Taking Your Pet Home
 How To Care For Your Pet After Surgery

• Dependant upon when the patient is discharged, your pet may be groggy for up to 12 hours after the anesthetic procedure. Larger pets may need assistance getting in and out of vehicles.  In some cases the incision may seep a small amount of blood or blood-tinged fluid. So be sure to have a blanket or towel for your pet to lay on to prevent staining.  Your pet may also need assistance into the house.

• Do not allow your pet to become overly active or excited.  Excess activity may result in injury to the pet or to the area of the surgery.  If the pet gets loose additional injury may occur that may need medical attention.
  

• Restrict access to water during the first hour or so after arriving home.  After the excitement of being home has passed only allow access to small amounts of water (at one time) over the next 8 hours to prevent vomiting.

• Due to fasting prior to surgery your pet may not have a bowel movement for 24-36 hours after returning home.  This is normal.

• Once home, limit exercise after surgery. (e.g. avoid stairs)  Pets that need to go out for eliminations must be leash walked.  Allowing pets to roam free may lead to injury.
   

• Discourage your pet from licking or chewing at sutures and/or the incision area.  Licking and chewing can lead to irritation, infection and/or opening of the incision.  Your pet may need to go home with an Elizabethan collar (e-collar) to hinder the pet's ability to reach the incision area.  If you suspect you pet may lick or chew ask your veterinarian for a e-collar prior to taking your pet home.

• Check the area daily for any swelling, redness or discharge. If this occurs contact your veterinarian immediately.
   

• Monitor your pet for loss of appetite for more than 2 days, refusal to drink for more than 24 hours, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, or unusual behavior uncharacteristic of your pet.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should I monitor his activity?

How long a pet's activity should be restricted depends upon the type of procedure that was performed and the anesthesia used. 

 *These times are a general average.  Check with your veterinarian for the restrictions for your specific pet.

When do the stitches come out?

When the stitches come out depends upon the type of procedure and the type of suture material used.   Some suture material is absorbable and will eventually dissolve after the incision has healed.  These do not need to be removed.  Some suture is non-absorbable, meaning it will not dissolve, and will need to be removed.  The removal of external suture (stitches on the outside) is not painful and is usually done with the pet awake.  This can be anywhere from 7 days to 21 days after the procedure.  Check with your veterinarian to find out the exact protocol for your pet.

What if my pet has had dental extractions?

Severe dental disease or extractions can leave a pets mouth tender and sore after a dental and you may see small amounts of blood from the mouth.  This is normal.  In addition to the pain medication prescribed by your veterinarian you may need to feed your pet soft food for 3-5 days after the procedure to help with this. 

**If you see large amounts of blood,  or continuous bleeding contact your veterinarian. If after 5 days your pet still seems painful when eating or if you are still seeing small amounts of blood contact your veterinarian as well.