After an operation, your dog will need extra care to help make their recovery as smooth as possible. An operation can range from a couple of stitches to a complex orthopedic procedure.

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When a dog has a surgical procedure, it will involve either sedation or a general anesthetic. Sedation is often used for short minor procedures, such as a ripped nail or a small cut, whereas a general anesthetic is used for longer or more complex procedures such as neutering, orthopedic operations and dental work. A general anesthetic is always used for dental work due to the need to protect your pet's airway. Once under anesthetic a tube is placed down the trachea (wind pipe) to ensure no water enters the lungs. The veterinary team use this tube to administer oxygen and anesthetic gases. After sedation or anesthetic your dog may:

• Feel sick or nauseous.
• Be sleepy and lethargic.
• Vomit or have diarrhea .
• Have a sore throat or cough (anesthetic).

Dogs are tricky to rest, especially young dogs. If your dog is crate trained, you can use the crate to help rest them. Your dog should be kept on a lead where possible to stop them running and they should be restricted to the areas of the house, ideally without stairs and where they can be supervised. If your dog has had a soft tissue or an orthopedic surgery, it will be important that they do not jump and therefore if they usually sleep on the sofa or on the bed, they will need to be lifted on and off whilst being supervised, or sleep in a crate or a room without furniture instead. A plug-in pet calming diffuser (eg dog appeasing pheromone) can help make the room calm for your dog. Your pet may need to stay in this room for longer if you are unable to rest them in the house. This may be required if you have multiple dogs that play together. It is important they do not cause damage to their stitches. If your pet has stitches in place they will need to rest for 10 – 14 days. Some stitches dissolve whilst others need to be removed. Dogs should be kept on a lead for the first 3 days after any surgery involving stitches, this includes when they go into the garden to go to the toilet. Your vet will advise you on how long your dog should remain on lead walks only. If your pet has had orthopedic surgery, they will need to recover in a crate to ensure they rest. The crate should be big enough for them to turn around. In the crate they should have a comfortable padded bed and a water bowl. Most orthopedic procedures require rest for 4-8 weeks, but your veterinarian will be able to advise you on when and how much exercise your dog can have during their recovery process. Kongs, nylabones, puzzle feeders and other forms of enrichment can help keep your dog entertained whilst they are on crate rest. You will need to take your dog out for regular toilet breaks, on a lead, throughout the day.

A healthy surgical wound will have no or limited discharge from the wound, 1-2 drops of clear or pink discharge is considered normal. The surgical wound may have some dried blood surrounding the wound and the stitches may be visible. This is applicable to wounds in the gum also. A wound should not:

• Be red and swollen.
• Be actively bleeding.
• Feel hot to touch.
• Have pus or yellow thick discharge.
• Be painful to a gentle touch.
• Smell foul or offensive.

After a surgical procedure, your dog may require medication. Usually, dogs are sent home with pain relief. Pain relief is important as without it they may become depressed, pant lots and they will be more likely to interfere with their wounds and prolong their recovery. It is often easiest to hide medication in a treat or food, but liquid medication may be available if you struggle to give your dog tablets. A food of high value may be required to hide the tablet, generally chicken and ham work well. It is also advisable to give your pet a piece of treat without a tablet in before and after the treat containing the tablet so they don’t become too suspicious. If you are struggling to give your pet their medication, speak to your veterinarian. If you miss a dose of their medication, do not give them double next time, carry on as normal from their next dose.

Restlessness is often one of the first signs of pain in dogs. If your dog is struggling to settle, if they are panting, seem hunched, whimpering or are reluctant to move there is a good chance that they are in pain. Even the nicest dogs can become defensive and aggressive when in pain so use caution if you suspect your pet is painful.

Your pet may have some dressings or bandages after their surgery that will need to be monitored. If they have a bandage from where they had a drip or IV catheter, this can be removed after a couple of hours of returning home. They may have a bit of dried blood in this area that can be cleaned off with water and cotton wool. They can also have a small bruise, which is normal - similar to when we have a blood test. If you are unable to remove this bandage then contact your veterinarian immediately. This bandage is designed to apply pressure to stop bleeding, where the drip has been removed, and therefore if it remains in place for a long period of time, it can interfere with the blood supply to your pet’s foot, creating pain and swelling. If your dog has a dressing or plaster on their wound, this can remain in place until their first post operative check or until it falls off. It is important to keep the dressing dry and clean. If you are not sure when a dressing should be removed then ask your veterinarian for guidance. If your dog has a bandage in place following their surgery, your veterinarian will be able to advise you when this needs to be changed. Often this is between 2-5 days, unless it is for an orthopedic procedure, and then it may be longer. This will need to be kept clean and dry. When visiting the garden, you may be given a plastic cover or a boot to place over the bandage to protect it from becoming wet. Where possible, prevent your dog from walking in puddles or wet areas. If your dog’s bandage does become wet, call your veterinarian to have their bandage changed sooner. If you notice any swelling around the bandage, or if your pet seems in pain from the bandage, you notice lots of discharge or an unpleasant smell coming though the bandage then contact your veterinarian.

You should contact your vet to book your pet in for the required post operative appointments. Post operative appointments are important to ensure the wound is healing as expected and to remove and check stitches. You should also contact your vet if your pet:

• Stops eating.
• Seems painful or restless.
• Has an upset stomach for longer than 24 hours after their surgery.
• Has a wound that is bleeding, smelly, has pus leaking from it, painful, swollen, very red or you have any concerns.