Dogs:
Post Surgical - Spay (females)
Allow limited food and water for
the first 24 hours at home. Feed smaller amounts increasing gradually
to normal feeding. Do not fill the water bowl to prevent the pet
from engorging large amounts of water. Allow plenty of rest for
48 hours, and no forced exercise for 5-7 days. (Forced exercise
would be chasing a ball, fetching a stick, jogging with owners,
etc.) Allow normal activity after the first 48 hours at home.
Check the incision once daily. A small amount of drainage from
the incision for the first 24-48 hours is not abnormal. Hard swelling
of the surgical site is normal. Sutures should be removed approximately
10-14 days after the procedure. Report any significant soft swelling,
or any discharge that occurs more than 48 hours post-surgically.
Any questions about recovery are welcomed. Please call our office
if necessary.
Post Surgical - Neuter (males)
Allow limited food and water for
the first 24 hours at home. Feed smaller amounts increasing gradually
to normal feeding. Do not fill the water bowl to prevent the pet
from engorging large amounts of water. Allow plenty of rest for
48 hours, and no forced exercise for 5-7 days. (Forced exercise
would be chasing a ball, fetching a stick, jogging with owners,
etc.) Allow normal activity after the first 48 hours at home.
Check the incision once daily. A small amount of drainage from
the incision for the first 24-48 hours is not abnormal. Hard swelling
of the surgical site is normal. Report any significant soft swelling,
or any discharge that occurs more than 48 hours post-surgically.
Any questions about recovery are welcomed. Please call our office
if necessary.
Vomiting -
Water - Withhold water until the
pet has gone 2 ½ to 3 hours without vomiting, only then allow
a very small amount of water. Wait ½ hour and if no vomiting,
allow another ½ cup. Continue this, gradually increasing the amount
offered until your pet leaves some in the bowl. Then keep about
½ cup in the water bowl at all times over the next 24 hours.
Food - Do not feed for 24 hours. Then begin feeding very small
amounts of the prescribed diet, only a few bites at first, gradually
increasing the amounts fed. Keeping the pet somewhat hungry is
desirable. Dogs can go for prolonged periods without eating and
suffer no ill effects. It is far better to underfeed an animal
recovering from GI problems than to overfeed. After a few days
begin mixing the prescribed diet with regular diet as recommended
by the doctor.
Medications - Do not give any medications unless specifically
recommended by the doctor.
Report any further vomiting or any significant "droopiness", to
the hospital.
Diarrhea -
Water - Allow water or electrolyte
fluids in normal amounts as long as your pet is not experiencing
any vomiting.
Food - Do not feed for 24 hours. Then begin feeding very small
amounts of diet prescribed by the doctor. Feed only a few bites
at first, gradually increasing the amounts fed. Keeping your pet
somewhat hungry is desirable. Dogs can go for prolonged periods
without eating and suffer no ill effects. It is far better to
underfeed an animal recovering from GI problems than to overfeed.
After a few days begin mixing the prescribed diet with regular
diet as recommended by the doctor.
Medications - Give all recommended medications as directed by
the doctor. Imodium(liquid) is often prescribed for dogs at a
dose of ½ teaspoon per 10 pounds body wt.; the usual dose for
Imodium tablets is ½ tablet per 15-20 pounds body weight.
Report your pet's progress twice daily until stools are obviously
improving. Be sure to immediately report any bloody stools or
any significant "droopiness".
Eye Trauma -
Medications - Use medications often,
as directed. (Ointments - apply a small bead in trough created
by pulling upper eyelid to the rear; Drops - use only one or two
drops applied to the upper portion of the globe.) If condition
worsens, discontinue medications and phone the hospital as soon
as possible.
Signs of worsening condition include increased redness, increased
tendency for the animal to rub the eye, and increased tendency
to keep eye closed or to "squint", especially in well-lit areas.
Frequent rechecks are important to monitor treatment and to attempt
to provide the maximum return of vision.
Eye Allergy -
Medications - Use as directed to
provide relief from redness, itching and ocular drainage. Medications
may need to be used intermittently as climate conditions dictate.
Signs of ocular allergy often tend to worsen on windy or dry dusty
days. Cleaning moist discharge or dry crusty residue from the
eyelid margins may be accomplished using warm clear water on a
soft cloth or paper towel. Crusts may be soaked with a dampened
cloth to facilitate removal of debris.
Back Pain -
Exercise - Exercise should be stringently
limited. Confine is a small area or a pet crate, especially as
your dog begins to feel less painful and tends to become more
active. Walk outside on a leash and only long enough to accomplish
elimination. Forced confinement is especially important as healing
progresses. Do not encourage your pet to jump up on furniture,
beds, or to go up or down stairs.
Medications - give only prescribed medications. Avoid giving non-prescribed
anti-inflammatory medications like aspirin and ibuprofen, as the
pain relieving aspects of those medications may encourage dangerous
over-activity.
Watch carefully for any evidence of progressing neurological symptoms.
Such signs include ataxia (staggering gait), crying or whimpering,
extreme tightness in the abdomen, rear leg weakness and "tucked
up' lumbar posture, among others. Call the hospital with any questions
about unusual signs seen during recovery.
Ear Infections -
Use all ear medications as directed.
Ear drops should be instilled as deeply as possible within the
ear canal. The canal should then be massaged vigorously beneath
the ear opening to work the liquid medication down into the ear.
Ear medications must reach the lower portion of the ear canal
to be effective. Your pet probably will shake its head immediately
following medication of the ear. If head shaking persists, call
our office to report.
The ear should be rechecked frequently to insure healing is progressing
normally.
Itching from Allergy -
No medications nor topical therapy
will stop allergic itching completely. Medications are dosed to
arrive at the best measure of relief while minimizing medication
side effects. Side effects of some allergy therapy if overdone
can be long term.
It is extremely important to give medications ONLY as directed.
Do not increase dose levels or frequency without being directed
by the doctor to do so.
Sometimes nutritional therapy adds to relief from itching. Such
therapy may be either in the form of additives to the regular
diet, or as prescription hypoallergenic replacement diets. If
used, hypoallergenic diets must constitute the only dietary source.
Do not allow access to anything by mouth except water and other
prescribed therapy. Do not give any treats, supplements or table
food without such items being cleared by the doctor.
Frequent pet owner-veterinarian communication is always beneficial
to allow for maximum therapeutic enhancement with minimal risks
of the long-term therapy usually necessary to control symptoms
of allergy. Several modes of therapy exist, and if current treatment
does not control signs satisfactorily the doctor may recommend
other options. Frequently adequate control involves a "trial therapy
- then modification" approach.
Cats:
Post Surgical - Spay (females)
Be careful not to over-feed. Cats
should be confined for 48 hours to limit activity.
Check the incision once daily. A small amount of drainage from
the incision for the first 24-48 hours is not abnormal. Many cats
pull at the incision for a short time, especially after returning
to familiar surroundings at home. Hard swelling of the surgical
site is normal. Sutures should be removed approximately 10-14
days after the procedure. Report any significant soft swelling,
or any discharge that occurs more than 48 hours post-surgically.
Any questions about recovery are welcomed. Please call our office
if necessary.
Post Surgical - Neuter (males)
Do not over-feed. Confine in the
house or garage for several days. If the pet is old enough to
be producing male hormones, it will take up to several weeks for
them to be metabolized. Male behavior will be elicited for at
least that long, and then should diminish slowly over a period
of several months.
Check the incision below the anus once daily for swelling. . A
small amount of drainage from the incision for the first 24-48
hours is not abnormal. Slight swelling of the surgical site is
also normal. Report any significant soft swelling, or any discharge
that occurs more than 48 hours post-surgically. Any questions
about recovery are welcomed. Please call our office if necessary.
Post Surgical - Declawing
If your cat will accept it, newspapers
torn into strips are a good choice of litter to be used for 4-5
days post surgically. If not accepted by your cat continue using
your standard litter, but clean your cat's feet twice daily. Gently
grasp the leg with a dampened paper towel and pull slowly across
the lower leg and foot letting the foot slip out of your fingers
as you pull over the end of the paw.
Be prepared for occasional episodes of slight drainage as the
scabs on the incisions come off. Drainage should be very minimal.
Urinary Infections -
Provide fresh water several times
daily. Give all medications as directed. Complete the entire course
of medications. Feed special diets as directed. If feeding a special
prescription diet, be sure not to allow access to any other foods,
treats or table scraps. If special diets are necessary they are
meant to be the sole source of nutrition.
Follow-up urine testing should be performed at prescribed intervals.
