For the safety and comfort of your pet, please observe the following guidelines prior to surgery.

Pre-Op Instructions

1.  You must have an appointment. See how to make an appointment here.
2.  Puppies and kittens must weigh at least 2 pounds and be at least 8 weeks old. 

• Younger or lighter animals will be declined, for their safety.

3.  We highly recommend that you have your pet vaccinated (rabies & distemper for cats and dogs, and bordetella for dogs) at least two weeks prior to your appointment. See recommended vaccines here.

• If this is not possible, vaccinations can be administered at the time of surgery for an additional charge.  Since it can take up to two weeks for your pet to build up immunity, please be aware that the vaccines administered at the time of surgery will not protect your pet from diseases they may potentially come in contact with while at the clinic.
• The PAWS Clinic REQUIRES that all dogs and cats 12 weeks and older have a rabies vaccine.   If your pet is current on his/her rabies vaccine, please bring a copy of their rabies certificate with you on the day of your appointment.   If your pet is not current on their rabies vaccine or you do not have proof, you will be required to purchase a rabies vaccine at the time of surgery for dogs and cats 12 weeks and older for an additional $20.

4.  No food or treats after midnight the night before surgery! It is EXTREMELY important their stomach is EMPTY of any food the morning of surgery.

• Puppies and kittens 4 months or younger may have food and water until 6:00am the morning of surgery.
• If your pet has eaten, they are at risk for aspiration pneumonia if they vomit. A high-risk waiver may need to be signed or they may be declined for surgery if they eat outside of these guidelines.

5. Water is okay up until the time of surgery.
6. Keep your pet indoors or confined, the night before surgery.

• Any animal that remained outside all night without being confined will not be admitted.
• Because we cannot ensure they have not eaten anything throughout the night if left outside, your pet may be declined for surgery. 

7. Check-in time is at 8:00am. 

• Your pet will not be admitted before 8:00am as our staff will be releasing the animals from the previous day.  If you arrive after 8:30am we may not be able to admit your pet for surgery and will ask you to reschedule.  It is important to review the check-in instructions prior to arriving for your appointment.  Due to COVID-19, we have made many changes in our process and we ask that you pay close attention to our rules.

8.  All dogs MUST be on a leash when entering/exiting our building. Even if being carried.

• Dogs may not be brought in a carrier.

​9. Cats must arrive in individual, secure cat carriers. We recommend hard carriers, but not required.

• If you do not have a carrier for your cat, you will be required to buy a cardboard carrier for $5.00.
  • If bringing multiple cats, they must come in INDIVIDUAL carriers or a cardboard carrier must be purchased for discharge.
• Do not put anything extra in your cat carrier (towels, blankets, toys).  Only pee-pads and newspaper are allowed to line cat carriers.   
• Feral cats must be in a secure live trap, one cat per trap.  For the safety of the cat and our staff, we are not able to perform surgery on feral cats that do not come in live traps.   Please see Feral Cat Surgery for more information on feral cats.

10.  Please inform us if your animal has any prior medical conditions, or has taken any medication or received any injections in the two weeks prior to surgery.  

• We will not accept animals exhibiting signs of Upper Respiratory Infection (runny eyes or nose or coughing), or other illnesses.  
• The PAWS Clinic reserves the right to refuse surgery if a health risk to the animal is determined.

11.  For the safety of senior or larger pets, we require pre-surgical blood work to be run at a full-service veterinary clinic within 30 days prior to scheduled surgery for the following animals:

• Any pet over 8 years old
• Any dog that is 100 pounds or over and 5 years or older
• Any dog of the following giant purebred dogs 5 years or older
  • Great Dane
  • Mastiff (all types)
  • Great Pyrenees
  • St. Bernard
  • Bouvier
  • Bernese Mountain Dog
  • Newfoundland
  • Cane Corso
  • Dogue de Bordeaux
  • Black Russian Terrier
  • Leonberger
  • Irish Wolfhound
  • Scottish Deerhound

12.  Payment is due at check-in. 

• The PAWS Clinic accepts CASH, CREDIT, and DEBIT, but we do NOT accept checks, care credit or American Express.

As of May 1st, 2025 a $5 administration fee will be added to all appointments at The PAWS Clinic. This fee may be waived if paying in cash.

Check-in instructions

Pick-up Instructions

Post-surgery Instructions