6 Tips for Caring for Your Pet Post-Surgery

Chances are that your pet will need to have surgery at some point during their life. While different factors affect this, such as the health of dog breeds and the age of an animal, most pets will need to be spayed, neutered, or undergo an operation for a variety of health reasons. Be prepared to help your furry friend post-surgery with these simple pet care tips.

Create a separate space 

While your cat or dog is recovering from their operation, it is a safe idea to keep them in a special area, especially if you have small children or other animals. This will allow them to rest and move around in a risk-free space.

Watch where they walk  

Keep an eye on your pet as they move around. Especially in the first days post-surgery, they might experience balance problems from the anesthesia. Keep them away from stairs and off offurniture to avoid any dangerous tumbles.

Make sure they wear their e-collar  

This “Elizabethan collar,” the cone shaped collar that your vet will likely give you, is designed to keep your pet from licking their incision. This is essential in their healing process. While your pet may fuss with the collar at first, they will soon get used to it. Plus, it’s great Instagram material.

Give them food and water  

While they may not show apparent hunger or thirst after their operation, be sure to keep them fed and hydrated. Your vet will have specific instructions on this given your pet’s specific surgery. Vomiting is common on the first day of recovery.

Take care of the incision  

Check the incision twice per day to check for signs of inflection, including redness, swelling, and discharge. When in doubt, call your vet’s office with questions. To prevent these problems, keep the incision site clean by gently dabbing it with a warm washcloth.

Avoid bathing 

Keeping your pet’s incision dry will be important, especially for the first few weeks. Especially when ensuring the health of dog breeds that play outside, either keep them indoors or avoid letting them go near muddy patches of grass.

With more than $13 billion spent on vet care in the U.S. each year, basic animal care and pet health knowledge is a must for pet owners. By aiding your animal in the healing process post-surgery, you are preventing future vet visits and health complications. As always, be sure to call your vet with any questions.