Surgery Pre- and Post-Op Care Information

 What should I do when my pet arrives home after surgery?

• After arriving home, you should keep your pet warm and comfortable by providing a soft, clean bed, ideally in a quiet and draft-free room at a comfortable room temperature (68-75°F). You can keep them in a kennel or a bathroom/bedroom while they wake up and start recovery.

When can I feed my pet?

• You may offer your pet approximately half their usual dinner a few hours after arriving home. If they eat and still seem hungry, you may offer the rest of their meal approximately one hour later. Some pets experience nausea after general anesthesia, so dividing the meal into smaller portions may decrease the risk of nausea and vomiting. Unless otherwise instructed, your dog’s access to water should not be restricted. The following day, their feeding schedule can return to normal.

My pet is very sleepy. Is this normal? 

• Your pet was given a general anesthetic or a sedative. These drugs can take several hours to wear off and may cause some patients to appear drowsy for a day or so. Over the next 24-48 hours, your pet’s behavior should gradually return to normal. However, do not hesitate to contact the clinic if you are concerned.

My pet has developed a slight cough since the operation. Should I be concerned?

• Your pet may have had a tube placed in the trachea (windpipe) during anesthesia to administer oxygen and anesthetic gas. This can occasionally cause mild irritation and a slight cough. A mild post-surgical cough will typically diminish over the next few days. If coughing persists or worsens, contact the clinic.

What should I do if my pet licks their wound or chews the stitches? 

• Your pet instinctively may try to clean their surgical site by licking. We recommend using a baby onesie if excessive licking occurs. Dogs may use a cone if needed.

What should the incision look like, and when should I be concerned?

• The incision should generally be clean, and the edges should be together. The skin surrounding the incision should be a normal or slightly reddish-pink color. In pale-skinned animals, bruising is often seen around the surgical site. This may not appear until a few days after the operation and, in some cases, can seem excessive compared to the size of the incision. This is due to seepage of blood under the skin’s edges and is a normal occurrence. Sometimes, a small amount of blood may seep intermittently from a fresh incision for up to 24 hours, especially if the animal is active.
• You will most likely see a small green line near the surgery site–this is a tattoo to indicate that your pet has been fixed and is nothing to worry about.
• You should be concerned and should contact the clinic immediately if you see any of the following at the surgical site:
  • Continuous or excessive blood draining
  • Intermittent blood seepage that continues for more than 24 hours
  • Excessive swelling or redness of the skin
  • Unpleasant odor or discharge

When do the stitches need to be removed?

• Our spay-neuter surgeries have dissolving sutures that do not require further care. Other surgeries may require stitches and you will be advised at pickup on when to return for a recheck and suture removal.

Cats:

What should I do when my cat arrives home after surgery?

• After arriving home, you should keep your cat warm and comfortable by providing a soft, clean bed, ideally in a quiet and draft-free room at a comfortable room temperature (68-75°F). You can keep them in a kennel or a bathroom/bedroom while they wake up and start recovery. 
• For outdoor or feral cats, please ensure they have a garage or shelter that stays 50°F or higher at all times that they can rest and recover in for 2-3 days.
• Any indoor/outdoor cats should remain strictly indoors for at least 2-3 days. For most procedures, your cat’s activity should be restricted for at least one week after surgery. It is essential to avoid running, jumping, and other strenuous activities that could cause excessive strain on their incision. Prevent rough housing with other pets in the home.

Will my cat receive medication after her surgery?

• After surgery, most of the time they receive a long acting injection for pain control. However, sometimes your cat may be sent home with pain or other oral medications. If you have been given any medication to give your cat, please READ THE LABEL CAREFULLY and ensure that you administer ALL medication as instructed. If you are having trouble treating your cat, please contact the clinic for advice.

Dogs:

What should I do when my dog arrives home from surgery?

• After arriving home, you should keep your dog warm and comfortable by providing a soft, clean bed, ideally in a quiet and draft-free room at a comfortable room temperature (68-75°F). You can keep them in a kennel or a bathroom/bedroom while they wake up and start recovery. If your dog is kennel trained, please let them stay in their kennel for at least 24-36 hours (aside from going to the toilet) to limit movement that may disturb their sutures.

When can my dog resume normal activities?

• This will depend upon the type of operation your dog underwent. In most cases, your dog’s activity will need to be restricted for at least one to two weeks (or until the sutures are removed if that is needed). 
• For the first several days, absolutely NO RUNNING, JUMPING, OR ROUGH HOUSING. For the next 7-10 days, leash walk only for everything including using the toilet outside. During this time, limiting your dog’s activity is essential to prevent the incision from opening. 
• No swimming or baths for 14 days after surgery. It is essential to avoid baths during this time, as moisture can introduce bacteria into the wound and lead to infection
• Your veterinarian may give you detailed instructions on activity restrictions and other post-operative instructions.

Will my dog receive medication after their surgery?

• After surgery, your dog will most likely be sent home with pain control or other oral medications. If you have been given any medication to give your dog, please READ THE LABEL CAREFULLY and ensure that you administer ALL medication as instructed. If you are having trouble treating your dog, please contact the clinic for advice.