Post Op Instructions
POST OP INSTRUCTIONS FOR DOGS
ACTIVITY: STRICT ACTIVITY RESTRICTION IS REQUIRED FOR THE NEXT 7 TO 10 DAYS
- Dogs must be kept indoors for AT LEAST 24 hours post surgery.
- All dogs should go out on a leash to urinate/defecate and then return inside.
- Keep the incision site dry. DO NOT BATHE OR CLEAN THE INCISION SITE OR APPLY TOPICAL OINTMENT FOR 10 TO 14 DAYS.
- No running, jumping, getting on/off furniture or rough play/activity.
- Overly active male dogs may have scrotal swelling and overly active female dogs may develop a firm knot under the incision.
- Keep males away from un-spayed females for 30 days.
- Keep females away from unneutered males for 7 days.
-If your female dog was in heat, vaginal discharge may be noted for 1 to 2 weeks. Keep her away from any unneutered males for 30 days.
- Be prepared to keep your pets separate during the recovery period.
INCISION: MONITOR THE INCISION SITE TWICE DAILY
- A small of blood seepage with minimal redness/swelling is normal immediately after surgery and should resolve within several days.
- DO NOT ALLOW LICKING OR CHEWING OF THE INCISION SITE. They must wear the Elizabethan collar or surgical suite at all times.
DIET:
- Appetite should return gradually within 24 hours of surgery. Do not change the animal's normal diet.
- Nausea may be noted after surgery.
- Pets are fasted prior to surgery, so it is normal for no stool production for 2 to 3 days post op.
MEDICATION:
-Give any/all medications as prescribed. Pain medications should not be started until the day after surgery, unless otherwise directed.
MEDICAL CONCERNS:
- Contact us IMMEDIATELY if you notice any of the following: pale gums, depression, unsteady gait, loss of appetite or decreased water intake; vomiting; diarrhea; discharge or bleeding from the incision; a squishy bump at the incision site; difficulty urinating or defecating; labored breathing.
- Our medical team can be reached directly from our Fix A Friend Facebook page thru Messenger for medical concerns post op. Please send a message and someone will get back to you as soon as possible. You will immediately receive an automated response but a team member will respond to your specific message.
- Do not give human medication to your pet. It is dangerous and can be fatal.
- We will make every reasonable effort to treat at OUR CLINIC, at minimal cost, any post-operative complications resulting directly from the surgery IF THE ABOVE POST OPERATIVE INSTRUCTIONS ARE FOLLOWED IN FULL. Your regular veterinarian must address illnesses or injuries that are not a direct result of surgery.
- If your pet received a vaccine at our clinic other than Rabies, please discuss a "booster" vaccine with your regular veterinarian or with us. Canine distemper/parvo vaccines all need to be "boostered" 3 to 4 weeks after administration of the first vaccine for maximum effectiveness.
POST OP INSTRUCTIONS FOR CATS
ACTIVITY/BEHAVIOR:
- Your cat has just had surgery and general anesthesia. It will take a few days for them to seem "normal".
- Immediately post op: your cat may be trembling , jittery, confused and moderately painful. It is common for their pupils to be dilated from the anesthesia and pain medications.
- 2 to 5 Days post op: your cat may hide, be tired, uncomfortable and have a decreased appetite. If your cat received vaccines, they may be painful at the injection sites and run a fever. This usually subsides within a few days.
- Cats should be kept indoors for at least 24 hours.
- Running, jumping and playing should be discouraged. Over-activity can cause problems with their incision.
- Your cat may have a reduced appetite for a few days. The anesthesia and pain medications may cause nausea, vomiting or loose stools for 1 to 2 days. IF your cat has prolonged issues with gastrointestinal upset, they may require a follow-up visit with your regular veterinarian.
- If your cat had any pre-existing problems noted by our clinical staff, you will be notified on your paperwork. These problems may require a follow-up visit with your regular veterinarian.
- Anesthesia and surgery related lethargy and inappetence should resolve within 1 to 2 days.
INCISION:
-Monitor your cats incision twice daily. DO NOT CLEAN OR APPLY TOPICAL OINTMENT TO THE INCISION SITE.
-Male cat incisions are left OPEN. Monitor for bleeding, excessive swelling, heat, redness or yellow discharge.
-Female cat incisions are typically closed with buried sutures that you cannot see with surgical glue applied to the skin at incision. These will slowly dissolve over the next 8 to 12 weeks. Monitor the incision for soft swelling, heat, redness or discharge.
- If your female cat was in heat at the time of surgery, you must keep her away from intact males for at least two weeks. While she is unable to become pregnant, she may still attract males for a short period of time. If a male attempts to breed with a recently spayed female it can be serious and possibly life threatening to the female.
ALL CATS:
- Over-activity can cause increased swelling.
- Female cats will develop a had raised area at their incision if they are overly active.
-Male cats will swell.
-Do not let your cat lick/bite at their incision. They may require an Elizabethan Collar or a surgical suit to prevent them from traumatizing their incision.
MEDICAL CONCERNS:
- If you have concerns, please message our medical team from our Fix A Friend Facebook page thru Messenger and someone will get back to you as soon as possible. You will immediately receive an automated response but a team member will respond to your specific message.
- If your pet received a vaccine at our clinic other than Rabies, please discuss a "booster" vaccine with your regular veterinarian or with us. Feline distemper vaccines all need to be "boostered" 3 to 4 weeks after administration of the first vaccine for maximum effectiveness.