Diet: Please feed your pet his regular diet. He may experience a slight decrease in appetite after surgery and may prefer something soft the first night. Soften his  dry food with a small amount of warm water. Don’t feed him a different food as that will likely cause diarrhea.

Activity: Patients recovering from surgery should have limited exercise for 5-7 days to prevent strain on the incision. Please restrict your pet’s activity both indoors and outdoors during this time. Leash walk to go outside. Kennel your pet or confine him to a small bathroom when you leave the house.

Medications: Different medications are sent home with every patient so please refer to the directions on your prescription bottle(s).

Sutures: Most pets have stitches buried below the skin so they do not need to be removed as they will absorb over time. If your pet has external stitches, they will need to be removed in 10-14 days. If you are concerned about the appearance of the incision at any time, please let us know.

Monitoring:
Keep an e-collar on your pet for 7 days while the incision heals. No bathing or swimming during this time.
Please do not allow your pet to lick or chew at the incision
Check the incision daily for redness, swelling, or discharge. If any is noted, please call us immediately.

Special Instructions: If your pet exhibits any problems or you are concerned and it is after our normal business hours, call Veterinary Specialty Services West in Winghaven at 636-244-8999 or the Animal Emergency Clinic near Highway K at 636-240-5496.