Pre-Surgery Instructions

C-SNIP runs efficiently in tight quarters. To ensure your visit is as smooth as possible, we ask that you carefully review the instructions below. You may want to print this page and carry it with you on the date of surgery.

If you need to cancel or reschedule please call 616-455-8220. Note that C-SNIP does not reschedule or edit appointments via email.

Important Reminder:

Vaccinations are the best protection from infectious diseases. Your pet will be in a facility housing up to 70 other animals on the day of surgery. If your pet is not up to date on vaccinations, it is at increased risk of contracting an infectious disease. By admitting your dog or cat to C-SNIP, you agree that you will not hold C-SNIP responsible in the unlikely event that your pet contracts an infectious disease or for the treatment of that disease.

Important Instructions and other Information:

IF YOUR ANIMAL IS 6 MONTHS OLD OR OLDER: No food, treats, or rawhides after midnight the night before surgery. Water is always fine.

IF YOUR ANIMAL IS UNDER 6 MONTHS OLD: You do not need to restrict food or water.

To identify your pet as spayed or neutered, your pet will receive a green tattoo on his/her abdomen at the time of surgery.

Check-in is from 8:00am - 8:30am (for up to two pets) on the scheduled day of surgery. If you are bringing 3 or more pets please arrive closer to 8:30am.

Because check-in is a busy time and can be stressful for animals, pets must remain in vehicles while humans check them in. Please park (the parking lot is small and fills up very quickly, sometimes it may be better to park on the street) and join the check-in line while your dog or cat waits in the car.

The check-in line almost always extends outside. Please dress for the weather to avoid an unpleasant wait. Please allow a minimum of 20 minutes to get through check-in. This depends on your place in line.

Cats MUST arrive in a secure carrier.

Dogs MUST arrive on a secure collar/harness and leash.

Payments are preferred in cash, but credit cards are accepted, with photo id (Visa and Mastercard only) on the morning of surgery.

Due to limited kennel space and thorough cleaning and medical protocols, the building does not have the capacity to board dogs or cats beyond the scheduled aftercare instructions and release times. Dog aftercare instruction and release is promptly at 4:00 pm on the day of surgery. Cat aftercare instruction and release is promptly at 7:30 am the following morning. If an owner or designated representative is not on time for aftercare instructions and retrieval of their pet, a $25 late fee may be assessed. If the owner or representative is more than 30 minutes late, C-SNIP reserves the right to turn the animal over to a local shelter as abandoned.

PLEASE CONTACT C-SNIP AT 616-455-8220 TO REBOOK YOUR SURGERY

Your dog or cat shows any signs of illness within 7 days of surgery, including vomiting, diarrhea, coughing, or discharge from the nose or mouth.
Your appointment is for a female dog, and she goes into heat.

Thank you for being a hero to your dog or cat by choosing to spay/neuter! You are breaking the cycle of pet overpopulation in our West Michigan community.

It is safest for your animal and less messy for you if your pet's stomach is empty prior to surgery. Food in the stomach during surgery may be vomited up while the animal is under anesthesia. An unconscious animal can breathe this material into its lungs, causing a potentially fatal pneumonia. Also, improperly fasted animals have a much higher likelihood of vomiting after you get them home.

Pain medication is administered by the veterinarian at the clinic immediately following surgery and will last for the next 24 hours. Rarely do pets need additional pain medication. On occasion, C-SNIP will send additional pain medication home with your pet after spending the day with them. Additionally, you may request additional pain medication at any time throughout your pets recovery process.

Due to space constraints, we have a limited number of kennels for large dogs to recover in. It is important for you to provide an accurate weight so we can schedule your dog on a day when we have a space adequate in size for recovery.

We want to make sure your pet has a successful surgery. In the two week waiting period, you will have time to ensure your pet is healthy and that the new adoption works for you. Additionally, you will better know your pet’s typical behavior so you can monitor their recovery after surgery.

Microchipping offers pet owners the only truly permanent method of identifying your pet and linking the animal back to you, the owner. If you want to improve your pet’s chances of getting home in a lost pet emergency – microchipping is your best option. Animal microchips are about the size of a grain of rice and are typically implanted beneath the skin between the shoulder blades. You will need to register the microchip online with your contact information and keep it updated.