Before your animal’s appointment at Houston Spay Neuter, please read our important information to ensure your appointment goes smoothly and helps your dog or cat to have the healthiest outcome.
Click here to open a printer-friendly PDF version of these Pre-Surgery Instructions.
Vaccines
To help prevent the contraction and spread of disease, we recommend your cat or dog have age appropriate vaccines before their surgery appointment. We can also update vaccines at the time of surgery. There is no such thing as a 100% effective vaccine; it definitely helps to prevent the spread of disease. Please ask us if you have any questions!
Rabies vaccines: Texas state law requires a current rabies vaccination for all cats and dogs 12 weeks and older. We can do this vaccine at time of surgery, if age appropriate for minimal cost.
Feeding before surgery
Cats and dogs younger than 4 months can have a small snack (1/4 of a regular meal) at 6:00 am the morning of surgery. Cats and dogs older than 4 months should not have food after midnight the night before surgery. All animals can have water up until the morning of surgery.
Important information
Please be sure to let our staff know if your pet is on ANY medication or has ANY current/previous illnesses. This can be critical in our decision as to whether it is safe for surgery or which sedation medications to use.
Check-in for surgery
Surgery drop off time is 7:15 am to 8:00 am at 1220 W 23rd St, Houston TX 77008.
To keep our costs low, we have limited staffing. We cannot guarantee we can accommodate late arrivals. We may not be able to keep your surgery appointment if you arrive after 8:15 am. The check-in process can take 10 to 15 minutes. Paperwork can be completed the night before to save time in the morning.
Check-in procedure
Please come to the front door marked “check-in”. Once we have your paperwork and ensure we have a signed consent form we will take your dog/cat inside. Please remember to take leashes with you as we cannot guarantee you will get them back. All dogs must be on a leash until our staff take them from you and all cats must be in a carrier. We can provide a cardboard carrier for $10 if needed.
Discharge procedure
Come to the same door as you did for check-in. Ring the doorbell. Let us know which animal you are picking up and which rescue you are with (we see many animals with the same name). We will bring your animal and discharge paperwork/medications out to you. Discharge is between 3:30 pm and 4:30 pm.
Payment methods
We accept payment in the form of debit or credit card only. Rescues will be billed weekly. Public clients are required to pay in full at time of discharge which is between 3:30 pm and 4:30 pm.
Tattooing during surgery
Your pet will receive a small, green tattoo near the incision site. The tattoo will ensure that anyone examining your animal will know they have been spayed or neutered and it will prevent inadvertent surgery should they end up at another shelter.