Fasting Times for Pets Undergoing General Anaesthesia or Sedation
For cats and dogs younger than 4 months of age
- No food is to be eaten after 4am the morning of surgery. This can be achieved by leaving them with a small meal last thing at night. It is important that young animals are not starved for longer than 4 hours.
- Water should be left in with your pet.
- Cats and dogs should be confined in room or cage/kennel from 9pm to ensure no hunting or scavenging.
- Cats should be brought into the clinic in carrier cages.
- Dogs should be brought into the clinic on a lead.
- Please allow your dog to toilet before coming to the clinic.
- Please bring a small quantity of your pet's normal food so that this can be offered after surgery. This avoids changes in diet that may upset your pet's stomach.
- If your pet is on any medication, please check with a staff member when or if it should be given on the morning of the surgery/procedure.
- Post-surgical instructions will be given on discharge.
For cats and dogs older than 4 months of age
- No food is to be eaten after 9pm the previous night.
- Water should be left with your pet.
- Cats and dogs should be confined in room or cage/kennel from 9pm to ensure no hunting or scavenging.
- Cats should be brought into the clinic in carrier cages.
- Dogs should be brought into the clinic on a lead.
- Please allow your dog to toilet before coming to the clinic.
- If your pet is on any medication, please check with a staff member when or if it should be given on the morning of the surgery/procedure. In general, medications such as anti-inflammatories (e.g. Carprieve/Metacam) and steroids (e.g. Prednisone) should not be given on an empty stomach.
- You are welcome to drop your pet off with their own food if they are on a special or prescription diet.
- Post-surgical instructions will be given on discharge.
For rabbits, guinea pigs, rats and mice
- Remove food from pet’s cage just before bringing into clinic.
- Bring in a small quantity of your pet's normal food, so it can be offered to your pet immediately after recovery from anaesthesia.
- Bring your pet to the clinic in a secure cage that they cannot escape from.
- If your pet is on any medication, please check with a staff member when or if it should be given on the morning of the surgery/procedure.
- Post-surgical instructions will be given on discharge.
For all patients
- *IMPORTANT* Please ensure you have an emergency contact phone number for the day of surgery. We will phone you on this number if we have any concerns on how your pet is doing under anaesthesia or sedation.
- For first time clients, a deposit may be required prior to surgery/procedure being performed.
- Full payment of account is expected when your pet is collected.
- All clients are welcome to use the free parking available at the rear of our clinic building.
Please do not hestitate to phone us at (06) 358 8675 should you have further enquires regarding the appropriate fasting times for your pet.