Following surgery, pets, like humans, require specific post-operative care. While there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to pet care, you can do a few things to make your pet more comfortable. Knowing how to properly care for your pet after surgery will allow you to return your pet to normal quickly and without difficulties. This blog entry will explain post-operative care for your pet.
Collect Contact Details
It is essential to have the contact information for your family veterinarian and your local emergency clinic (or surgeon or another specialist) readily available. Please do not hesitate to contact the vet if you have any questions. They are there to assist you, and there are no foolish inquiries regarding your pet’s health.
Take Note of Discharge Instructions
Take great heed of the directions for discharge. A staff person should ideally review them with you line by line. Ask inquiries, take notes, know when to begin which meds, when to return for rechecks or suture removal, and know what to watch out for. If possible, schedule follow-up visits while in the clinic.
Care for Bandages
To avoid severe effects, bandages and splints must be maintained appropriately. Keep them clean and dry, and have your veterinarian replace them during a pet checkup as recommended. Replace them once each week or more frequently if necessary. The greatest difficulty with wearing them for an extended period is the development of pressure ulcers. Bandage application is both an art and a science. Therefore, a veterinarian or an experienced technician should do the procedure.
Every day, splints and bandages should be inspected for evidence of discomfort, swelling, or wetness/humidity, and any findings should be documented. Wrap bandages and splints in plastic to keep them dry when your pet is outside.
Provide a Confined Space
Depending on the nature of the procedure, it may be important to refrain from jumping, jogging, or traversing furniture (including beds and sofas) or stairs. Follow your veterinarian’s recommendations at all times, as a cat recovering from eyelid surgery will not have the same limits as a dog with a broken bone.
What is the most effective way to confine a pet? Unless you use a box large enough to hold a Saint Bernard and a Chihuahua, vets rarely recommend crates. Large and medium-sized dogs should be kept in a small, unfurnished space, while cats and tiny dogs should be housed in an inverted baby or puppy playpen. Why is it inverted? To prevent your pet from climbing over the railing.
Provide a warm bed, food, water, and a litter box for cats to ensure that your pet’s confinement is comfortable.
Check the Incision
Daily examine the incision for edema, bruising, bleeding, and drainage. Your veterinarian or nurse must adhere to special instructions during pet diagnostics to keep the incision clean and dry. Vets advise washing it lightly with tap water and a soft cloth or paper towel if there is any drainage. Please retain the plastic cone (also known as an Elizabethan collar or E-collar) to protect your pet from licking or chewing the stitches. Your pet will adjust more quickly as you adhere to the cone’s use more rigidly. In the interim, everyone will preserve their sanity.
Conclusion
Depending on the approach, your pet should feel better and be more active in a few days following surgery. Here, let your pet move more. Ensure that your pet does not overdo it. Your pet could require physical care. Plan to guarantee that you and your pet can attend all classes. If anything happens, contact your veterinarian. Recovery could take weeks or months. Be patient, and everything should go smoothly. You don’t want to undo the good you’ve done for your pet by allowing them to resume typical activities prematurely.
