Caring for your pet after surgery can feel a little daunting. Most pets recover well with a quiet place to rest, their prescribed medication, and a little extra love and attention from you.
This guide explains what you may notice, some advice for you and your family, and when to call us if you feel you need some guidance.
Your pet’s discharge instructions are the most important guide to their care: recovery times can vary depending on the procedure and patient. For example, any underlying conditions they may have and their age can increase their healing time. Please follow any specific advice our veterinary team gives you.
The first night at home
Settle your pet in a warm, quiet, comfortable spot away from stairs, other pets and busy
household activity. They may be sleepy or a little unsteady while the anaesthetic wears off, so keep an eye on them and help them avoid jumping onto furniture.
Some pets take until the following day to seem like themselves again. If your pet is difficult to wake, seems to be
getting worse rather than better, has excessive bleeding from their surgical wound, or has trouble breathing, seek advice from our team.
Feeding after surgery
Offer fresh water when your pet is awake and able to drink. Unless we’ve advised otherwise, start with a small meal about one-quarter of their usual portion rather than a full dinner.
Anaesthetic can sometimes cause nausea. If your pet keeps the small meal down, you can
gradually return to their usual feeding routine. This will be directed by our team at discharge. Please call us if they vomit repeatedly or are not eating normally within 24 hours.
Why has hair been clipped from your pet’s leg
Your pet may have a small, clipped patch on either a front or hind leg where an intravenous catheter was placed. If there is a light wrap over that spot, remove it at the time advised by our team, usually within a couple of hours of arriving home. They may also have a small, clipped patch on their neck where we have collected blood from.
This is different from a bandage covering a surgical wound; if you are unsure which type your pet has, please call before removing it.
Some pets may have some irritation where we have clipped their fur, this is called clipper rash. If you notice any localised redness, irritation or tiny red bumps within 24hrs of their procedure, please let us know. If your pet continuously licks or chews at the spot, please call us as soon as possible and pop an e-collar on them if you have one, to stop further irritation to the rash.
Rest and exercise
Rest not only helps the surgical site heal but decreases the opportunity for post-op complications to arise. Keep your pet quiet and confined for the first day or two, then continue to limit running, jumping, rough play and trenuous exercise for the period we recommend.
Dogs should have short, controlled toilet walks; cats should stay indoors. The right time to resume normal activity depends on the surgery, so please do not assume that your pet is fully healed just because they seem lively after a few days.
Some pets have a mild cough after an anaesthetic because a breathing tube was used during the procedure. Let us know if the cough is persistent or worsening, or if your pet has any difficulty breathing.
Medication
Give all medication exactly as directed on the label and in your discharge instructions. If you are having trouble giving a dose, or your pet vomits after taking medication, contact us for advice rather than changing or repeating he dose yourself.
The wound
Check the surgical site at least once a day. A little mild bruising or swelling can occur, but please contact us if you notice increased redness or swelling, bleeding, discharge, an unpleasant smell, or a wound that is opening.
Keep the area clean and dry: no bathing or swimming for at least 14 days unless your vet advises otherwise.
Do not apply creams, sprays or other products to the wound unless our team has recommended them for your pet.
It is important that your pet does not lick, chew or scratch their stitches. A properly fitted protective collar is often the most reliable way to prevent this; our team can help you choose an e-collar, soft collar or other suitable option. Please check that your pet cannot reach the wound while wearing it. If stitches come out or the wound opens, contact us promptly, as further treatment may be needed.
If your pet has a dressing over the incision, follow the removal instructions we give you at discharge. Dressings and bandages serve different purposes, and some should not be left on – or taken off – without specific advice. Keep any bandage clean and dry, and call us if it slips, gets wet, smells unpleasant or appears to be bothering our pet.
Our reception team will arrange a wound check and/or suture removal around 14 days after surgery, if needed. There is no charge for this appointment. Some pets have dissolvable sutures that do not need removing, but their wound may still need to be checked. We will explain what applies to your pet before they go home.
After a dental procedure
If your pet has had teeth removed, you may see a small amount of pink-tinged saliva during the first day or two. This should lessen, not increase. Please contact us if there is more than a little bleeding, if it continues or worsens, or if your pet seems very uncomfortable.
Tender gums can make chewing difficult. Feed soft food, or dry food softened with water, for the length of time specified in your pet’s discharge instructions. The recommended period depends on the dental work performed and may be longer than a couple of days after extractions.
Avoid hard treats and chew toys until our team says it is safe to reintroduce them. Even pets that have had all their teeth removed can eat well once they have healed; we can help you plan a comfortable diet for them.
When to contact us
Please call us if your pet is not eating normally within 24 hours, vomits repeatedly, seems unusually lethargic after the first day, appears to be in significant pain, or has increasing redness, swelling, bleeding or discharge at the surgical site.
You do not need to wait for a scheduled check-up if something concerns you. Seek urgent veterinary care for breathing difficulties, collapse, severe weakness, pale gums, heavy bleeding or a wound that has opened.
If you are unsure whether something is normal, we would rather you ask.
Call our team on (03) 6326 4900, or visit our contact page. For time-sensitive concerns,
please phone rather than use the online contact form.