Your female cat or dog can still be spayed if she is in heat, possibly pregnant, or obviously pregnant. Unless you have personal or ethical objections to moving forward with the procedure, there is no need to cancel or reschedule your appointment. In most cases, we can still safely do the spay surgery.

If your cat or dog is pregnant, there may be an additional fee for the surgery. For questions about fees, please see our price list or contact our office for more information. If you choose to cancel an appointment due to your pet being pregnant, you can be refunded or rescheduled. Your pet will need to be done lactating in order to be spayed.

Undescended testicles (also known as cryptorchidism) is a condition in which one or both of the testicles have not moved down into their proper place in the scrotum.

In many cases, we can still do the surgery on a cryptorchid cat or dog. A pre-surgical examination will determine if your dog is a good candidate for surgery through our program. In the event we cannot do the surgery, your prepaid fees will be refunded to you, and we will recommend that your regular veterinarian neuter your pet.

Drug interactions can be very dangerous. Please be honest about any medications or supplements your pet is on. We can tell you if you must postpone surgery or if it’s safe to proceed.

If your pet is on any kind of steroid, your pet’s surgery must be postponed to a later date.

If you are giving your pet CBD supplements, we highly recommend discontinuing the use of any CBD products at least a week before surgery.

"Pet owners should be cautious when considering the use of a cannabidiol product. The label should be checked for a common artificial sweetener called xylitol, which is extremely toxic to dogs. CBD can alter the metabolism of many commonly used veterinary prescription drugs, including fluoxetine, gabapentin, ketoconazole, and phenobarbital. Regular use may also alter the effects of common anesthetic drugs. One of the recent studies has found that CBD can impact the liver and cause an elevation in a liver enzyme called alkaline phosphatase in dogs." - Dr. Lauren Bury, Westgate Pet Clinic (April 2019, click for full article)

There are a few things you’ll need to do before your pet arrives for surgery. The most important things to know are:

• Your pet does not need to fast overnight. Please feed a small meal (about one-third of the regular meal) in the morning, up to about two hours prior to arrival at the clinic. Arrival time is 7:30 AM, so your pet can have food until 5:30 AM. Drinking water must remain available until your pet gets in the car to come to KHS. Please note: if your pet is under 6 months of age, they should NOT FAST. Pets under 6 months should not go longer than 4 hours without food.
  

• Your pet must arrive with a sturdy leash and collar or a hard-sided pet carrier.
  

• If you apply flea product, groom or bathe your pet, do that a few days prior to your appointment. Pets will not be able to be bathed for up to 14 days after surgery.
  

• Have a secure and safe place for your pet to recover. A crate, spare room, or other area free of debris or hazards is essential.