Care of Surgical Incision Site:
- Keep incision clean and dry.
- Allow your pet to lie only on clean, dry surfaces.
- Use hydrogen peroxide with cotton or Kleenex to clean around the incision as necessary.
- Observe the incision daily for signs of irritation or infection (redness, heat, discharge, or swelling).
- Do not allow your pet to lick, chew, or scratch the incision or sutures! If this is a problem, contact us for appropriate advice.
- It is optimum to confine your pet to the house, a run, or leash walk for 2 weeks.
Call the clinic if any of these symptoms or problems occur.
Aftercare Following Anesthesia:
- Avoid giving large amounts of water.
Give a small amount of water, wait 30-45 minutes and if the animal does not vomit, more water can be given. One or two ice cubes can be substituted for a small amount of water.
- Your pet will likely be quieter and sleep more the next couple of days as he/she recovers from surgery.
If still groggy when it gets home, avoid letting it use the stairs or be on slippery floors. For cats, do not allow them on counters or other high places.
- Do not feed your pet a full meal this evening; one half to one fourth of their usual ration is adequate.
Some animals may have some nausea after anesthesia and overfeeding could cause vomiting. Your pet will probably not have much of an appetite the first evening home.
- Please call the office if your pet has persistent vomiting, diarrhea, bleeding, swelling, or depression.
Your pet should be alert and brighter within 12 hours after a procedure.
- Keep your pet in a warm area for at least the first 24 hours home.
Aftercare for Cat Declaws:
Use shredded paper or paper pellet litter (such as Yesterday's News brand) in the litter box for 1 to 2 weeks after surgery.
This will be more comfortable on your cat's sore feet and will prevent irritation/infection from the dust and granules in clumping or clay litter.
