It’s important to start preparing for your dog’s surgery one week beforehand. Contact your veterinary clinic to inquire about any required testing to be done to qualify for surgery, when your dog is allowed to eat, and what medications are needed or if any should be skipped. Your vet may require a pre-operative blood panel, ultrasound, radiograph, or other necessary testing to ensure that general anesthesia will be safe for your dog.

Inform your vet of any supplements that you give your dog, and follow directions about if and when to discontinue them. Many veterinary practices require that your pet be current on the following vaccines to protect other patients at the hospital: Bordetella, Rabies, Canine Distemper, Canine Flu, and Parvo. If your pet is not current on required vaccinations there is a small chance that your pet’s procedure could be delayed depending on your care provider.

Seek your vet’s advice on exercise restrictions, eating, and drinking or if your dog requires a specific diet prior to surgery so you can plan accordingly. The day before surgery, do not go on long walks or allow your pet to play roughly and move around too much. Doing so may cause their muscles to be sore on the day of surgery, adding more discomfort to their already stressful day. Ask your vet whether or not you should give your dog any medication they normally take.

In most cases, your dog will need to fast for 8-12 hours prior to surgery depending on your vet’s instructions, to ensure that the stomach is empty thereby reducing your pet’s risk of nausea and vomiting both before and after anesthesia is administered. In the event that your pet somehow finds food or water before surgery, let your vet know that they did so they can advise you on how to proceed. In certain cases the surgeon will recommend that you reschedule to avoid any unnecessary additional risk.

Getting a good night’s sleep before going in for surgery is also important for your dog to reduce the stress and anxiety of being in a vet clinic. If your dog needs a bath, haircut, nail trimming, and ear-cleaning, make sure to do this before the surgery date since the incision site will need to be kept clean and dry for a few weeks after the operation.

The day before your dog's surgery is also a good time to prepare your home for the following day. It can be as simple as setting up your dog’s area for recovery or packing food and medications for the trip to the vet clinic. It’s also a good idea to wash your dog’s bedding to reduce the risk of bacterial infection after the surgery. Setting things up the day before your dog’s surgery will make the process go much more smoothly the day of.

On the morning of your dog’s surgery, make sure to keep withholding food and water and take your dog outside for a brief walk and a potty break before arriving at your veterinary providers facility. Show up a few minutes early to your vet clinic appointment so you can have time to talk to the staff and fill out any last-minute paperwork. It’s normal to feel nervous, but staying calm is key to help tame your dog’s nerves and prepare them for the surgery. Be sure to leave your contact details as well as an emergency contact with the clinic so they can call you in case of an emergency or when your dog is ready to be picked up.