What to Expect

Here at The Spay & Neuter Center of New Jersey we know how stressful it can be when you decide to go ahead with a procedure for your pet.  They are family, and while it may be an ordinary day for us, your day is filled with anxiety.  Our clinic staff will do everything possible to make the day of your pet's spay or neuter run smoothly for you and your loved one.

The night before surgery:

Your pet can eat until midnight.  Then take away food.  Water should be taken away the morning of the procedure.  The exceptions to this rule are puppies and kittens below 16 weeks of age and toy breed dogs less than 6 lbs.  These little ones can have a small breakfast (one or two teaspoons) before they are dropped off for their appointment.  Please do not overfeed your pet the day before surgery- they will be fine with their normal diet.

The morning drop off:

To facilitate morning admissions, we request that you adhere to your given time slot.  This will expedite your check in process.  Cats should be dropped off from 7:30-8:00.  Dogs should be dropped off from 8:00-8:30.   Also bring in any requested medical and vaccination records.

Please keep your pet safe!  All dogs need to be on leash.  All cats should be in a sturdy carrier.  Rabbit hutches, large crates, and cardboard carriers are not always secure.  Help us keep your loved ones safe by purchasing a suitable carrier for your feline friend.   Please observe our one pet per carrier rule.  If you do not have a carrier to bring your pet home in, you will be charged $10 for a cardboard carrier to go home.  These carriers are meant for one time use and should not be considered a long-term alternative.

The procedure:

We perform multiple spay and neuter surgeries throughout the day.  We do not routinely call clients unless we need to. This enables us to serve more clients throughout the day and keep our focus on anesthesia and surgery.  However, if you are worried about your loved one, of course you may call us to check in on your pet.

Your pet will be examined by a veterinarian in the morning to make sure he/she appears to be in good health.  Our doctors reserve the right to cancel a surgery if we think your pet is not a good anesthesia candidate and needs to be seen by your local veterinarian for an existing health problem.

Shortly after examination, your pet will be sedated and anesthetized for the procedure.  We use a combination of drugs that produces excellent pain management with minimal stress to the patient.  When your pet is asleep, we administer oxygen and additional gas anesthesia.  The surgery is short, varying from 5 minutes for a cat neuter to 20 minutes for a large dog spay.  At the end of the procedure, your pet will receive a tattoo.  This will ensure that if your pet is ever lost and found by somebody else, they know without a doubt that your pet was already spayed or neutered.  This is required.  We are adhering to a national standard of care that is supported by organizations like the ASPCA, the Humane Alliance, and the Association of Shelter Veterinarians.  As your pet recovers from anesthesia, more pain medication will be administered and your pet will be watched closely for the duration of recovery.  The anesthesia we use does wear off quickly; you can expect that your pet will be able to walking by the time he/she goes home.

The afternoon pick up:

Pick up occurs between 2:00 and 2:30 pm.  You are expected to arrive within this time frame to pick up your pet.  At this time, our staff will review the discharge instructions and go over any other concerns.  If you are traveling from far away and staying in Holmdel or the Monmouth county area for the day, you may call to see if you can pick up your pet earlier; this will depend on the daily schedule and your pet's recovery from anesthesia.

That evening:

A spay or neuter is a common surgery, but it is still general anesthesia and major surgery.  Your pet may be lethargic, have a poor appetite, and/or appear anxious.  The most important thing is to let your pet rest and realize that these effects are temporary.  You may offer your pet a small meal and water.  If your pet is not hungry, it is no cause for concern that night unless you have a very young puppy or kitten.  Please advise small children not to bother your pet; they are still recovering!  We recommend shredded newspaper litter for all cat neuters for 24 hours.  All dogs will go home with an e-collar to help prevent self-trauma to the incision.  The cost of the collar is included with surgery, but you may purchase a soft collar for $30, which might be a better option for your pet.  You will be given thorough discharge instructions when you pick up your loved one.  Our staff is always happy to answer any questions you may have.

Follow up:

It is important that you monitor your pet and follow discharge instructions closely after their spay and neuter.  They are not fully healed for 2 weeks.  During that time your pet should be kept quiet and exercise should be limited.  Larger adult dogs do take longer to heal and generally have more swelling and bruising.  If you have any concerns, please contact us during our business hours or email us at [email protected].  We stand by our surgeries and are available for surgical rechecks during regular business hours.  If you have an emergency after hours, please contact us by email for further instructions.

If you or your pet have any special needs, please contact us ahead of time to tell us how we can better accommodate you.


 

Location

Find us on the map

Office Hours

By appointment only

Holmdel Office

Monday:

7:30 am-3:00 pm

Tuesday:

7:30 am-3:00 pm

Wednesday:

7:30 am-3:00 pm

Thursday:

7:30 am-3:00 pm

Friday:

7:30 am-3:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed

Testimonial

  • "Extremely nice and helpful! I was nervous about my dog going in for his neuter surgery, but they alleviated my nerves. Post surgery you have access to the vet’s emails for any questions or concerns! Would recommend 👍🏻"
    Ali M.