5 Ways to Care for Your Dog After Surgery

Dogs, like people, require particular postoperative care following surgery. While there is no such thing as a “one-size-fits-all” care technique, there are a few everyday things you can do to make your dog feel more at ease. Here are five pointers to assist you in caring for your favorite dog following surgery. For more information or to schedule a pet surgery for your dog, contact us today!

1. Your Dog’s Overall Health

If you have invasive surgery, check the incision daily for swelling, bruising, bleeding, and seeping. Sun Valley Animal Center will give detailed directions and recommendations for keeping the wound dry and clean. After surgery, your dog should wear an Elizabethan collar — this cone-shaped collar may be painful at first, but it will keep your dog from licking the incision and infecting it.

2. Give Your Dog Nutrition

Dogs that have just had surgery may refuse to eat due to the amount of discomfort they are in. Make the food more appealing by including a special treat, or feed your dog a meal that is easy to digest, such as cooked chicken and rice. Give him small quantities of food and water, and be prepared to spoon-feed him if he refuses to eat independently. Because every dog is different, make sure to follow our advice on feeding following surgery. Email Sun Valley Animal Center’s Orthopedic Animal Surgery Center today for more information!

3. Follow Post-Surgery Routine 

Pay strict attention to any discharge instructions provided by your veterinarian. If you have any questions before leaving the office, have your veterinarian or another staff member go over each instruction line by line. Ask questions about anything that looks ambiguous, and make notes on how much medicine should be supplied, when follow-up appointments should be scheduled, and other post-op risks to be aware of.

4. Limit Activity Level

Because most pet procedures entail some level of invasiveness, your dog must recover after he returns home. In most circumstances, this involves limiting your dog’s activity level. Wounds may take longer to heal or may not heal at all if a dog moves too much after surgery. Pet surgery always has its risks, which is why working with experienced veterinarians will help your dog recover effectively and provide the information necessary for proper care.  Section off a small part of the living room, add some soft blankets or bedding to the enclosure and keep the place at a suitable temperature to make the area as comfortable as possible. Make sure the area is large enough for your dog to stand up and move about freely. Also, keep in mind that a pet recovering from surgery may require additional care from you, even if confined to a box or a limited space. Spending time with your pet can help them heal significantly. Call Sun Valley Animal Center today!

5. Give Time for Rehabilitation

One of the essential things to remember following surgery is that your dog will likely be tired and sluggish for at least 24 to 48 hours. Don’t expect your dog to return to normalcy right away. Allow him time to rest and re-establish himself. Keep noise levels down (so your dog can sleep) by mending items that routinely generate noise, asking your kids to play outside, and turning the TV down to a low volume.

Get Help Today

If you believe your pet is a candidate for one of our diagnostic services, contact Sun Valley Animal Center, proudly serving our friends and neighbors in Boise, Salt Lake City, Spokane, Billings, and beyond. Sun Valley Animal Center is a seasoned pet surgical facility. We will provide excellent treatment for your dog and ensure that he heals fast and successfully. Contact us immediately if you have any queries, and we will get your dog the treatment he needs.