FAQ

A general guide for your after-surgery questions.

Q: What should I expect when we get home?  

Do not be surprised if your pet seems extremely tired once they arrive home after surgery. Between anesthesia, medication, and sleeping away from home, they can seem very sedate or lethargic. Our advice is to let them rest and relax the first 12 hours home, eat if they want to, give medication as scheduled and directed, and everyone get a good night’s sleep!

Q: What should I do if my pet doesn’t want to eat or drink?

Often times after surgery your pet’s appetite and thirst are decreased, due to anesthesia or even the new medications they are on. The trick is to add things that are low fat but also tasty. For food try; commercial canned diets, white meat chicken, low fat hamburger meat, cottage cheese, egg whites, or white rice. For drinking we recommend adding low sodium chicken broth to your pet’s water, at a 3:1 ratio, 3 parts water, 1 part chicken broth. If your pet has not eaten in 24 hours, please call our office anytime Monday through Friday to speak with a technician. If your pet is not eating, do not continue to give medications that require food. 

Q: Why hasn’t my pet urinated or why aren’t  they urinating a lot?

While in hospital your pet was walked often. Make sure you are walking them more frequently (still short least walks) until they get back onto your time schedule. Also be sure to check their bedding, chances are they are urinating somewhere. If your pet was given an epidural prior to surgery, that can also make proper posturing difficult the first few days. 

Anesthesia and sedation can slow the bowels. We only worry if it has been 4 days since your pet’s last bowel movement or if your pet is straining to defecate. If your pet at any time is straining to defecate, call us. If it has been 4 days with no straining, try adding 1 tbsp of canned pumpkin to their diet for added fiber and make sure they are drinking adequate amounts of water. This usually does the trick. Some medications can cause constipation. If you have questions about the side effects of your pet’s medications, please call our office anytime Monday through Friday to speak with a technician.

Q: Is my pet painful? Does my pet need all or more medication?

Medications are very important in the initial recovery process. All prescribed medications should be given until completion. This typically includes pain medication, an anti-inflammatory, antibiotics, and sedation. Give all prescribed medications as directed and call if your pet is having adverse reactions such as; loss of appetite, vomiting, or diarrhea. Pay close attention to which medications need to be given with food. If your pet is NOT eating, do not give medication that requires food. If you believe your pet is in pain, please call our office anytime Monday through Friday to speak with a technician.