Whether your dog has had spinal surgery due to injury or disease, it is imperative to deliver suitable post-operative care once you bring him home. Keeping him confined to reduce movement as much as possible, providing him with adequate food and water, checking his incision site regularly, monitoring his waste elimination and knowing when to contact your veterinarian are essential parts of home medical care after spinal surgery.
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Crate Rest
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After spinal surgery, it is important to keep your dog as still as possible for at least three weeks. This requires confining him to a crate, airline carrier or dog playpen. The enclosure should be large enough for the dog to lie down comfortably, stand up in and turn around, but not so large that he is able to stand on his hind legs or jump up. Your dog may whine to be let out, but don̵7;t give in. A new injury to the spine will lengthen the recovery time or may even undo the surgical correction. If you have properly crate-trained your dog, this confinement should not be too stressful for him, as long as you take him out two to three times a day to eliminate waste.
Feeding
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A dog is usually kept overnight or longer at the veterinarian̵7;s office after spinal surgery to monitor his readiness to return home. If, however, he is still recovering from the anesthesia when you take him home, don̵7;t be surprised if he does not eat for a day or even two days. Offer him smaller, more frequent meals than usual so his digestive system has time to readjust. He may be quite thirsty so provide plenty of water. If he does not resume eating or drinking in a day or two, contact your veterinarian.
Surgical Site
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The incision area should be kept clean, but removing forming scabs is not necessary. Scabs and bruises are normal and will resolve in one to two weeks. You can relieve any discomfort and hasten the healing process by applying hot compresses three times a day for about 10 minutes. Warm a clean, wet washcloth in the microwave for a few seconds, testing it on your own skin for the appropriate temperature, then press it gently against the irritated area. Check the incision site carefully (two to three times a day) for any signs of infection. If it becomes swollen, redder, increasingly painful to the touch, or starts oozing, contact your veterinarian right away.
Elimination
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Remove your dog very gently from the crate three times a day and take him outside for waste elimination. You may have to support him by putting your arm under him or creating a sling out of a towel. Be patient and careful during this process. Do not move him with quick, jerky movements because that will aggravate his healing spine. Make a note of how often and about how much he urinates. If he does not urinate at least two times a day (or if you notice a swollen bladder or urine leaking while he is in the crate), contact your veterinarian because urine retention will make your pet uncomfortable and may cause damage to his bladder and kidneys.
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