Getting Started
With Pets In Stitches
We created Pets In Stitches as an all-inclusive surgery center, focused on excellence, your pet’s quick recovery and affordability. Our state-of-the-art facility places your pet’s needs and safety at the center of our mission. Our friendly staff is highly trained and professional, answering any of your questions about surgery or your pet’s well-being. Below you'll find the four steps to getting started!
Request an Appointment
The first step to getting started is choosing a day that’s most convenient for you and calling to schedule an appointment: 937-630-3320. You can also fill out our convenient Appointment Request Form. Once we’ve received your request, we’ll call you within one business day to confirm your date and share some preoperative instructions.
We are open at 8:00am Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday by appointment only.
In addition, we are now offering a new payment option for getting started, CareCredit. Check it out!
Prior To Your Visit
To save time during admissions, we recommend you complete your pet’s admission form online.
Day of Appointment
"Of course, I’m up bright and early. I think we’re going somewhere today. My human filled my water bowl but my food bowl is empty. Huh?"
Please arrive between 8:00 to 8:30 am (dogs) and 8:30 to 9:00 am (cats and bunnies) for a convenient check-in for your pets. We start early in the morning, so your pet is not without food longer than necessary.
Please complete your pet’s admission form online. Also, if you have an up-to-date rabies vaccine, email a copy of your rabies certificate (not tag) to contact@petsinstitches.com or bring with your vaccination certificate the morning of the procedure.
The adult owner listed on the pre-surgery form must be present at admissions unless prior arrangements have been made with Pets In Stitches.
Consider taking your dog for walk before you arrive since they will be in a kennel all day. Giving your pet some extra loving this morning will help calm their nerves. Check out our post, How to Ease Your Dog’s Separation Anxiety While Away for more helpful tips!
Free-roaming cats may be brought in before noon, without an appointment and without vaccination papers.
“Uh oh! They left me in the car. I hope my human doesn’t take long.”
When you arrive at the clinic, please leave your pet in the car until you have completed all paperwork. We make the check-in process very quick, especially if you have completed the forms beforehand. At this time, we will collect payment. This allows you to concentrate on the post-surgery instructions at pick-up. For your convenience, we accept cash, credit, debit cards and Care Credit. We do not accept personal checks. As a small, locally owned business, cash payment is appreciated most!
“Go time! My human is back and we are headed inside. I wonder what this is all about?”
Dogs must be on a leash or in a carrier for their safety.
Cats must be in a carrier also for their safety. Cats may be together in one carrier for admissions. However, cats must have their own carrier when they go home. Cardboard carriers can be purchased from Pets In Stitches for a minimal cost.
A staff member will weigh your pet and check their vitals. The veterinarian will perform a brief physical exam to assess their fitness for surgery. At this time, you may leave. Don’t worry. Your pet is in good hands.
“I know my human wants the best for me and the people here are really nice. This won’t be so bad.”
We do want the best for your pets, just as you do. We make sure there are no signs of illness and no concerns before we proceed with the spaying or neutering surgery. If your pet shows signs of illness or if there are any concerns, surgery may be postponed and you will be contacted to pick up your pet. This would only be considered if it’s in the best interest of your pet.
At The Clinic
"What’s that smell? Oh, now I’m getting really sleepy…"
Many steps are taken to keep your pet pain-free, both during and after surgery. We use isoflurane anesthesia and hospital-grade monitors to evaluate tissue oxygenation, heart rate and respiratory rate. Isoflurane is one of the safest gas anesthesia used for pets. Local and regional nerve blocks are used on all patients for long-term pain control.
Our highly skilled and compassionate professional staff monitors your pet throughout the procedure. The spaying or neutering surgery is performed by an efficient and experienced surgeon. We have taken every precaution to assure a rapid recovery for your pet.
Pets In Stitches also focuses on minimizing the risk of infection. Each pet has its own sterilized surgical pack for surgery and our facility and equipment are cleaned thoroughly on a regular basis. Our surgical suite looks and acts very similar to a human hospital.
“Mmmmmm… warm…”
As your pet regains consciousness, they’ll find themselves waking up on “The Beach.” Our popular padded area is warmed, keeping our patients comfortable after surgery. Often they will fade in and out of sleep in this cozy area – some staying for quite awhile! We monitor their pain levels and move them as needed.
After Surgery
"I hope my human comes soon. As nice as the people are here, I’m tired and ready to go home. Yawn! Seeing my human always makes me feel better."
Pets are released between 4:00 and 4:45 p.m. on the same day of surgery. Please plan to arrive on time with your carrier or leash so we can release your pet to you. They are just as anxious as you are to go home!
“My human is here! I can’t wait to get home and curl up in my space. I wonder if I’ll get a treat?”
When you pick up your pet, you will receive postoperative care instructions and any needed medications. We will inform you of any conditions or medical issues the veterinarian may have found during examination. These concerns may need to be shared with your regular full-service veterinary clinic. For more information on Postoperative Care for your pet checkout the links below:
You can also read up on Hank’s Surgery & Recovery case study and our blog post, Pet Care After Spay or Neuter.
If your pet was vaccinated for the first time, you may have to complete the vaccination series in 3-4 weeks by scheduling an appointment with us on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday. Let us know when we are scheduling the surgery and we can plan ahead and schedule the boosters as well. This will keep your pet in optimal health.
Your pet will be tired and tender for the next few days. Allow them to rest, making sure they are not disrupting their incision by licking or scratching. Confinement in a cage or a small room is best with short leash walks for elimination. Make sure you are adequately addressing their pain with the provided medication. Go-home anxiety medication is available for dogs if your dog wants to run and play more than they should for the first seven days after surgery.
But if you have any concerns or the surgery area appears red and inflamed, please call or text us immediately at 937-630-3320.
Getting Started FAQs
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.
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.
Do you offer payment plans?
Yes, we now offer a payment plan via CareCredit.
Do you accept pet insurance plans?
Pet Insurance does not work like human insurance. Vet clinics do not process insurance. The pet parent collects and submits invoices and paperwork on their own after they’ve already paid full price for services. The insurance comes in a reimbursement form to the pet parent.
Interested in more frequently asked questions? View more
Come. Stay. Heal.
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Listen to Your Pets
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"Our family had a great experience at Pets in Stitches! Our rabbits, Dinky and Winky, were so well-taken care of and I could tell the staff really cared about their well-being. The staff was so attentive to their needs, calling several times to check on them and exhibited a great deal of patience with answering our questions."
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"I was VERY pleased with the service! Your staff was exceptionally friendly and answered ALL our questions with utmost courtesy. And when we walked in to the facility, the first thing I noticed was how clean and fresh everything looked . . . and smelled! Your pricing was up-front and very reasonable, too."
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"When I took Tootsie to Pets In Stitches, I was instantly impressed with how friendly and professional the staff was. When I went to pick her up, the entire staff was admiring how sweet she was, and telling me about how they’d had her out to cuddle her and let her walk around. This instantly blew me away… I loved that the staff were true animal lovers, and made sure the animals felt safe and happy during their recovery."