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How to Care For Dogs Recovering From Surgery or an Injury
Monday 2nd March 2020
The time following surgery for your dog can be confusing and distressing for you both. Depending on what the surgery was, there will be different requirements in terms of wound care, recovery and rest time, and the medications or supportive therapies they may need post-surgery. This guide offers some practical general guidance, but make sure that you always follow any advice given by your vet post surgery.
Immediate Post Surgery
The first 24 hours after your dog returns home from surgery can often be the most challenging. Your dog will likely still be drowsy from the effects of the anesthetic and it can make them confused, uncoordinated, distressed and unsettled.
Trying to make sure they are warm, comfortable, safe and secure is a priority. Make sure that you or another member of the family is around to supervise them, try to give them a quiet space away from excitable children or other animals and make sure that they have access to water to keep them hydrated.
In the immediate hours after surgery if your dog shows any unusual symptoms it is important to consult your vet immediately to establish if they may be having a post-surgery problem. Signs to look for can include:
- Trembling/ the inability to get warm
- Being extremely lethargic, weak or unresponsive
- If there is any bleeding/discharge from the wound area or anywhere else
- A Fever
- Respiratory issues
- Gums that are not as pink as normal
- Excessive Vomiting or Diarrhea
- Blood in the urine or faeces.
If your dog does not have a bowel movement in the first couple of days after surgery you should not be overly concerned about this unless it is alongside any other worrying symptoms. Don’t forget that your dog will likely have been fasted before the surgery and then may have had a decreased appetite afterwards. Also, some of the medications they may be on to control pain could be associated with constipation.
Pain Medication
Depending on the type of surgery or injury that your dog has, they may also be prescribed medication to help manage any pain they may have a result. It is always good to be aware of what is being prescribed and the potential side effects. Don’t be afraid to ask your vet if you have any questions or doubts, especially if you are aware of your pet having had any negative reaction to medication in the past.
It is important to make sure that you follow the guidance on amounts to administer carefully and if you do notice any adverse effects like unexpected drowsiness, sickness or diarrhea you should consult with your vet immediately. They may need to try an alternative option to ensure a better reaction.
NEVER try to give human pain medication to your dog. Some of these will not be effective, some may cause a bad reaction and some can actually be fatal for your dog.
For some wounds, it may be appropriate and helpful for your dog if you use a cold compress to help reduce inflammation and numb the area slightly for pain relief. Only use these though on agreement with your vet.
Wound Care
Your dog will not understand that it is important for them to leave their wound alone to allow it to heal effectively. For them it is an instinctual behaviour to try to lick it to keep it clean and, if it is uncomfortable, they may also want to gnaw, chew or scratch at the wound site.
If they are allowed to do this then it can increase the chances of infection occurring, of the wound opening up again and of it not healing properly. It is vital that you use whatever management tools may be most appropriate to minimize the opportunities for them to do this. Supervision is important in the early stages but it is not possible for you to be watching them 24/7 so there are also some useful tools that we will discuss which can be used to stop them from being able to access their wounds so easily.
While mild swelling and redness around the wound site are to be expected in the first day or so and should not be any cause to panic, if your dog has stitches, you should check these daily to make sure that they are not loosening or that the wound area is looking abnormally red or inflamed.
If there is any sort of discharge, bleeding, a bad smell or the wound area feels hot to the touch or has anything protruding from it, then again it is important that you seek veterinary advice immediately.
Do not be tempted to put any creams or lotions on the wound site unless you have been specifically directed to do so by your vet. You could be inadvertently aggravating the wound, increasing the likelihood of bacteria build up, and it can also be unnecessarily uncomfortable for your dog.
If your dog has bandage coverage these may need to be changed periodically. Your vet will advise and they may need to help with this to allow them to assess the wound and ensure the bandages are applied appropriately. It is important that the bandage is kept dry. You may need to use booties or bags around your dog’s paw if they are bandaged when taking them out for a walk or for a toilet break. Do not bandage a wound area yourself in an attempt to keep it clean or free from licking, this should only be done on your vet’s instruction.
Diet
For the first 24 hours after surgery, your dog may not have their usual appetite. When they are ready to eat, it is best to offer them something bland, light and easy to digest. Chicken and rice (if your dog does not have any specific intolerances) are often recommended. There are also veterinary prescribed foods available for post surgery. Feeding small and often initially is a good idea, especially if you normally only feed one or two large meals.
If your dog continues to have a lack of appetite after the first 24 – 48 hours then we would recommend consulting with your Vet, especially if there are any other worrying signs such as your dog vomiting, continuing to be lethargic or particularly uncomfortable.
If your dog is on extended crate rest and is not able to get as much exercise as they normally would you may also need to consider cutting back their food portions a little for the duration to help them avoid putting on any unwanted weight. Always chat with your vet about this so that they can help you make an appropriate judgement.
If your dog is on antibiotics, or the surgery or the meds they are on are giving them an upset tummy, then it can be useful to give them probiotics for a couple of weeks after the surgery. Antibiotics rid the stomach of its natural flora and the probiotics can help to restore this.
Related Products
Dolvit Probiotic and Prebiotic for dogs and cats enriched with Beta-1,3/1,6-glucan
Dolvit HMB (3-hydroxy-3methylbutyrate) a convalescence support for dogs and cats to maintains overall condition after surgeries, intensive training and long periods of stress. Aids natural recovery and maintain muscle tissue
Alternative Therapies
For some surgeries, especially the orthopaedic ones, it can be useful or recommended for your dog to have some post-surgery therapy to help promote healing.
It is always important to consult with a vet to establish if it is appropriate, when it should be started, how long would be beneficial and what option may be best. Always make sure that you go with a recommended and fully qualified therapist too.
Some of the more popular options include:
Hydrotherapy
Hydrotherapy, where your dog swims in a controlled environment with assistance, is a popular form of exercise post surgery as this is a very low impact form of exercise and does not put any unnecessary strain on the bones or joints.
Physiotherapy/ Canine Massage
Seeking assistance from a traditional, qualified canine physiotherapist can be useful. They will usually provide some specific exercises to help with strengthening muscles and for promoting balance and they could also help with massage techniques too which can help to flex and manipulate limbs in a controlled, gentle and beneficial way. It can help your dog to get back their range of movement. This can also be very relaxing for your dog too!
So, the key points to be mindful of when caring for your dog post surgery are to:
- Make sure that you are patient and give your dog the appropriate amount of time to rest and heal
- Always follow your vet’s advice
- Make sure that you keep your dog mentally enriched while on restricted exercise
- Keep a close eye on the wound site and make sure your dog does not fuss over it
Resources:
Your Dog Advisor
NOTE: The content on this website is not aimed at substituting veterinary advice, and information on products is not designed to treat, cure or prevent diseases. It is necessary to do your extensive research or consult your vet before giving any supplement to your pet.
