Pets need surgery for a wide variety of reasons, from tumor removal to fusing together broken bones. No matter the reason, pets all need the same thing before and after surgery: lots of TLC. Granada Veterinary Clinic in Mission Hills, CA, lists some before and after care tips for your pet's surgery.
About a Week Before Surgery
Your animal hospital may need to run several tests on your pet, depending on what kind of surgery is being done, whether your pet will need general or local anesthesia, and to make sure your pet is healthy enough for surgery at the scheduled time. These tests may include blood tests, urinalysis, X-rays, or ultrasounds.
Ask About Medication
If your pet takes medication every day, ask about when and if the medication should be stopped. Diabetic pets that need insulin may need to have an injection before the surgery at the animal hospital.
Ask About Any Special Diets
Some surgeries require that pets go on bland diets for a while. This kind of diet usually means plain rice and boiled chicken. You might want to prepare this before the pet surgery, since you may be too busy to do so afterward. Despite your best culinary efforts, it will be normal if your pet has little appetite for the next few days.
Prepare a Recovery Room
Your pet will need plenty of peace and quiet in order to recuperate. A nice warm bed, shades drawn to make it darker, and a closed door to keep out other pets or small children will work just fine. Make sure there is a litter box available for a cat.
Get an Elizabethan Collar or Cone
Dogs and cats, in particular, like to chew or lick their stitches. This can cause infection or a major wound. Your pet will need something to prevent that cute face from getting to the incision site. This is usually an Elizabethan collar or cone, sometimes called the “cone of shame.”
Fasting Your Pet
Pets usually need to fast the night before surgery. Keep your pet indoors and, if necessary, in a separate room so he or she does not slip away to snack. Your CA veterinarian will let you know exactly when to take away food and water.
Making Sure the Surgical Site is Clean
Your veterinarian will give you instructions on how to keep the surgical site clean. This may involve flushing the wound and changing the bandage. You need to check the wound at least once a day for any signs of infection.
Your Mission Hills, CA, Veterinarian
If you have further questions about pet surgery and live in the Mission Hills, CA, area, contact Granada Veterinary Clinic at (818) 361-0125 to make an appointment today.
