As a pet owner, there is nothing worse than seeing your dog in pain – especially after surgery. Thanks to today’s technology, surgery isn’t as life-threatening as it once was – but that doesn’t mean it still isn’t scary. To help your dog recover quickly – and safely – you’ll need to prepare in advance and continue to care for them post-operation. Here are some tips on how you can help your pup recovery from surgery. Before You Pick Up Your Pup Before you bring your dog home from a surgery, you’ll need to prepare your home to ensure your dog doesn’t rip open their stitches or injure themselves further. Utilizing a crate, for example, is a great way to give your dog a safe place to rest and calm down if they are overly excited. Strategically placing baby gates around the house can help keep dogs from running up the stairs. Preventing Pain and Licking Depending on the severity of the surgery, make sure your vet provides the proper medication to help with pain. Many vets will prescribe dog-safe painkillers. Some vets may even use intradermal sutures, which are different than typical stitches in that they hold the skin together beneath the surface. Dogs with intradermal stitches are less likely to chew them or accidentally rip open the stitches. To prevent your pup from opening the stitches, try using an Elizabethan collar (also known as an E-collar or more affectionately, the “cone of shame”) so they can’t reach their wound. If you aren’t too keen on giving your dog an E-collar, you can use an inflatable neck brace or even have your dog wear a t-shirt or boxer shorts. When Your Pup Gets Home When you get your pup home, make sure to give them plenty of time and space to rest. After a few days, they’ll start feeling better and might want to go back to running around the house. Help them fight the urge by providing mental stimulation through tricky toys or puzzles. Teaching them new tricks - not very strenuous ones, though - is another great way to beat boredom. Keep your pup on a leash outdoors during recovery – even if they’re used to roaming freely outside. Never underestimate the power of a squirrel. Before your pup is able to go on walks, use the Pet Rover stroller to give them some fresh air. You’ll still be able to go on daily walks – without the actual walking. Once the vet says it’s okay to walk again, begin with gentle lead walks and gradually build up to longer ones. Caring For Their Wound One of the most important things you can do post-surgery is to monitor and care for the wound. Check the incision at least twice a day for any redness, discharge, or swelling. Make sure to keep the wound as clean as possible and keep their bandages dry. If you notice anything out of the ordinary, call your vet immediately. Recovery takes time – and patience. Make sure to monitor your pup at all times and let your vet know if anything is out of the ordinary. In no time your dog will be zooming around the house like nothing even happened!
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