If your dog is scheduled to undergo surgery, whether a routine spay/neuter or something more serious, you're naturally concerned about how your pet will be cared for after the procedure and what care you will need to provide for him once he is released from the veterinary hospital.
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Clinic Care
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Once the procedure has been completed, your dog will be moved to a kennel or cage at the veterinary clinic. He will be wrapped in warm blankets or towels until he wakes from the anesthesia.
During anesthesia, a pet's body temperature drops and the blankets are necessary to make him as comfortable as possible on waking.
The veterinarian or staff at the clinic will monitor the dog until he is fully awake to ensure he is recovering as expected.
Pain Relief
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Before the procedure, talk to your veterinarian about pain management for your dog. Pain management is taken much more seriously in veterinary medicine than it once was. Ensure your pet will be given pain relief immediately following the surgery and ask the doctor about pain relief medications you can provide to your pet during recovery at home.
Instructions
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Ensure that you follow the veterinarians instruction regarding when and how much to feed your dog and how much water she should consume. If you're taking the pet home immediately following surgery, ask the doctor how long you should wait before offering her water. It's also important to administer any medications according to the doctor's instructions.
Limits
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If your dog is released from the clinic shortly after the procedure, he may still be under the effects of anesthesia. She may not have a good sense of balance or direction. To prevent her from falling and injuring himself, keep her confined until the drugs have left her system. You may want to put her in a kennel or carrier for a few hours.
Your dog will need to stay indoors for at least a week following surgery, perhaps longer depending upon her exact condition and the specific procedure performed. When you take her out to relieve herself, she should remain on leash.
You should keep her calm and quiet at all times during recovery and she should not be allowed to run or jump.
Bed
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During your dog's recovery, provide her with a cushioned bed. Place her resting area in a quiet place where she can still feel close to the rest of the family. Ensure she is out of drafts and consider providing a heating pad for her. Warmth is often a pain reliever, and, at the very least, may make her more comfortable. If you do use a heating pad, place a towel on it to prevent the dog from burning herself and ensure the dog can move off the heating pad if she gets too warm.
The dog's resting place should not be elevated or require her to climb stairs to access it.
Monitoring
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Some dogs will chew or lick on their surgical incision when it starts to heal. Monitor your dog's incision site and prevent her from chewing on the area. Your dog may need to wear an Elizabethan collar, which is designed to prevent her from reaching the incision site, if you are away and unable to monitor her activity. If the incision site swells, has discharge or bleeding, you should contact your veterinarian.
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