Recovery after surgery – care and attention for your pet
After your pet has undergone surgery, it’s important to provide the right care to ensure a safe and smooth recovery. A calm and controlled environment is crucial for the best possible healing process.
Waking up and monitoring
When your pet wakes up from anesthesia, its body temperature may be low, which can cause it to shiver from the cold. It’s normal for the animal to be somewhat anxious and have limited control over its movements, which can increase the risk of injury. Therefore, it is important to carefully monitor your pet to ensure it does not hurt itself during the waking phase.
During this period, your pet may also have difficulty controlling urination and bowel movements. Regardless of how long the waking process takes, your pet is expected to rest for an additional 2–6 hours after fully waking up.
Feeding after surgery
To give your pet a gentle start to recovery, you should wait until it is fully awake before offering food and water. Start with easily digestible food such as recovery diet, plain yogurt (A-fil), cottage cheese, rice, or cultured milk (filmjölk). Water should be freely available. After one day, you can return to your pet’s regular feeding routine.
Bathroom breaks and physical activity
During the first 10–14 days after surgery, your dog should only be walked on a leash, and the walks should be short. It’s important to avoid jumping, stairs, and excessive physical exertion. If the weather is dirty, rinse the surgical wound carefully with water after each walk to keep it clean.
Wound care
To prevent your pet from licking or damaging the wound, it is recommended to use a protective collar or garment, such as a T-shirt, or for small dogs, a baby bodysuit. It is important to keep the wound area clean and under supervision. Use a mild cleansing solution like Septidin or diluted Betadine (1:10) to remove dried blood and clean the area if needed.
The wound should be checked daily for signs of swelling, discharge, foul odor, or any other abnormalities. If any of these symptoms occur, you should contact your veterinarian immediately.
Any tape applied can be removed the day after surgery, while stitches should be removed after 10–14 days – or according to your veterinarian’s instructions. If a drain was placed to remove fluid from the wound, it should be removed based on your vet’s recommendations. Rinsing the wound with cold water can help relieve pain and swelling.
By following these steps, you can help ensure that your pet recovers in a safe and effective manner.
