After Hours Care

Pain Management

All animals are given an injection of pain medication on the day of surgery. All animals are sent home with pain medication after surgery. The first dose of medication will be due the morning after surgery, unless otherwise specified.

Food/Water

Feed your animal(s) a small dinner. Meal sizes should be smaller than their regular diet. Give 1/4 of the amount of their food they usually receive beginning at 7 pm and another 1/4 at 7:30 pm. This will lessen the chance of vomiting. They can resume their regular meal schedule the following morning. Start offering small amounts of water one hour after they arrive home. If they keep in down and do not vomit, they can have free access to water.

Baths

No baths or swimming for at least 10 days after surgery. Make sure the incision site remains dry for one week. Discourage licking of the incision. All animals will have internal stitches that will dissolve on their own and the outside of the incision is secured with surgical glue. If the glue becomes wet, the incision can open. If this happens, please contact a veterinary immediately.

E-Collars

Owners can purchase an e-collar to discourage licking of the incision site. We highly recommend an e-collar to ensure the incision heals properly and to reduce the chance of infection from licking.

Exercise

No running, jumping or rough playing is allowed for one week. Dogs must be kept indoors and must be walked on a leash. Cats must also be kept indoors.

Interaction with Other Animals

Keep your pet away from the opposite sex for 2 weeks.

Incision Site

Check the incision site twice a day. There should be no drainage. Redness and swelling should be minimal.

Other Side Effects

Adult dogs may have a slight cough from the anesthesia. A depressed, slowly increasing appetite for a few days is not unusual. Vomiting, diarrhea or severe depression are causes for concern and you should contact a veterinarian immediately.