Having your dog go through surgery feels pretty scary, but it could happen. The following are a few tips to ensure that your dog heals well after surgery.
Confinement Might be Necessary
One important thing to remember is that confinement might be necessary. Depending on the type of surgery, your furry friend is going to need to be confined to make it harder for your dog to move around. It would be easier if you could just tell your dog not to move as he or she might do normally, but your dog won’t be able to understand that.
The best thing you can do is confine your pet to a small pen or a crate if necessary. It might be difficult to see your dog in this position, but you’ll have to do it for his or her own good. Your vet is probably going to tell you the kind of confinement that would be best for your dog, so just follow those directions.
Wearing the Right Protection
Sometimes, what your dog needs isn’t exactly confinement but rather the right protective devices. For example, if the surgery your pet went through had to do with his or her ACL, your dog might need some braces.
Of course, you’ll have to listen to what your vet tells you, but it is likely that after addressing a torn dog ACL, you’ll have to have him or her wear braces. Make sure that whatever your dog wears is fitted for him or her. Making sure it fits just right helps keep your dog comfortable. The more you do for your dog to help him or she recover, the faster your dog will get back to his or her old self.
Provide Even More Care
What your dog goes through while healing will be quite difficult to handle. Wearing a brace, being in a crate, being unable to do the things he or she normally does is going to be stressful. This is something you have to keep in mind because your pet’s state of mind could either help or hurt the ability to heal.
You want your pet to feel as comfortable as possible. Pet your dog a little more often. Spend time with your dog throughout the day, or offer treats you know he or she loves. Be sure to place the toys and blankets your pet is attached to near him or her while resting. Doing all of this should help keep your pet’s state of mind in a good place.
Watch the Wound
You must pay attention to your dog’s wound as much as you can. Most likely your vet is going to tell you not to bandage the wound. You want it to be out in the open as much as possible. This does present a problem since this means your pet could get the area dirty. Pay attention to that and clean off any dirt you see on your pet’s wound.
All you need to use is a clean cloth and some water. Do not use alcohol or peroxide because your pet is going to try to remove that and may end up hurting him or herself. On top of that, some of the healing cells that form over your dog’s wound are going to disappear if you try to clean the wound with any of these substances. If you see something that looks like an infection, go ahead and call your vet to see what could be happening.
Cones or e-Collars Are Vital
You have to keep in mind that your pet is his or her own worst enemy. Your dog isn’t going to like feeling sutures on the body. This means your dog is probably going to start licking them off, and you don’t want that to happen prematurely.
Depending on where the wound is, this could not only lead to infections, but vital organs could become exposed if the wound gets that bad. Confinement could prevent your dog from hurting him or herself, but if you don’t have to keep your dog confined, then the next best thing is to make sure your dog uses a cone or an e-Collar to stop your dog from doing something harmful.
These are some things you should do to keep your dog safe and to help him or her recover. Make sure everyone in your family understands how important taking these steps is so that you all work as a team.
