Pre-Operative Instructions: Dogs and Cats

If your dog or cat has been booked in for an operation with us, please follow the instructions detailed below.

Important:  If your pet has been unwell (e.g. vomiting or diarrhoea,), or his/her condition has changed between booking the appointment and coming into the surgery, please let us know on admission.

• Please with-hold food from 10pm the night before the operation (unless specified otherwise from your vet, example diabetic patients).  This is to prevent your pet from vomiting whilst under anaesthetic or sedative which is potentially dangerous to him/her. Food can also affect the results of blood samples.  This also includes treats and doggie biscuits.
• Please leave your pet with access to water right up until leaving to come into the surgery in the morning. There is no need to with-hold water.
• For dogs: take them out to the toilet before bringing them in for the admission appointment.
• For cats: Shut cats in overnight before an operation and leave them with access to a clean litter tray.
• For any pets receiving a surgical procedure, we strongly recommend that your pet is clean but notbathed for 48 hours before their surgery. This will greatly reduce the risk of wound infections for your pet.
• At the time of booking the operation, you will have been given an appointment slot to drop off your pet. Please come along for this time and allow 15-20 minutes to go through the consent form and paperwork before admission.
• You will be asked to leave us with a contact number when you leave your pet. It is vital that you are contactable on this number for the whole time that your pet is staying with us.  Please give alternative contact numbers if necessary.
• One of our Veterinary Nurses will telephone you when your pet’s operation has been finished, to let you know how it went and to confirm a time for you to come along and collect your pet that afternoon/evening.
• If you have any questions in advance of your visit, please telephone the surgery on 01324 829989.
• If you are unable to make your appointment, please let us know up to 24 hours before and we will happily reschedule for you. Unless there are exceptional circumstances, any unattended appointments or cancellations within 24 hours of an appointment may be charged a cancellation fee.