When you bring your cat or dog home from a pet surgery, they’ll require some extra-special care. Since they can’t use words to tell you what they need, you should be proactive about the postsurgical care you provide. Follow the guide below for a smooth and comfortable recovery.

Pet Surgery Recovery Guide

1. Let Them Rest

The pain and disorientation after anesthesia may cause a pet to act out. They may snap or nip, for example, when they’re usually excellent companions for your young children. Other pets in the household may stress them out, lick their sutures, or play with them too hard. To help a pet recover from surgery, keep them close to you, and away from children and other pets.

2. Keep Them Hydrated

Cats and dogs need extra liquids after pet surgery. They’ll drink more water than usual. Don’t leave them unattended at the bowl, however. Groggy pets have been known to fall asleep and drown in their water bowls.

3. Wear the Collar

If your dog has a wound with sutures, they’ll try to lick it. Licking can dislodge stitches and cause an infection. Ask your veterinarian for an Elizabethan collar to stop licking, and have them continuously wear it for the entire time your vet recommends.

4. Limit Their Movement

Keep your pet on the floor so they don’t risk falling off a couch. Give them a comfortable spot with everything they need—food, water, and toys—near. Limit their movement to going outside every couple hours to relieve themselves. After they are approved for more movement, restrict their mobility to short leashed walks for the first two weeks.

When your dog or cat goes to an animal hospital for pet surgery, you want to know that they are in the very best of hands. Liberty Veterinary Hospital is a fully accredited member of the American Animal Hospital Association, with a high-tech facility in Liberty Township, OH, and a reputation for providing the highest level of pet care. Their convenient online veterinary pharmacy makes it easy to get your pet’s medications filled. Learn more about their approach to routine care by visiting them online, or call (513) 755-9700 to schedule an appointment.