When your pet is recovering from sedation or general anesthesia and surgery, special considerations need to be made to ensure a full and complete recovery.

First 24 Hours:

1. Light meal only tonight with water available free choice. Feed normally tomorrow. Don't be surprised if appetite is mildly depressed for a day or two. Call us if your pet is not back to normal in 48 hours.
2. Strict rest and confinement with limited activity. The full effects of the sedation, anesthesia, or pain medication may cause sleepiness for another 12-24 hours.

Next 7-10 Days:

1. Exercise and Activity - Patients recovering from surgery should have limited activity. Discourage access to stairs, jumping up and down from furniture and unrestrictred movements which may cause injury to healing tissues. Excessive activity increases the possibility of swelling and dehiscence (wound opening).
2. Feeding - Feed normal amounts of food and water unless otherwise instructed.
3. Medications - Continue to give any prescribed medications. Remember to finish all of the medications prescribed, even if your pet seems better.
4. Sutures - Many surgical procedures require external sutures (stitches) and some do not. External sutures need to be removed in 10-12 days from the date of surgery unless otherwise instructed. Please return at your convenience to allow one of our technicians to check the surgery site and remove sutures. Occasionally, a recheck appointment is needed with the doctor before the sutures can be removed. You will be given instructions during check-out if this is the case.
5. Please check the incision site daily - Do not allow your pet to lick or chew the incision area. This can result in wound infection and failure to heal. If licking cannot be stopped, a t-shirt, topical spray, or Elizabethan collar can be used. A little swelling and redness is acceptable. But if you notice irritation, discharge, or a gap in the incision, please contact our office immediately.