay clean, dry, and warm. Do not bathe your dog during the recovery period.
  • Side effects of anesthesia include sleepiness, mild disorientation, and extreme response to normal stimuli. You dog may be a little agitated or aggressive because of anesthesia. For this reason, we recommend isolating your dog from children and other pets.

Incision Care

  • Check the incision site daily for the next seven (7) days. Redness and swelling should be minimal but can occur for a few days after surgery. Males may appear as if they still have testicles. This is normal swelling that will decrease gradually.
  • There should be no drainage. Expect slight bleeding from the scrotum of a neutered male for the first 24 hours.
  • Do not allow your dog to lick or chew at the incision. Your dog must wear the postoperative collar for at least one week, especially when unsupervised. If the collar is removed and the incision damaged, this is considered self-trauma and Pets In Stitches will not cover your costs to treat complications such as surgical site destruction, infection, or swelling which can require emergency care.
  • No suture removal is necessary since incisions are held together with dissolvable sutures or glue.
  • Do not clean or apply topical ointment to the incision site.

Healing Process

The following photos are visual examples of what you should encounter after surgery and days after having your dog spayed or neutered. If you see anything that looks unusual or you are concerned about, please don’t hesitate to give us a call.

View Photos of Normal Female Dogs
White, female spayed dog on her second day of recovery
A female spayed dog with slight redness at incision site.
Brown, female spayed dog on her first day of recovery
White, female spayed dog on her second day after surgery
Light brown, female spay dog on third day of recovery
Black and tan, female spayed dog on fourth day of recovery
Black, female spayed dog on her second day of recovery
Brown, female spayed dog on her fourth day of recovery
View Photos of Normal Male Dogs
A male neutered dog with a slightly gaping incision
A male neutered dog two days after surgery
A male neutered dog with swelling of the scrotal sac
A male neutered dog with slight gapping of incision spot

The following photos are visual examples of improperly healing surgical sites after having your pet spayed or neutered. If your pet surgery was performed at Pets In Stitches, please contact us if your pet’s incision looks like any of these pictures.

View Photos of Abnormal Female Dogs
A female spayed dog with an inflamed and infected incision.
A female spayed dog with an abscess at the surgery site
A female spayed dog where the incision edges has moved causing an overlap.
A female spayed day with an incision where the edges have moved.
View Photos of Abnormal Male Dogs
A male neutered dog with significant swelling
A male neutered dog with significant swelling where you can see the scrotal sac
A male neutered dog with redness at the surgical site
A male neutered dog with a swollen scrotum
A male neutered dog with a reddened scrotum
A male neutered dog with reddening and bleeding
A male neutered dog with bruising and bleeding around the scrotal sac
A male neutered dog with bruising on the scrotal sac
A male neutered dog with a raw, red lesion
A male neutered dog with redness and swelling of the surgical site

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do to keep my dog/cat from licking his/her incision?

You may purchase a post-surgery collar or body suit from us.

Should I be worried that my dog/cat is licking his/her incision?

Yes. Please bring them in so we can check their incision. We are available for rechecks Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday with an appointment or follow the emergency contact instructions on your Postoperative Care Instruction sheet.

What is the green mark on my pet?

A small tattoo is the best way to identify your pet has been spayed or neutered. It is standard procedure for sterilization surgeries.

What is the recovery period like?

The recovery period is seven to ten days. You need to restrict their activity and keep them indoors. You also want to watch their incision closely. We will give you Postoperative Care Instructions when you pick up your pet.

Is the procedure painful?

Surgery is performed under general anesthesia with additional pain medication administered by a licensed Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. The animal is asleep during the procedure and may experience mild discomfort after surgery. Most animals return to normal activity within 24 to 72 hours. Pain medication is also sent home.

How old do animals have to be to be spayed or neutered?

We recommend five months of age for cats and and rabbits. The decision for dogs, especially large and giant breed dogs, can be a little more complicated. Please read our blog for more information. Please call us to discuss your individual situation and we will help guide you.

Is the surgery safe?

With any surgical procedure, there is always risk but we take every step possible to protect your pet. Your pet will be constantly monitored in person as well as with specialized monitoring equipment during surgery. Pets In Stitches uses an anesthetic protocol that is widely accepted in our field. A licensed veterinarian performs the surgery while the pet is under full anesthesia. Your pet will stay at our clinic for the day so we will be able to observe them during recovery.

Related Blogs

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Preventing Future Problems in Male Dogs

May 24, 2021

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Pet Care After Spay or Neuter

May 7, 2021

Ovary Sparing Spay or Vasectomy Care

  • Your dog received a green tattoo on their abdomen. This procedure identifies a dog as sterilized.
  • Sex hormones remain and, thus, your dog will act, for all intents and purposes, as an intact dog minus the ability to become pregnant or sire a litter. Females need to be monitored closely for mammary masses which, if they occur, should be evaluated immediately by your full-service veterinarian.
  • Vasectomies have a small chance of failure and, if that occurs, your male dog may sire puppies. You may have collections of reproductive fluids performed at your full-service veterinarians to determine success of vasectomy after three months. Until that is determined, please do not allow him access to females in season.
  • Male dogs can still impregnate a female dog for up to one month after surgery.
  • Your dog will received pain medication at the time of surgery and some to be administered at home in food.

General Care

  • Please contact us immediately if you notice any of the following: pale gums, vomiting, diarrhea, discharge or bleeding from the incision, difficulty urinating, incision opens, labored breathing, lethargy lasting for more than 24 hours.
  • It is very important to limit your dog’s activity for the next seven (7) days. Keep your dog quiet in a cage or a small room like a bathroom. No running, jumping, playing, or swimming. Very short leash walks for elimination only are allowed.
  • If you are having difficulty keeping your dog inactive, please contact us regarding purchasing go-home anti-anxiety medication. If your dog is active, complications can occur such as failure of the internal sutures with life-threatening herniation or painful swelling at the surgical site.
  • The anti-anxiety medication does not take the place of physically confining your dog. If your pet is too sedated after administration, administer a lower dose.
  • Feed as normal the night of surgery. Your dog may or may not want to eat but should be eating by the morning after surgery.
  • Your dog must be kept indoors to stay clean, dry, and warm. Do not bathe your dog during the recovery period.
  • Side effects of anesthesia include sleepiness, mild disorientation, and extreme response to normal stimuli. You dog may be a little agitated or aggressive because of anesthesia. For this reason, we recommend isolating your dog from children and other pets.

Incision Care

  • Check the incision site daily for the next seven (7) days. Redness and swelling should be minimal but can occur for a few days after surgery. This is normal swelling that will decrease gradually.
  • There should be no drainage.
  • Do not allow your dog to lick or chew at the incision. Your dog must wear the postoperative collar for at least one week, especially when unsupervised. If the collar is removed and the incision damaged, this is considered self-trauma and Pets In Stitches will not cover your costs to treat complications such as surgical site destruction, infection, or swelling which can require emergency care.
  • If your dog allows, apply ice to their surgical site for 10 to 15 minutes several times a day for the first 48 hours. This will help reduce pain and swelling.
  • No suture removal is necessary since incisions are held together with dissolvable sutures or glue.
  • Do not clean or apply topical ointment to the incision site.

Healing Process

The following photos are visual examples of what you should encounter after surgery and days after having your dog spayed or neutered. If you see anything that looks unusual or you are concerned about, please don’t hesitate to give us a call.

View Photos of Normal Female Dogs
White, female spayed dog on her second day of recovery
A female spayed dog with slight redness at incision site.
Brown, female spayed dog on her first day of recovery
White, female spayed dog on her second day after surgery
Tan, female spay dog on third day of recovery
Light brown, female spay dog on third day of recovery
Black and tan, female spayed dog on fourth day of recovery
Black, female spayed dog on her second day of recovery
Brown, female spayed dog on her fourth day of recovery
View Photos of Normal Male Dogs
A male neutered dog with a slightly gaping incision
A male neutered dog two days after surgery
A male neutered dog with swelling of the scrotal sac
A male neutered dog with slight gapping of incision spot

The following photos are visual examples of improperly healing surgical sites after having your pet spayed or neutered. If your pet surgery was performed at Pets In Stitches, please contact us if your pet’s incision looks like any of these pictures.

View Photos of Abnormal Female Dogs
A female spayed dog with an inflamed and infected incision.
A female spayed dog with an abscess at the surgery site
A female spayed dog where the incision edges has moved causing an overlap.
A female spayed day with an incision where the edges have moved.
View Photos of Abnormal Male Dogs
A male neutered dog with significant swelling
A male neutered dog with significant swelling where you can see the scrotal sac
A male neutered dog with redness at the surgical site
A male neutered dog with a swollen scrotum
A male neutered dog with a reddened scrotum
A male neutered dog with reddening and bleeding
A male neutered dog with bruising and bleeding around the scrotal sac
A male neutered dog with bruising on the scrotal sac
A male neutered dog with a raw, red lesion
A male neutered dog with redness and swelling of the surgical site

Frequently Asked Questions

Is alternative sterilization as effective as traditional spay and neuter?

Effective depends on what your goals are. The removal of sex hormones can both increase and reduce risk for various medical and behavioral conditions. The decision to traditionally vs alternatively sterilize is not a simple one and different factors such as age, breed, expected growth size, household environment, other dogs in the home, and behavior influence the decision.

Is there an ideal time for alternative sterilization in a pet’s lifespan?

We recommend performing alternative sterilizations at the same recommended age of traditional sterilization – between 6 to 8 months of age depending on pet size.

Should I be worried that my dog/cat is licking his/her incision?

Yes. Please bring them in so we can check their incision. We are available for rechecks Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday with an appointment or follow the emergency contact instructions on your Postoperative Care Instruction sheet.

What should I do to keep my dog/cat from licking his/her incision?

You may purchase a post-surgery collar or body suit from us.

Can you perform the spay surgery while they’re pregnant?

Yes. The surgery will terminate the pregnancy. There will be additional  charges if later in the pregnancy. This fee covers the cost of the required supportive fluids to prevent complications and the extra time the surgery entails. You can see these fees on our Pet Services page.

Dog Services

Cat Services

What is the green mark on my pet?

A small tattoo is the best way to identify your pet has been spayed or neutered. It is standard procedure for sterilization surgeries.

What is the recovery period like?

The recovery period is seven to ten days. You need to restrict their activity and keep them indoors. You also want to watch their incision closely. We will give you Postoperative Care Instructions when you pick up your pet.

Related Blogs

Pets in Stitches Logo

Alternative Sterilization vs. Spay/Neuter

August 17, 2020

Pets in Stitches Logo

Why Spay Surgery is Important for the Health of Pets and the Community

February 27, 2017

Pets in Stitches Logo

Beyond the Spay or Neuter: Hormone Sparing Pet Sterilizations

June 27, 2016

Dental Care

General Care

  • Please contact us immediately if you notice any of the following: pale gums, vomiting, diarrhea, labored breathing, or lethargy lasting for more than 24 hours.
  • Feed as normal after surgery. Your pet might not want to eat right away but should be eating by the morning after surgery. Offering canned food or moistening dry food with water to soften can be helpful.
  • Side effects of anesthesia include sleepiness, mild disorientation, and extreme response to normal stimuli. Your pet may be a little agitated or aggressive due to the effects of anesthesia. For this reason, we recommend isolating your pet from children and other pets.
  • Your pet has received pain medication during the dental and, if extractions were performed, some to be administered at home.

Incision Care

  • If your pet has extractions with sutures placed, check the incision sites daily for the next seven (7) days to make sure the incision edges haven’t separated. If a follow up appointment is needed, we will let you know at your pick up time.
  • If extractions were performed, please feed soft food and no chew toys, rawhides, or mouth play for seven (7) days. Do not change your pet’s diet as it may cause GI upset. If your pet eats dry food, just soak dry food in warm water for half an hour.
  • Dentals are very safe surgeries; however, complications can occur. Minimal discomfort should resolve within several days. If discomfort persists longer, please contact us.

Frequently Asked Questions

What forms of dental surgery do you offer?

Routine scale and polish, extractions, excessive gum growth removed.

What forms of payments do you take?

We accept cash, credit cards or debit cards and Care Credit. We do not accept personal checks.

A 4% service fee is applied to all sales. We do offer a full discount on this service fee to customers who pay with cash.

Why can you provide surgical services at a cost less than most full-service practices?

Pets in Stitches is a streamlined practice. Unlike a private veterinarian who provides a full medical service, we are focused on one single service, i.e. quality surgeries. Pets In Stitches performs surgery along with basic vaccinations and testing only. With our singular focus, we can better maintain our overhead costs, making it more affordable.

If my pet is showing signs of illness, should I postpone surgery or vaccinations?

Please call us. Some conditions do not interfere with surgery and some do require surgery be delayed.

Related Blogs

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Safest Types of Dog Chews & Bones

August 30, 2021

Pets in Stitches Logo

A Healthier Mouth for a Happier Pup

January 28, 2021

Pets in Stitches Logo

The Truth of the Matter: Periodontal Disease In Pets

February 28, 2019

Pets in Stitches Logo

How Pet Dental Health is Integral to Overall Wellness

February 2, 2017

Use these quick links to navigate to specific sections.

  • Overview
  • Spay or Neuter Care
  • Ovary Sparing Spay or Vasectomy Care
  • Dental Care

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