Introduction
When your dog has surgery, it’s important to provide proper aftercare during the recovery period. The time immediately following surgery is crucial for allowing your dog to heal properly and prevent complications. In this article, we will discuss how to care for your dog in the days and weeks after they have had surgery. Topics covered include preparing your home for recovery, caring for the incision site, administering medications, dietary considerations, exercise restrictions, bathroom breaks, managing discomfort, follow-up vet appointments, and preventing post-surgical complications. With the right aftercare, your dog can recover smoothly and get back to their normal, happy self.
Preparing Your Home
Making some adjustments to your home before your dog has surgery can make their recovery much smoother. Here are some tips for dog-proofing your home and setting up a recovery area for your post-surgery pup:
- Confine your dog to one room or area of your home to limit their movement. This could be a spare bathroom, laundry room, or section of the living room blocked off with baby gates.
- Place pee pads, potty attractant spray, and their crate in this area so everything your dog needs is nearby.
- Pick up rugs, small objects, or anything your dog could trip over while getting around.
- Cover slick floors with yoga mats or rugs for traction.
- Rearranging furniture to create clear paths between food, potty areas, and resting spots.
- Install ramps or steps to help your dog get on furniture more easily.
- Raise food and water bowls up on stands so your dog doesn’t have to bend down.
- Stock up on 2-3 weeks worth of medications, therapeutic foods, pee pads, and anything else your vet recommends for recovery.
Prepping your home thoroughly before surgery will take a huge burden off of your dog as they recover. Setting up a safe, confined area with everything they need nearby will make the days after surgery much less stressful for both of you.
Incision Care
It is crucial to properly care for your dog’s surgical incision site to promote healing and prevent infection. The most important rule is to follow your veterinarian’s specific instructions for keeping the incision clean and dry. Do not attempt to clean or dress the incision unless specifically directed by your vet. Most modern surgical techniques use internal sutures that dissolve over time, covered by surgical glue on the surface. Any dressing applied immediately after surgery is usually meant to be temporary.
Monitor the incision site closely over the first 1-2 weeks, without excessively disturbing it. Look for signs of redness, swelling, discharge, or opening of the incision. Contact your vet promptly if you notice any concerning signs. Sometimes a small amount of bruising around the incision is normal. You may see a few dots of blood seep through the glue, but significant bleeding is abnormal.
Prevent your dog from licking, scratching, or rubbing the incision site, as this can introduce infection. Your vet may recommend an Elizabethan collar to prevent this behavior. Any interference with the incision can delay healing. Signs of infection include pus, worsening swelling/redness, foul odor, and fever.
According to veterinarians, the two most important factors for proper healing are keeping the incision clean and dry. Only clean around the incision gently with gauze dampened lightly with saline or antiseptic solution if instructed by your vet. Avoid getting the incision wet during bathing. Check with your vet when it is safe to resume normal bathing. Contact your vet immediately if you notice any concerning signs around the incision site.
Medications
It is crucial to administer any prescribed medications on the schedule provided by your veterinarian after your dog’s surgery. Pain medications like Tramadol or Rimadyl and antibiotics help manage your dog’s discomfort, prevent infection, and promote healing.
Typically, pain medication should be given every 8-12 hours for the first few days after surgery. Make sure to follow your vet’s instructions and track the timing of each dose given. Setting alarms on your phone can help remind you when it’s time for the next dose.
Never adjust medication amounts or frequency without consulting your vet first. Overdosing on medication can be dangerous. If you miss a dose, do not double up on the next one.
If your dog refuses to take pills directly or hides them in their mouth, try disguising them in a small amount of peanut butter, cheese, or wet food. Pilling devices can also help deliver oral medications.
Track all medications administered in a notebook or app, noting the name of drug, dose given, time, and any side effects. Having written records helps provide this info to your vet at follow-ups. Alert your vet if you have difficulty getting your dog to take their meds.
Make sure to complete the full course of any prescribed antibiotics, even if your dog seems to be feeling better, in order to prevent resistant infections.
According to SiriusVet.com, all medications prescribed after surgery should be given as directed by your vet, often beginning the same evening you bring your dog home.
Diet
Following surgery, it is important to feed your dog bland, low-fat foods at first and then slowly transition back to their regular diet. This helps reduce digestive upset as their body recovers. The TopDogHealth article recommends starting with cooked eggs, boiled chicken, or ground meat. Avoid fatty foods initially. An Asheville Vet blog post suggests chicken and rice as a good first meal after surgery.
Gradually mix in more of your dog’s regular food over several days. Take it slow to give their digestive system time to adjust. Keep water available at all times to stay hydrated. Avoid overfeeding initially, as too much food can upset their stomach while recovering. Proper nutrition helps support healing and recovery after surgery.
Exercise Restrictions
It is extremely important that your dog gets adequate rest and is confined during the recovery period after surgery, according to Post-Surgical Strategies for Restricting Activity. Trying to do too much activity too soon can lead to complications like inflammation, bleeding, or damage to the surgical site. Your dog should be kept in a confined space like a crate or small room without furniture they can jump on. Take them outside on a leash for bathroom breaks only.
As your dog heals, you can slowly increase light activity like short leash walks over the weeks following surgery, according to VCA Animal Hospitals. Follow your veterinarian’s specific instructions for when your dog can increase activity levels again. The recovery period will vary depending on the type of surgery performed. Make sure your dog is fully healed before allowing free range of motion or activity again.
Bathroom Breaks
Help your dog outside for bathroom breaks after surgery. Do not allow them to run or jump, as this can reopen incisions or cause internal damage. Your dog should be kept on a short leash when brought outside to prevent overexertion. Provide potty breaks every few hours the day of and the day after surgery to allow your dog to relieve themselves regularly (MedVet).
Monitor your dog’s bathroom habits closely. Look for normal urination and regular bowel movements. Any difficulty urinating or changes in urine color could indicate a potential post-surgical complication. Contact your veterinarian if you notice abnormal bathroom habits after bringing your dog home from surgery.
Managing Discomfort
After surgery, your dog may experience some pain or discomfort as they recover. It’s important to help keep them as comfortable as possible. Here are some tips:
Make a cozy and calm space for your dog to recover in. Provide soft blankets and their favorite toys. Keep the area quiet and peaceful. Your dog may appreciate gentle petting, but avoid touching near the incision site.
Signs of pain or discomfort include whining, restlessness, loss of appetite, trembling, or lack of interest in normal activities. If you notice these behaviors, call your veterinarian for advice. They may prescribe pain medication for your dog.
According to the American Animal Hospital Association, you should call your vet if your dog is excessively panting, vocalizing or whimpering in pain after surgery. Other reasons to call include swelling, discharge, or bleeding around the incision site (Asheville Vet).
Natural supplements like turmeric or Omega-3 fatty acids may help reduce inflammation and relieve discomfort when combined with any prescribed medications. Always check with your vet before giving supplements.
With attentive home care and pain management, you can help your dog feel as comfortable as possible as they recover from their procedure.
Follow-up Appointments
It is crucial to bring your dog to the vet for follow-up appointments after surgery. These appointments serve several important purposes:
Check the incision site – The vet will examine the incision area to ensure it is healing properly and there are no signs of infection. They may remove stitches or staples if the wound has closed sufficiently. Monitoring the incision site is key to preventing complications (Source).
Remove sutures – Surgical sutures often need to be removed 7-14 days after the procedure. Your vet will take out the stitches once the incision has partially healed. Trying to remove stitches yourself could lead to infection or reopening of the wound (Source).
X-rays and scans – Follow-ups may involve diagnostic imaging to check internal healing. For orthopedic surgeries, x-rays can verify if bones have properly fused back together. Your vet may order scans to ensure no post-surgical complications are developing internally.
Ask questions – Follow-ups provide an opportunity to ask your vet any questions about your dog’s recovery, get advice on wound care or medications, and discuss activity restrictions. Clear communication with your vet facilitates optimal healing.
By closely adhering to all recommended follow-up appointments, you can rest assured your dog’s surgical recovery stays on track.
Preventing Complications
Preventing complications after surgery is crucial for your dog’s recovery. Some common complications to watch out for include excessive licking, infections, wounds reopening, and coughing. Here are some tips to avoid issues during the recovery period:
To prevent your dog from licking their incision site, use an Elizabethan collar or inflatable collar. This will prevent them from interfering with stitches and bandages. You can also try bitter apple spray on the area to deter licking. Monitor the incision at least twice daily for redness, swelling or discharge which could indicate infection. Call your vet if you notice any concerning signs (https://www.dvm360.com/view/preventing-and-managing-spayneuter-complications-proceedings).
Keep the incision clean and dry to avoid infection. Your vet may prescribe antibiotics as a preventative measure. Limit activity for at least 14 days and avoid strenuous exercise for 4-6 weeks to prevent wound dehiscence. Coughing can occur after anesthesia from irritation of the throat. Provide plenty of water and limit collar use to mealtimes if coughing persists (https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/post-operative-instructions-in-dogs).
Monitor your dog closely, especially the first few days after surgery. Know the warning signs of complications and contact your vet promptly if you have any concerns. With proper prevention and care, your dog can recover comfortably at home.