Your pet is home from surgery

Follow your veterinarian's instructions

• Healing time varies by type of surgery: spay/neuter, orthopedic, etc.
• If a bandage is in place, follow the instructions for replacement or removal.
• Never remove a bandage yourself without consulting the clinic first.
• If a bandage or splint is in place, keep it clean and dry and watch it: swollen, cold, or discolored toes, a foul smell, or a bandage that has slipped, gotten wet, or been chewed all warrant a same-day call.

Check the wound every day

• A healing incision is slightly pink, with the edges close together, and the area stays dry; watch mainly for changes.
• Look for spreading redness, swelling, or discharge: pus, blood.
• The wound should stay clean and dry.
• A slight pink or clear seepage may be normal in the first days; if in doubt, contact your veterinarian.
• Check that sutures remain intact and that the skin edges are not separating.
• A small, soft, painless, cool swelling near the incision is often a harmless seroma that resolves on its own; mention it at the follow-up. A swelling that is warm, painful, spreading, or oozing means call without waiting.

Wound cleaning (if recommended)

• Use the antiseptic solution prescribed by your veterinarian: diluted Betadine or chlorhexidine.
• Dab gently with a sterile gauze pad; never use cotton or sponge, which can leave fibers.
• Pat dry gently without rubbing.
• Sutures are usually removed 10 to 14 days after surgery, unless they are absorbable (these dissolve on their own and do not need to be removed).

Mandatory rest

• Avoid jumping, energetic play, and running.
• For dogs, limit outings to short bathroom breaks on a leash.
• Create a calm, comfortable space where your pet can rest without being disturbed.
• Even if your pet seems fully recovered, respect the recommended rest period.
• Keep your pet gently occupied: a lick mat, food puzzles, or simply your calm presence. A bored pet often tries to move around too much.

Movement restrictions

• For cats: restrict access to elevated areas: shelves, stairs, cat trees.
• For dogs: avoid stairs after orthopedic surgery; carry the animal if needed.
• Keep your pet indoors, even if they normally go outside.
• Use a crate or pen for very active animals who struggle to stay calm.
• In a multi-pet household, keep the recovering pet away from the others during recovery: a companion may lick the wound or pull it into rough play.

Why it is essential

• Prevents licking or scratching of the wound.
• Stops the animal from removing their own sutures.
• Prevents chewing or pulling off the bandage.
• Protects the wound from infections caused by saliva or claws.

Proper fit

The collar must extend beyond the muzzle. Check the fit: 2 to 3 fingers should pass comfortably under the collar without it being tight. Some pets take time to adjust; encourage them with treats and assist with eating and drinking as needed. If you must take it off for a meal, do so only under direct, constant supervision and put it back on as soon as your pet has finished. Never leave your pet without the collar when you are not watching: a few minutes are enough to reopen the wound.

Choosing the right type

Antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, pain relievers

• Follow the prescribed dosage and duration carefully, even if your pet seems to be doing well.
• For antibiotics in particular, stopping treatment too early can let resistant bacteria survive and cause the infection to return.
• Give medications at regular intervals to maintain a steady level in the bloodstream.
• If an anti-inflammatory (NSAID) is prescribed, give it with or after a meal unless told otherwise, and never on an empty stomach.
• Never combine two anti-inflammatories, or an anti-inflammatory with a steroid (cortisone): the risk of stomach ulcers and kidney injury is serious.
• If your pet vomits, has diarrhea, loses its appetite, becomes lethargic, or passes black or tarry stools while on an anti-inflammatory, stop the medication and call the clinic: it may be a reaction to the drug.
• Never give human medications (for example acetaminophen/Tylenol or ibuprofen/Advil) without veterinary advice: they are toxic, even fatal. Acetaminophen can kill a cat even at a low dose.
• If you miss a dose, give it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one and never give two doses at once to make up for it.
• Store medications according to instructions: refrigerator, away from light, etc.

Recognizing pain

• Signs of pain are often subtle: reluctance to move or get up, a hunched or tense posture, hiding, restlessness or an inability to settle, panting at rest, whimpering, or reacting when the surgical area is touched.
• Cats show it even less: a cat that stays crouched and still, or stops grooming or purring, may be in pain.
• If your pet seems to be in pain despite the prescribed medication, call us: the pain-relief plan can be adjusted. Never add a human painkiller.

Follow-up appointment

• If suture removal is scheduled, note the date and do not miss it.
• Absorbable sutures may not require removal, but a post-op check is still often recommended.
• Use this appointment to ask any questions you have for the veterinarian.

Communication with the clinic

• If in doubt or if you notice unusual behavior, call your clinic for advice or a follow-up exam.
• It is always better to call for nothing than to let a complication worsen.
• Keep your veterinarian's number and the emergency clinic number easily accessible.