Dogs are loving companions that tend to be naturally high energy. After a surgery, however, it is important to listen to the vet's instructions and keep a dog calm. Most dogs need to have their activity restricted after surgery to allow time for the wounds to heal--and this may be difficult for your four-footed friend. As a responsible owner, you can create the right setting to help your dog stay calm and recover faster.
Things You'll Need
- Dog pen or crate
- Soft, sterilized bedding
- Rugs
- Dog toys
- Warm compresses
- Thick lead
Instructions
Teach your dog to sleep or rest in a crate or dog pen. A crate or pen will keep the dog isolated if things become too noisy and may serve as a comfortable recovery area for your canine. This will help keep a dog calm by providing a quiet space to sleep and recover.
Sterilize bedding before the dog comes home from surgery. No matter what type of surgery a dog has, soft, clean bedding inside the crate and in the pet's favorite room will encourage your postsurgery canine to rest easy.
Add thick rugs to hard floors in case your dog is weak after surgery and cannot move far. Thick rugs are better for recovering dogs than hard flooring and will help keep them from getting stressed out about walking back to a crate or bed. Rugs also prevent dogs from slipping on slick floors, which helps them stay calm and recover.
Provide your dog with some new toys. If your dog is recovering, most likely you cannot give out treats and your pet cannot move around much. New toys in the crate and within easy reach of bedding will keep a dog entertained while recovering, which will help keep the canine calm and happy.
Apply warm compresses to any stitches as they heal to help reduce the itchiness. Along with plenty of TLC, this step will help make your dog more comfortable during the recovery.
Put a thick lead rope on your dog to prevent excessive motion if you cannot control your pet through training and commands. It is imperative your canine has restricted activity during recovery, and a thick lead will discourage movement and keep the dog controlled.