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Caring for Your Dog After Surgery: 7 Tips to Help

8 March 2019

After a surgery, your dog will need special care. Your dog will need to relax more than usual, and may also have to eat special foods. Dogs who do not receive special care the days or weeks after their surgery could break open their sutures or reopen their wound.

The longer your dog’s wound takes to heal, the greater the risk for infection. As a pet owner, you can protect your pet from these problems. Here's what you need to know about providing care for your pet after surgery.

1. Ensure Bed Rest

Set up a bed inside a fenced-in area or a dog crate. The space should be large enough for your pet to stand up, turn around, and lay back down. Put a comfortable blanket in the crate.

When your dog needs to go outside to relieve themselves, put your dog on a short leash to prevent them from walking far. Bring your dog inside as soon as they're done. Do this for as long as your dog's veterinarian believes is necessary. The recovery time depends on the surgery.

2. Keep Up With Medicine

Some dogs need antibiotics after their surgery, others need pain medications. Set an alarm on your phone to ensure that you remember to give your dog medicines as needed. Read the instructions for each type of medicine, to ensure that you administer the medicine properly.

3. Watch for Behaviors That Could Damage the Wound Site

As your dog's wound site starts to heal, watch your dog for behaviors that could cause infection. Your dog may try to scratch, lick, or bite the wound. Stop your dog from engaging in these behaviors as soon as you notice them happening. You may need to put a cone around your dog's neck. Talk to your dog's veterinarian about the behavior to work on potential solutions.

4. Create a Relaxing Environment

Keep your dog away from small children, loud noises and anything that could cause your dog stress. You may need to set up a quiet room for your dog in a part of the house where people do not spend as much time.

5. Feed Your Dog Properly

Many dogs will need to eat less in the days after their surgery. Avoid feeding your dog rich dog foods that could prompt your dog to over eat. Your dog's veterinarian may recommend feeding your dog something like boiled hamburger meat.

Do not season any foods that you prepare for your pet, as this could cause an upset stomach. Only feed your dog the foods that the veterinarian recommends.

Give your dog water periodically throughout the day, but watch your dog when they drink. A dog who is very groggy and on pain medications may fall asleep while drinking, which could lead to accidental drowning.

6. Watch for Problems

Watch for problems following your dog's surgery. Symptoms like oozing and strange odors around the wound site could be an indication that your dog is struggling with infection. Talk to your pet's veterinarian if you notice these signs.

7. Get Instructions from Your Pet's Veterinarian

Every recovery is different. Talk to your dog's veterinarian following the surgery to find out what to expect your dog's recovery to be like. Write down the veterinarian's recommendations and keep them posted somewhere in the house where other members of your household can see them.

Post the emergency number for your pet's veterinarian on the refrigerator, so other members of your family can find it easily if your pet should have a negative reaction. Tell them the number is there.

For more information about how you can take care of your pet following surgery, contact Pet Medical Center of Vero Beach. We'll be happy to answer your questions, to help ensure that your pet can recover from surgery safely.

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