Why You Shouldn't Feed Pets Before Surgery

Whether it's a routine spay or neuter or a more serious surgery, Veterinarians will give you instructions on pre operative care and guidelines for your pets.

Some of the things a Veterinarian may advise you about before a pet has surgery are food and water. You're supposed to refrain from feeding pet's twelve hours before surgery.

While working in a vet clinic I can't tell you how many times owners disregarded this advice and fed their pets anyways. Although it may seem cruel to withhold food from pets, there are important reasons to do so. Below are some of the reasons why you shouldn't feed pets before surgery.

Why you shouldn't feed pets before surgery

One reason you shouldn't feed pets before surgery is because if they are having a surgery such as a spay, a full stomach can cause crowding in the abdomen and make it harder for the Veterinarian to perform the surgery. Anytime a surgery is made more difficult, there are more likely to be complications.

To make sure that the veterinarian is able to perform a surgery with the greatest ease and effectiveness, you should not feed pets before surgery.

The biggest reason you shouldn't feed pets before surgery is to avoid the risk of aspiration. Aspiration happens when the pet vomits during surgery and inhales the vomit and fluids into their lungs. If this happens the pet could choke and possibly die.

This is why it is so important not to feed your pet before surgery.

Follow Veterinarians instructions

Usually before a pet has surgery the Veterinarian will proved you with instructions. Make sure you listen closely to them and follow them exactly. If you bring a pet in for surgery and they have eaten, you'll most likely be told the surgery cannot be done and will have to reschedule.

To avoid this inconvenience and make sure your pet is not at risk of aspirating during surgery, do what the veterinarian tells you. If you have any questions regarding pre surgery rules or about the surgery itself, don't hesitate to call your veterinary clinic and ask questions.

If you have other pets at home that are not having surgery, keep the pet that is having surgery away from the other pets while they are eating. If you normally leave food down at all times, consider feeding the other pets at specific times the night before and morning of your pets surgery so that there isn't food out for the pre surgery pet to get to.