Emergency Surgical Care Hotline 254-292-3213 if you are concerned, we are concerned. The line is available 24 hours/day for questions during your pet’s 7-10 day recovery. If needed, we welcome you to bring your pet in to us for a free post-surgery exam M-F 9-2; no appointment needed. The Waco Animal Emergency Clinic line is 254-752-6100.

​

Lifting and Activity: Let staff know if you need help loading your pet into your car. Avoid pressure on the incision when lifting your dog. Keep your dog from running and jumping for 7 days while incision tissues heal. Jumping and romping can tear internal sutures. Active dogs should be leash-walked only, and cats kept indoors (with the exception of outdoor cats - release the morning after surgery).

 

Environment: Your pet had major surgery. Keep your pet comfortable, clean, and calm indoors while anesthesia wears off (12-18 hours). Care during the next 7 days is key to a smooth recovery; no baths or swims.

 

Incision: A small, pea-sized suture-related bump near the incision is common. The veterinarian recommends the head cone to be worn for 7 days to prevent licking and chewing. A small green ½” tattoo line near the incision shows your pet has been spayed/neutered. Check the incision carefully each day. Call us if you see swelling, redness or drainage.

 

Small Amounts of Food & Water (at a time): Avoid gorging and new foods. Offer your pet ¼ of a normal meal around 6:00pm tonight along with ½ cup of water. Additional water is encouraged, a 1/2 cup at a time. Appetite will return to normal during the first 24 hours after surgery. After 24 hours, resume your pet's normal food amount.

 

Pain Medication - Cats get an extended-release (over 3 days) medication.

 

Pain Medication - Dogs should begin post-op pain medication the morning after surgery with breakfast. It is important to continue and finish as directed to prevent pain near the incision site. Failure to give pain medication invites incision licking and delays healing. Do not give any human pain medications as they are toxic (Ibuprofen, NSAIDS, aspirin, Midol, Tylenol, Aleve, etc.)

Whining Dogs: Your dog received a pain injection today that will last until morning. Your dog may whine the night after surgery while they feel fuzzy-headed or out-of-sorts. Everyday sights, sounds or people can be difficult to understand in this time. Talking and petting could encourage more whining. Allow your dog to rest in a dark, calm, comfortable place. Pain medication should be given in the morning.

 

Females in-heat or pregnant at the time of surgery may continue attracting males for up to 10 days.

During this time, breeding may cause internal bleeding. Females may also have a small amount of blood in their urine for 3-4 days after surgery. Males are capable of impregnating a female up to 3 days after neutering.

 

We provide you with recommendations to avoid an expensive and painful veterinary visit. We are happy to examine your pet’s incision at no charge. However, costs of re-suturing or antibiotics are your responsibility. We cannot be held responsible for complications resulting from failure to follow these post-operative instructions.

​