Our veterinary surgery services.
Frequently Asked Post-Operative Questions
Yes! You can email pictures to us and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. If it is the weekend and you are concerned, please contact your pet’s primary veterinarian or seek care at an emergency veterinary hospital.
Anesthesia and pain medications can slow down the digestive process, so some pets may not defecate for a few days after surgery. Fasting before surgery may also contribute to constipation.
Pumpkin is a natural laxative, so adding pureed or canned pumpkin (without additives like high fructose corn syrup or sugar) to your pet’s food can help encourage bowel movement.
If your pet is still straining to defecate or showing signs of constipation, please call our office for further instructions and recommendations.
Most of our patients receive intravenous (IV) fluids during surgery and leave the hospital well hydrated. If your pet is not urinating on walks at home, they may not be drinking enough water or could be having undiscovered accidents (please check all bedding thoroughly).
If they have not urinated for 24 hours, but they are drinking and all their bedding is dry, please give us a call. A reluctance or inability to urinate could be due to something like post-op pain medication, but we need to identify the cause.
It is not unusual for post-operative patients to avoid eating for 24 hours after surgery. If they are still not eating after this period, you can try to give them nutritious treats or food, but please call our office to let us know. Inappetence can be a sign of nausea or pain, and we want to ensure your pet is comfortable during their recovery.
If your pet experiences vomiting or diarrhea, please notify our office. If we are not open, please reach out to your primary care veterinarian’s office. If the situation is urgent, please take your pet to the nearest emergency veterinary hospital.
We recommend discontinuing specific medications if vomiting or diarrhea occurs. Please check your pet’s medication labels and discharge instructions and discontinue those medications until you have spoken with a veterinarian.
Some pets will let you know they are in pain through whining, crying or restlessness. More subtle signs of pain can include lethargy, excessive licking, panting, decreased appetite and hiding. If you think your pet is uncomfortable, please let us know so we can help.
The single most effective way to ensure your pet leaves the surgical site alone is to keep an e-collar or inflatable collar on them at all times during recovery.
We’ve found that methods like shirts or bitter sprays aren’t effective, and a pet can very quickly pull out sutures or lick the area, which can lead to an infection. If your pet can reach the incision while wearing an e-collar or inflatable collar, we will need to refit them with one that prevents them from reaching the area.
Many of the medications we prescribe are given every 8-12 hours or up to three times a day. If your pet received medications in the middle of the night while hospitalized, you can adjust the dosing times to a schedule that is more convenient for you, such as before bed, in the early morning and afternoon/evening.
Once home, it is most important to keep the timing consistent, so your pet always has the medications in their system.
We recommend administering pills in a sticky substance like cream cheese or peanut butter, or in a high-value treat such as a hot dog or meatball. Pill Pocket treats also work for some pets.
If these suggestions do not work, we recommend physically giving your pet the medication. This is done by placing the pill as far back on their tongue as possible and gently keeping their mouth closed while stroking their throat until you feel or see the swallowing movement. If your pet licks their nose, it is also a sign of them swallowing. We recommend trying this process first with a tiny piece of kibble or food roughly the size of the medication to avoid wasting any pills. Our technicians can also demonstrate this process for you.
If you are still unable to get your pet to swallow the medication, we may be able to have the medication compounded into a liquid. Note that not all medications can be compounded. It takes a couple of days for the medications to be made and delivered and is generally more expensive than pills. If you think it will be easier to get your pet to swallow a liquid, please let us know and we can investigate ordering compounded medications for them.
They will likely be toe-touching and lightly using their leg when they leave the hospital. You should see a gradual increase in prolonged use of the leg over the next one to two weeks. In most cases, we see consistent use of the leg by the two-week recheck appointment.
Bathing after surgery is at the surgeon’s discretion. Make sure to ask about bathing at your pet’s recheck appointments, and only give them a bath when you are told it is okay to do so. Unfortunately, this may not be until after they have fully recovered. You can purchase “dry” shampoo at the pet store or use hypoallergenic baby wipes for spot cleaning in the interim.