Spay and neuter are common surgeries. They are still surgeries. This guide walks Huntington Beach dog and cat owners through the week around the procedure so the actual spay and neuter page can stay the service page — what we do, when we typically talk about timing, and how to book. Call (714) 536-7591 or request an appointment.
We are at 724 E Utica Avenue, Huntington Beach, CA 92648. Hours: Monday–Friday 7:30 am–6:00 pm · Saturday 8:00 am–6:00 pm · Sunday closed. Spay and neuter are scheduled. They are not walk-in emergency procedures, and we are not a 24-hour surgery center. If your pet is in heat, injured, or sick the morning of surgery, call; the veterinarian may postpone.
The night before
Follow the fasting instructions you were given — usually no food after a set evening time, with water allowed until morning unless told otherwise. A stolen sandwich at 10 pm is a reason to call before you drive in, not a detail to hide at drop-off. Set out a phone that will stay on. We cannot reach a silenced phone in a meeting if we need you.
Skip a bath the night before unless you were asked to give one. A wet, cold pet is a worse anesthesia candidate. If your dog or cat has a cough, vomiting, or diarrhea, call; a “maybe it’s nothing” stomach bug is a reason to wait.
Drop-off morning
Arrive in the window you were given. Bring any medication list and, for a young pet, the vaccine record. Expect a pre-surgical exam and, when the veterinarian recommends it, blood work. That visit is to see whether this pet is a candidate today. It is not a promise that every booked slot proceeds.
You will sign consent. Ask then about pain control, an E-collar, and whether pickup is the same afternoon. We do not publish prices on this page; ask for an estimate after the exam.
What “spay” and “neuter” mean in this hospital
Spaying removes the ovaries and uterus of a female dog or cat. Neutering removes the testicles of a male dog or cat. Both are done under general anesthesia. Our surgery list includes these procedures. Timing is often around six months of age, before sexual maturity, but breed, size, and health can move that. The veterinarian sets timing for this pet at a checkup — not a webpage.
The first 48 hours at home
Your pet will be groggy. Offer a small amount of the usual food that evening if you were told to. Keep them indoors, off furniture, and away from other animals that will lick the incision. The E-collar is not optional because it looks sad in photos. Licking opens a closed incision in minutes.
Check the incision twice a day: edges together, mild swelling that does not grow, no discharge that looks like pus, no sudden bulge. No running, jumping, stairs-as-a-game, or baths until you are cleared. A crate or small room beats a free house.
When to call us — and when not to wait for morning
Call (714) 536-7591 during open hours if the incision looks open, is very swollen, or your pet will not settle, will not eat, or seems painful despite the medicine you were sent home with. If we are closed and your pet is collapsing, having trouble breathing, or bleeding heavily from the site, go to a 24-hour emergency veterinary hospital. Do not wait on voicemail.
Book on the spay and neuter service page or request an appointment.