Surgeries
Spays & Neuters
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| FERAL/Unowned community CAT spay/neuter package-includes 3 in 1 vaccine, flea/earmite treatment, and a MANDATORY ear tip. Animals must arrive in a trap. | $35 |
| Cat spay/neuter (includes 3 in 1 vaccine and e-collar) | 60 |
| Dog neuters under 75 lbs. (includes e-collar) | 115 |
| Large dog (over 75 lbs.) Dogs over 75 lbs. can only be scheduled for the Ionia location. | $35 additional charge |
Cat Surgery Guidelines:
For spay/neuter, cats must be at least 2 months old and weigh at least 2 pounds, and be healthy.
Dog Surgery Guidelines:
For the general public we typically only do dog neuters. Puppies must be at least 2 months old, weigh at least 3 lbs., and be healthy. Dogs must be friendly and non-aggressive.
Additional Surgeries
Surgery Information
Check-in time for all animals is listed on the schedule. Your payment is due at the time of check-in.
If we find additional health concerns during our examination of your pet we will contact you and payment will be due at pickup. We accept cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express.
PLEASE LEAVE DOGS IN THE CAR UNTIL INSTRUCTED TO BRING THEM IN.
Cats MUST be in secure carriers AND have a small towel inside it (accidents happen!!). We are not responsible for animals who get loose or lost due to inadequate or unsafe carriers. Do not place beds or thick fluffy items inside of carriers! Animals can suffocate in them from the anesthesia. Carriers need to be clean (minus traveling “accidents”)–your pet is having surgery and will leave here with incisions that can become infected from dirty carriers!
All dogs MUST have a well-fitting collar/harness and leash.
For all cats, and dogs under 6 months: If your animal is under 6 months, you do not need to restrict food or water. Kittens and puppies can have dangerously low blood sugar levels if food is restricted before surgery.
For dogs 6 months and older: Please give them 1/3-1/2 their normal breakfast meal, ideally before 7am. Newer, updated research indicates fasting overnight is not necessary and can prolong the recovery from anesthesia. Water is always fine.
POST-SURGICAL INFORMATION
- Food and water is fine.
- They may not be interested in food after surgery.
- If they eat tonight they may vomit, in which case don’t give additional food until morning.
- They will likely return to normal eating the day after surgery.
- Anesthesia side effects!
- Shaking, whining, and restlessness are normal side effects of the anesthesia drugs.
- These symptoms generally dissipate within 24 hours.
- Pain medication was administered by injection today.
- Don’t give additional pain medication or any over-the-counter pain medications unless directed to by a veterinarian.
- Unless directed otherwise by your veterinarian, continue to give your pet any other medication it is on, per its usual schedule.
For the Next 10 Days
**Wear the e-collar!!**
- Limit their activity.
- Leash walks only.
- No running, jumping or climbing.
- No baths or swimming
- Indoor/outdoor animals should be kept in a clean and warm environment, and all pets should be watched carefully for at least 24 hours after surgery.
- Check the incision twice daily, once in the morning and again at night.
- Some swelling is normal.
- Female cats may develop a seroma or suture reaction over the next week and a half. They usually resolve over time and don’t require treatment. It is rare for cats to herniate their incision.
- Prevent licking of the incision. All female cats are sent home with an e-collar, unless they are small kittens. For small kittens, you can MAKE e-collars out of paper plates: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1A5tzFwRqk
- The sutures used in the incision are dissolvable and don’t need to be removed.
FAQ
We offer many routine surgeries such as: umbilical hernia repair, dentals, ear hematomas, degloving injuries, tail amputations, wound care, enucleations, pyometras, entropion (eyelid) procedures, cystotomies (bladder stone removal), small mass removals, etc. We also will do “unblocking” emergencies for male cats.
We do not do trauma-related surgeries or bone fractures. Price depends on the size of animal, type of surgery, etc. We do not declaw cats.
We have full gas anesthesia equipment, autoclave for instrument sterilization, surgical monitoring including Doppler for blood pressure, dental machine, dental x-ray, chemistry analyzer, and the standard supplies and equipment you’d see at most clinics. For other blood work and urinalysis testing we send it to a lab and have the results in 1-2 days. We can provide the same testing capabilities of any veterinary facility.
Surgeries are performed under the guidelines by the Association of Shelter Veterinarians’ Veterinary Task Force to Advance Spay/Neuter. This is the gold standard for spay/neuter protocols.
Spay/Neuter Guidelines
Feline Anesthesia Guidelines
Per the spay/neuter guidelines, pre-surgical blood work is deemed ideal and recommended, but not necessary for most patients. Blood work may pick up underlying liver/kidney/other issues, but rarely is it so severe as to affect the choice of whether or not to go ahead with surgery. All anesthesia has a risk. If you would prefer your pet receive pre-surgical blood work, contact us ahead of time or see your veterinarian to have it scheduled. We can send out a full panel of blood work for $100. Arrangements must be made to do this at least 48 hours before the surgery.
Flea check, nail trim, physical exam, and pain medication.
Why Us?
There are now 3-4 low-cost spay/neuter places in the area to take your pet. What makes us different? We are the only group that provides 3 days of pain medication to female cats and includes e-collars in the cost of the surgery. How is this better for you and your pet? The obvious is your pet experiences less pain and discomfort post-surgery. E-collars significantly decrease the chance of infection post-surgery–which is when most infections occur. All too often animals lick their incisions, try to pull the sutures out, etc., and the owner ends up with a sick cat or an expensive trip to the ER. We decided that it’s in all of our best interests to send every female surgery patient, and large males, home with an e-collar.