If your pet cat or dog has recently undergone surgery, there’s no doubt you’re looking for something, anything that you can do to help them stay safe, healthy, and happy while speeding their recovery up as much as possible. In this guide, we’ll go over our top tips on how to provide safe pet care to ensure a speedy recovery after your furry friend undergoes surgery.
First, a Few Important Notes to Mention
Naturally, your veterinarian will provide you with extensive guidance on how to look after your pet post-operation. These tips are meant to be used in conjunction with this advice, but you should always default to the instructions of your veterinarian. If you’re ever unsure, contact your vet to discuss the best practices.
Another note is that the specific procedure your pet went through will determine how to care for them afterwards. Some surgeries have very short recovery times, while others require longer recovery times. It’s vital that pet owners ask their vet questions about the procedure and the recovery process, ensuring they know what’s expected of them when it comes to post-op pet care.
Following a few simple rules for post-operative care is essential for all types of surgical procedures.
1. Make Sure Your Pet Gets Lots of Rest
Rest is when the body is most able to recover, which makes it essential after surgery. To help with this, it might be worth making some efforts to restrict their movements. For example, providing a comfortable crate with blankets and toys can be a good way to keep your pet relaxed and resting. Make sure their area is in a place where they won’t be disturbed by children or other pets.
It’s possible that your pet won’t want to play or be petted after their surgery. Even if they do seem interested, it’s best to minimize stimulation to encourage your pet to rest and get better.
2. Restrict Feeding at First
Usually, your vet will tell you to restrict feeding to your pet for a short period after the surgery. Typically, cats and dogs can have a small amount of food and water once they’re fully awake after surgery, but this will still depend on the procedure and your vet’s recommendations.
While your pet’s feeding is restricted, you can feed them small ice chips to help them stay hydrated without interfering with their recovery.
3. Keep Activity to a Minimum for a Few Days
Do your best to discourage your pet from being too active for the first few days after surgery. You should still take your dog outside to do their business, but we recommend keeping them on a leash to ensure they don’t overexert themselves. Bear in mind that you may need to take your dog out more often if they’re on medication or have received a lot of fluids during their surgery.
For cats, do your best to limit stimulation to help them stay calm and still.
4. Handle Your Pet Gently
Your pet might be less patient than usual while recovering from surgery, so it’s important to handle them with care. This ensures you don’t hurt them by accident, and helps you avoid being scratched or bitten by a frustrated pet.
If your pet was under anesthetic, their balance and movement will probably be a little different until it’s out of their system. You might need to gently assist them when they’re on the move. If your pet is small, you may find it easier to wrap them in your arms or a clean towel or blanket and carry them wherever they want to go.
5. Keep Your Pet and Surroundings Clean
When taking your dog outside to urinate or defecate, keep them on the leash and out of the dirt. Make sure crates and beds and bedding are kept clean. Provide a clean litter box for your cat and change the litter frequently during their recovery.
By keeping your pet and their environment clean, you reduce the risk of infection or re-infection while they’re healing from surgery.
6. Check the Surgery Area Daily
Make sure to check on your pet’s surgery area daily, looking for any signs of infection such as extreme redness or a lot of draining fluid. A little swelling or seepage is normal, but if you see anything more than that, contact your vet right away. Don’t attempt to clean the affected area without your vet’s go-ahead.
7. Don’t Let Your Pet Lick or Bite the Area
Licking and biting at the part of their body where surgery took place is a common instinct for cats and dogs, but this can hamper the healing process or even cause an infection. If your vet recommends a cone after surgery, make sure your pet wears it at all times. If not, you can discourage biting and licking by putting your pet in a t-shirt, bandages, or booties.
Check with your vet before covering the affected area with anything.
Ensuring a Swift Recovery for Your Pet
Surgery has the power to save a pet’s life and help them enjoy many more years of healthy life, however the recovery process can be difficult. With these tips and the guidance of your veterinarian, you can help keep your pet as happy, comfortable, and pain-free as possible while they recover from an operation.
Remember that these tips are just a starting point, and that you should always default to your veterinarian’s instructions if you’re in any doubt. Depending on the nature of the surgery, you may need to make adjustments to feeding, activity, exercise, and other parts of your pet’s lifestyle. While this can be a big adjustment for pet owners too, it’s ultimately for the benefit of your cat or dog’s overall health and well-being.
Creative Commons Attribution: Permission is granted to repost this article in its entirety with credit to Hastings Veterinary Hospital and a clickable link back to this page.
