Staying overnight for a neuter?

snake_lady

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Why would a cat have to stay overnight for a neuter?

I had a male cat 7yrs ago, got him neutered 15yrs ago, and it was in and out. I went to a spay and neuter clinic, dropped him off at 9, pick up at 4.

The animal clinic I deal with now, I booked Kizzy's neuter for April 16th and today when I was in there she said I drop him off between 8 and 9, then pick him up the next day. I questioned the overnight part as I've never done it before and she said if he's just getting neutered (I'm assuming most get their cat fixed and declawed) then I might be able to bring him home that night.

Of course I'm going to push to bring him home that night unless there's a reason that he should stay overnight.

Does anyone know why they would keep them overnight? Especially when a neuter is such a minor procedure these days. I think he'd be better off at home with me.

Bottom line is I'm bringing him home that night, unless there's a medical reasoning as to why I shouldn't (complications, etc.) but I'm just curious as to why it seems some places just routinely keep them overnight.
 

sharky

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many vets do this.... with Kizzy's history I would leave him overnight provided someone is there with him.. ie here you have to transport to the er clinic
 

mbjerkness

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My vet always keeps them overnight. He say it's so he can keep an eye out for them. He lives right beside the clinic.
 

mews2much

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Two of my cats just had surgery and both came home the same day.
Sasha was a lapo spay and Meeko was a infection.
Ask if there is someone there to watch him at night.
If he is watched it will be ok.
My Yoshi stayed overnight only because he was fixed after 4 at night.
The rest of my cats all came home the same day and they are girls.
 
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snake_lady

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Originally Posted by sharky

many vets do this.... with Kizzy's history I would leave him overnight provided someone is there with him.. ie here you have to transport to the er clinic
Originally Posted by WellingtonCats

Some vets do and some don't. I would leave Kizzy there - he will be safe
While I appreciate the thoughts, I still have no idea why I should leave him?

No, they do not have people there 24hrs.... but I have no fear that he wouldn't be safe there or at home.

Why would history of URI warrant keeping him overnight?

I'm not trying to be difficult, I'm just trying to find out the reasoning behind the thought.

Especially with Kizzy's history, I think it would be better off at home rather than have him stressed out in a vet clinic which can lead to a depressed immune system and more chances of comps after the surgery.

Thanks
 

mews2much

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My Meeko had active herpes when she had surgery and still came home the same day.
My vet said leaving them there causes more stress and they get sick easier.
 

skimble

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That is odd. Here the neuters are sedated, no general anesthesia like a spay. They send them home the same day.

My vet does not have someone there 24 hrs either. I always put mine in a small area or kennel to keep them from moving around too much and getting hurt. I can keep a close watch on them every hour where the vet office goes home and the animals are alone.

Another reason I don't like to leave them when it's not necessary is that they always seem to get sick. Like you mentioned with the stress and that lowering their immune system it leaves them vulnerable to germs at the vet.

I hope things go well and you can bring him home to care for him.
 

laureen227

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Originally Posted by mews2much


The rest of my cats all came home the same day and they are girls.
i have a boy, but he came already neutered. all the ones i had done were girls [all 4 of them] & they all came home that day.
 
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snake_lady

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Originally Posted by Skimble

Another reason I don't like to leave them when it's not necessary is that they always seem to get sick. Like you mentioned with the stress and that lowering their immune system it leaves them vulnerable to germs at the vet.

I hope things go well and you can bring him home to care for him.
Thank you.... me too. With the rough start we've had between reoccurring (or not clearing up completely) URIs, ringworm and acne, I really don't want to chance him getting sick again from stress.

I plan on bringing him home (providing there is no complications) and keeping him in one room for a couple days, just so I can keep an eye on him, and he's not going up and down stairs.
 

ut0pia

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I'd do the same thing you are doing since they don't have people there overnight...I'd be way too worried to leave my kitty overnight with no supervision after he's just had surgery. It's much safer if he is home where you can observe him. I guess they probably do it so that the cat is confined in their cage and doesn't go crazy playing and open the wound. The clinic I took Jake to had specific instructions to limit activity afterwards, and Jake stayed in the bathroom where he couldn't jump anywhere and couldn't run much that same night when he came home...
 

nekochan

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I've never had a cat stay overnight. Unless it is a spay/neuter clinic where they have a set drop off and pick up time, they are usually only there for several hours and then come home. When I had my most recent kitten neutered I think he was only at the vet for about 3-4 hours or so. She used a reversible anesthetic and no stitches/glue and he was fine.
My cat Church had recurring URIs (probably feline herpes) and he had a little redness in his eyes when he went to get neutered so the vet said that could possibly be a concern, but they did not keep him overnight either and he did not have any complications.

If there is no one there at night I personally would not leave my pet at the vet. In fact as long as they don't need intensive care, my vet usually recommends that I take my pet home for the night because she would have better care at home rather than being left alone overnight at the clinic. If they do need critical care they have to be transported to an emergency clinic for the night and back to the regular vet in the morning-- or treated at one of the 24-hours clinics.
 

catnurse22

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Really not sure why a neuter would have to stay overnight. If anything, I've seen that make things worse. Most male cats are completely fine 3-4 hours later, and especially if they're younger, they're ready to get out of their cage and go back to their crazy selves. Being kept in a cage can led to some pretty crazy escape attempts, which will led to them opening up their incision site and bleeding. The only possible reason I can see is if your cat had an adverse reaction to the induction drugs, which can sometimes happen. But if that were the case, they would be something that they would know immediately after surgery, not something that might cause concern in the evening... Maybe they're just being overly cautious? And hey, guess that can be taken as a good sign in a way.
 
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snake_lady

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Thx for the replies.

I'm definately going to bring him home (unless there's any complications of course). I think it would be the best.... he HATES the vets and crawls up on my shoulder like a baby, digging his nails in so I don't put him down and just shakes.... plus he hates being caged and whines non-stop.

So yup, I'm thinking it will be better if I make it well known that I want him home.
 

katiemae1277

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I've dropped cats off the night before (because I didn't have time to get to the vet's in the morning or whatever) but I don't think I've ever had one stay overngiht after the procedure. My dog was recently in for a cyst removal and a dental where they had to remove his bottom incisors (both of which i see as more major than a neuter) and the surgery wasn't done til noonish and he came home with me at 6


I'd want him home too
 

lilyluvscats

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At the local MSPCA we could always bring the boys home the same day. They made me keep Mia there overnight after her spay. I couldn't wait to get her the next day I felt so bad for her. My current cats came neutered. I like them that way. lol
 

Willowy

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My vet suggests keeping cats overnight, but most of the time I get them before closing. The anesthetic he uses keeps them dopey for most of the night, so I understand why he wants to keep them longer, but I can handle a little dopiness. Plus nobody's there all night, and I'd rather keep an eye on them.
 
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