| Dog Topics | ||
| Back Pain | Eye Allergy | Orthopedic Procedures |
| Bladder Surgery | Eye Trauma | Urinary Infections |
| Diarrhea | Itching from Allergy | Vomiting |
| Ear Infections | Neuter | |
| Ear Hematoma | Spay | |
| Cat Topics | |
| Declawing | Spay |
| Neuter | Urinary Infections |
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.
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.
Allow limited food and water for the first 24 hours at home. Feed smaller amounts
increasing gradually to normal feeding. After 24 hours allow plenty of clean,
fresh water. Feed special diets as recommended. 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.
Expect some blood-tinged urine for several days. Some blood, decreasing in noticibility
for 2-3 days is expected. Report large amounts of urinary bleeding.
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.
Limit feeding slightly, increasing gradually to normal feeding Allow fresh
water free choice. Confine and walk on leash only for 5-7 days. No forced exercise.
(Forced exercise would be chasing a ball, fetching a stick, jogging with owners,
etc.)
Watch the incision area carefully. Report any drainage or significant swelling,
either of the surgical area or associated with any splints, casts, or bandages.
Sutures should be removed approximately 14 days after the procedure. Follow
any therapeutic instructions carefully (medications, physical therapy, etc.)
Any questions about recovery are welcomed. Please call our office if necessary.
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.
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".
Water - Provide plenty of fresh water. Change water two or three times daily
to freshen.
Food - Feed special diets as prescribed. Do not feed any other foods or treats
without approval of the doctor.
Medications - Give all medications as directed. Be sure to complete the full
course of prescribed medications. Refill medications as directed by the doctor.
Please feel free to check with the hospital to see if any medications should
be refilled and continued.
Expect the "sense of urgency" about need to urinate to persist for a day or
two after beginning treatment. However, if your pet is not showing signs of
relief within three days, be sure to telephone the hospital. Please check with
the hospital to ascertain appropriate intervals for follow-up urine testing.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Use all medications as directed. The incision should be cleaned twice daily
by soaking with a warm, clear water compress for several seconds. The incision
should be gently spread apart (very slightly) to keep it open and allowing it
to drain. This should be done for 2-3 days following the surgery. Sometimes it is
necessary to treat the ear canals. Do so as, and if, directed.
The animal should be rechecked as recommended. Normal healing results in a "quilted"
appearance of the ear for several days. If the ear seems excessively swollen
or uncomfortable, please contact our office.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.