Post-Operative Care

After surgery, it’s essential to keep your pet dog under close monitoring. Our team is trained to identify early signs of complications and intervene swiftly if needed, ensuring your furry friend’s recovery stays on track. While Pad is not an emergency pet care facility, we can guide and help prevent post-op complications in dogs as best as possible.

We work with your vet's aftercare instructions to ensure your pet dog receives the right pain medication at the right time. That is to manage any pain or discomfort they may feel in the days after surgery. Our highly trained team can help your furry friend stay safe and comfortable during the recovery period.

Depending on the type of surgery, your dog may need help getting around or maintaining activity. Our team offers gentle support, helping your dog move comfortably and avoid straining the stitches or staples used to close the surgery site.

In the days following surgery, it’s vital for your pet dog to maintain proper food and water intake for healing. We ensure they eat and drink as needed and follow any dietary restrictions set by the veterinarian.

We assist with any necessary wound care for your dog. We thoroughly inspect surgical sites for signs of infection and change bandages as needed to help your dog recover properly.

We practice gently moving a dog's joints through their full range of motion by hand, without them actively using their muscles. This practice helps maintain flexibility and prevent stiffness in the affected area following surgery.

Pad will carefully observe your pet dog's behavior following a surgical procedure to identify signs that they might be causing harm to themselves. Our experienced Fear Free™ Certified veterinary technician pet nurses are trained to manage medical conditions, administer medications, and provide specialized care. Whether your furry friend needs regular medication, post-op recovery support, or monitoring of a chronic condition, we take the time to understand their specific medical requirements and provide tailored care accordingly with Pad’s medical pet sitting.

Keep your dog from moving around too much for 14 days after surgery. Prevent them from jumping or participating in physical activities that may stress the stitches or staples, and keep them in a cone or protective gear, if needed. It will help your dog adjust to post-operative instructions and help them feel better as they get back to normal. Pad Home Pet Services will come to your house to help with movement and stress, to save time.

If you need to take your dog outside after surgery, keep them on a short leash. It will keep them from walking too far and disrupting the healing process.

As soon as your pet dog comes home following surgery, make sure they stay warm. Give them a clean dog bed and blanket. The ideal temperature for a dog's recovery process should be around 68-75°F (20-24°C).

A dog may feel anxious following surgery. As such, you should allow your dog to get some rest in a quiet space at home to ensure they return to normal quickly. Set up a space for them in a quiet room, away from noises and distractions. It will allow them to heal properly. 

After your dog has had surgery, shower them with extra tender loving care (TLC). This will help pacify your dog in case you need to keep them in an Elizabethan collar after surgery, which will force a period of inactivity and confuse them. Buying them a new toy or spending time with them can offer your dog reassurance.