Bringing your pet home from the hospital following a surgical procedure can be stressful. Being aware of the recovery process and able to plan ahead of time can help relieve some of this stress. Although specific recovery duration and activity restriction can vary, here is a general look as to what to expect the week or two following your pets procedure. The following is an overview of what to expect.
Activity Restriction
All surgery patients go home with activity restriction, the duration of this time and severity will vary depending on your pet’s procedure. As a general rule; activity is restricted for 10 days. During this time your pet can go outside to use the restroom while on a 6ft leash, then back inside. It is important to avoid excessive walking, jumping, and pacing throughout the house for this time. It is best to confine your pet to a large crate or a small room.
Sedation for Recovery
Some pets do require medication to help keep them quiet during their recovery. Our goal is to help your pet recover as quickly as possible, with minimal stress to you and your pet. Upon intake we will ask if you would like some medication to help keep your pet quiet. It is important to know that sedation affects each patient differently. If your pet becomes too sedated or it seems to be not enough, please call the office and we can adjust the medication accordingly.
Prevent licking at surgical site
Your pet is likely going to be sent home with an Elizabethan Collar (E-Collar or cone collar) or a surgical recovery suit (onesie that covers the surgical site). To prevent infection, opening of surgical sites, and delayed healing; it is crucial owners are keeping their pets from licking the surgical site. Some dogs may require both an E-Collar and suit to prevent licking. Your pet can have ‘breaks’ from their E-Collar for eating, drinking, bathroom breaks, and while you are next to them monitoring. If your pet is left unattended for any length of time it is best to keep E-Collars or suits on.
Postoperative Pain Management
Patients receive preoperative pain medication, intraoperative local anesthetic, and postoperative pain medication. It is our hope that your pet goes home and simply rests the first night following their procedure. All patients are discharged with pain medications to go home for their recovery days. You are likely going to start this the following day (unless otherwise noted). For more invasive procedures multiple types of pain medications will be sent home with various start times. We will review all medication at your discharge appointment.
Preparing your home for your pets recovery
Having a designated area prepared for your pet to recover prior to bringing them home will make your first night a smoother transition. For dogs; if your pet is crate trained, it is best to set their crate up with a comfy bed in a location of your home that you can easily monitor them. For cats; its best to confine them to a small room or a large dog kennel (with litter, food, and water available) Remember, your pet needs to stay quiet with no excessive pacing around the house or on and off furniture.
Be Strict!
The quieter your pet stays for the days required for recovery, the better the recovery process will be! Excessive activity and licking at the surgical site can lead to complications (sometimes resulting in a follow up procedure) and adding to the recovery time.
FAQ
Can I feed my pet the night after their surgery? Yes, however it is not uncommon for anesthesia to cause your pet to be nauseous. If they do feel like eating, it is recommended to feed ¼ of their normal ration with small amounts of water. Normal feeding can resume the following morning.
Should I be concerned about my pet developing a slight cough after surgery? Your pet likely had an endotracheal tube (tube in trachea to deliver oxygen and gas anesthesia) placed during their procedure. This sometimes causes slight irritation. If the cough continues longer than 48 hours please call the office.
Why is my pet’s leg shaved? This is likely where an intravenous catheter was placed. Shaving the leg aids in disinfection of the skin prior to catheter placement and securing the catheter in place. For the safety of your pet, the hair must be removed.
How long does my pet need to wear the E-Collar or Surgery Suit? Your pet should have the E-Collar/surgery suit on for 10 days or until their recheck appointment. Refer to your pets discharge plan for more information.
Will my pet need a follow up appointment for suture removal? Routine surgical procedures (i.g spay and neuters) had dissolvable sutures that do not need to be removed. For these surgeries; follow up appointments are typically not necessary. Other surgeries may require skin sutures/surgical staples; these will require follow up appointments 10-14 days after their procedure to have these removed. Please refer to your discharge instructions for your particular pet.
Is this normal? It is common for incisions to have minimal bruising the next day. It is best to look at your pet’s incision when you get home the night after surgery so you have a comparison. If you notice discharge or the incision looks swollen/open we ask that you take a picture and send it to reception@downmainevets.com and call the office directly with your concern.
A DMVC staff member will call the following business day to check in on your pet, make sure they are eating and receiving their pain medications. If you have any questions concerning your pets procedure or recovery please call at any time.