It is very important that for the next 7-10 days, your pet be leashed walked if outside to use the bathroom and not allowed to jump up and down or play with other animals. This is important to allow time for the blood vessels to seal themselves off and the body wall to close properly. During this time, the surgical site needs to remain clean and dry. This means, no bathing, and if there is rain, drying the area quickly. Also, do not allow your pet to lick at the area more than a quick cleaning. If they continue to lick or focus at the site, you should put on an inflatable collar, e-collar, or a recovery body suit. If any swelling or the site looks unusually, please schedule a recheck appointment quickly.

Over the next couple of days, your pet may have a soft dry cough. This is normal after being intubated. If the cough lasts longer than a couple of days, or is non-stop, please call us.

Please monitor their gum color. The gums above the teeth should be a nice pink color. If your pet’s gums become pale, they are cold, or very lethargic, this could indicate internal bleeding; please get them to our clinic right away or an emergency clinic if it is after hours.

Anesthesia affects different animals differently. Some animals may get nauseated. Offer your pet some water at 6pm tonight. If they don’t drink or vomit the water up, do not feed them-they are still nauseated from the anesthesia. If they keep the water down, you can offer them ¼ of their normal amount tonight. They should be back to their normal diet in the morning. If they vomits more than once, please take them to the clinic or an emergency center (if it is after hours), as constant vomiting could lead to sutures tearing and internal bleeding.

Your pet was given pain medication before the surgery and in most cases sent home with pain medication for the next few days. Start the pain medication in the morning. If they still seem uncomfortable (pacing, heavy breathing, looking at surgical site, change in behavior, lethargic, etc), please contact us.

There are generally no sutures to be removed. Unless told otherwise, the sutures are buried in the skin and should dissolve slowly over the next few months. If any swelling, heat, pain, or discharge noted from the incision, please call us right away.