How to Prepare Your Pet for Surgery

Any instance where your pet has to go into surgery is going to be overwhelming. It doesn’t matter how big or small the procedure may be, there’s nothing worse than seeing your beloved pet scared. So, when it comes time for you to schedule surgery for your pet, ensuring that you are prepared for the procedure is always a good thing to do.

In today’s blog, we are going to touch on a few of the things that you can do to prepare for your pet’s surgery to ensure that they are at their most comfortable before and after the fact. Let’s dive right in.

Before the Surgery

Most of the time, people like to plan for after the surgery has been completed, but that is not the only time that you should be making efforts to prepare. There are still a couple of things that you can do in advance to ensure that your pet is ready for their upcoming surgery. For starters, it’s always good to make sure that your pet is up to date on all of their vaccinations. If you’re unsure, scheduling a visit with your primary vet would be extremely beneficial to do beforehand.

Aside from that, the week or two before the surgery is a great time to determine how you are going to get your pet to and from the place where they will be having surgery. Once you’ve got these two things figured out, you can start to plan for their return from the surgery.

Day of the Surgery

On the actual day of the surgery, the one thing that you’re going to want to make sure of is that your pet isn’t consuming any food. While they should be fine to have water before the surgery, it’s good to keep an eye on just how much your pet is consuming. If you’re not entirely sure what the guidelines for food and water are, make sure to call your vet.

After the Surgery

Most procedures that our pets will go through are going to take some time for them to get back to feeling entirely themselves. That being said, taking some time to prepare for their return and how it’s going to affect them is never a bad thing. Depending on the particular procedure that your pet had, there will be specific care instructions that are given to you. Certain places will provide these to you in advance so that you can better prepare, but a majority of vets will give these to you when you come to pick your pet up.

Keep reading for a few of the most common things that you should know in regards to your pet’s recovery.

Cone

Most procedures that pets have done are going to require an incision or stitches, and no matter how big or small it is, in these instances, you can anticipate your pet having a cone to take home. While these items may seem silly, they help ensure that your pet doesn’t lick or pick at the wound. For it to heal in a timely and healthy manner, you want to make sure that you follow the guidelines.

Pain Medication

While the cone will ensure that your pet stays away from the incision, the pain medication that they receive will help keep them from getting too uncomfortable throughout the healing process. When it comes to medicines and animals, it’s crucial that you follow the instructions given to you by the vet. Too much could become toxic to your pet while too little could leave them in pain.

Minimize Activity

One of the most challenging things for pets to do after surgery is to minimize their movement. While owners can understand why they shouldn’t exert their body, it’s much more difficult for the animal to understand. From dogs running to cats pouncing, you want to make sure that your pet is doing their best to give their body time to heal. That means stopping walks and roughhousing for a couple of days. If there is another animal that is going to encourage this type of movement, do your best to keep them separated.

Contact Sun Valley Animal Center

Whether you have questions regarding the procedure that your pet is going to undergo, would like to know more about how you can prepare, or you have questions about the recovery process, feel free to contact our team. We have been fortunate enough to help countless animals in the Ketchum area receive the care they need, and we don’t plan on stopping anytime soon. Contact us today to schedule a visit with one of our vets, and reach out to us if you need any additional assistance.