Canine Surgery: Preparing and Caring for Your Pet
If your vet has informed you that your pet dog needs to undergo an operation at the local animal hospital, here are some steps you can take to prepare them for the procedure and to prevent your pet from developing postoperative complications. Read on to find out more.
De-stress your dog
While knowing that your pet needs to have surgery can cause a great deal of stress, it is important that you take steps to de-stress your dog before the operation. Stress can impact your dog's immune system, increasing the chance that it will develop an infection following the surgery. You can help to de-stress your pet by trying to maintain as normal a routine as usual. Taking your dog on a walk each morning can help them to burn off stress hormones. Getting out of the house will also help to reduce your stress levels. Remember that your dog will pick up on your mood and a stressed owner is likely to have a stressed pet. Grooming and stroking your dog can also help to calm them down before the operation.
Take post-op care seriously
Do not make the mistake of believing that once the operation is completed, your dog is in the clear. The post-op period is a critical time when your dog is especially vulnerable to infection. You need to listen carefully to the instructions given to you by your vet when they discharge you from the pet hospital. If you feel you won't take in what they tell you, you should ask them to write it down so you have a record of the actions you need to take when you get home. If you have other pets in your home, you should keep them separated from your dog during their recovery. Other pets may interfere with the wound by licking it, which could spread infection. If you're concerned about your pet licking their wound, you should ask the vet for a cone collar, which will make it impossible for the animal to reach its wound. If you notice any bad smells or discharge coming from a post-op wound, you need to contact your veterinary surgery hospital immediately as this could be a sign of infection.
For more information about caring for your pet dog, you should call your local veterinary surgery today. A qualified veterinarian will be happy to offer you further help and assistance.