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Post-Operative Care

How to care for your pet after an operation

Post-Operative Care

How to care for your pet after an operation

  • Post-operative checks
  • Post-general anaesthetic care
  • Post-sedation care
  • Post-operative care of casts and bandages

Post-operative checks

Wounds

When you collect your pet you will notice an area has been clipped from the surgical site in order to clean the area before operating. There will be an incision where the surgery has taken place. It is quite common to get some swelling and this will reduce with time.

Please check the wound daily, if there is any excessive discharge from the wound please contacts us. Do NOT let your pet lick the wound. Please use a buster collar if provided, or call us for advice.

It is essential that your pet is kept quiet and on the lead at all times when outside until advised otherwise at your post op check up.

Medication

Your pet will have had pain killing injections on the day of his/her operation and afterwards if needed. The nurse will advise you on any further medication that is required.

Post-general anaesthetic care

When you bring your pet home, you should keep them quiet, comfortable, and warm as they have had medication and may still be drowsy that evening.

Feeding

Your pet will have been offered food on recovery from their procedure but you can feed them their normal food tonight.

Wounds

When you collect your pet you may notice a small patch of hair has been clipped from their foreleg or neck. This has been done to give the general anaesthetic or to take a blood sample. If a surgical procedure has been performed there will also be hair removed from the surgical site in order to clean the area before operating.

Please check any surgical wounds on a daily basis there may be some swelling present but if there is any heavy bleeding or discharge coming from the wound please contact the surgery. It is important that your pet does not lick the wound. If it does start to lick the wound please contact us to pick up a buster collar or get further advice. If there are any sutures (stitches) to be removed the nurse will advise you when this is necessary at the time of discharge.

Medication

All animals undergoing surgery will have been injected with a pain killing drug while they are with us this should keep them comfortable for the next 24 hours.

Exercise

Dogs should be kept on a lead until you come back for their post op check unless otherwise instructed. Cats should be kept indoors until you come back for their post op check unless otherwise instructed.

Post-sedation care

When you get your pet home you may find they are quieter than normal. This is quite common and they should be back to their normal selves in 24 hours.

Feeding

Your pet will have been offered food on recovery from their procedure but you can feed them their normal food tonight. Don’t worry if they are not hungry, their appetite should be back to normal after 24 hours.

In small animals, for example rabbits and guinea pigs, it is essential that they eat quickly following their operation. Call us should you have any concerns.

Wounds

When you collect your pet you may notice a small patch of hair has been clipped from their fore leg. This is sometimes done to enable us to give the sedation intravenously.

If your pet has had any other procedures done a nurse or vet will go through these on discharge.

Post-operative care of casts and bandages

A cast or dressing has been applied to your pet’s leg to restrict joint movement or to restrict joint movement at a fracture site.

If your pet starts to pay sudden attention to the cast, suddenly stops using the leg or seems agitated and unsettled please contact the practice for advice.

Check the cast or dressing daily for signs of:

  • Odour
  • Discharge
  • Movement
  • Skin irritation
  • Swelling of the limb
  • Fluid build up around the limb

Care of the cast or dressing

Prevent the cast or dressing from getting wet or soiled by covering it with a plastic bag whilst outside or a clean sock whilst indoors. Do not leave the plastic bag on for long periods.

Interference by the pet should be discouraged by applying a buster collar.

Please do not try and redress your pet’s leg if the dressing or cast becomes loose or falls off. Please contact the practice immediately for advice.

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