6 Tips To Help Your Dog Recover From Surgery

Just like humans, dogs can sometimes need surgery to treat certain health conditions and illnesses. Whether your dog is about to undergo dental surgery or skin mass removal, it is important to assist it through the recovery process.

Here are a few tips for helping your furry family member successfully recover from surgery.

Keep Your Dog Away From Kids and Other Pets

It is normal for a dog to feel irritable and disoriented the first few days after a surgical procedure. As such, your pooch might not feel like itself and even snap at children and other pets. To prevent any issues, you should try to keep your dog away from kids and other pets until it starts to feel better.

Provide Plenty of Water

Dogs will need to drink even more water after surgery than usual. Otherwise, they could get dehydrated. That is it is especially important for you to make sure that your dog always has fresh water to drink.

Do Not Let Your Dog Lick the Incision

Your dog may be tempted to lick its surgical incision to relieve itching. However, you should try to keep your furry family member from doing this. Licking can increase the risk of infection and tear out the stitches. If necessary, put a cone around your dog's neck to prevent licking.

Take Your Dog Outside More Frequently

During the surgery, your dog received IV fluids. As a result, it will have to urinate more frequently the days following surgery. To prevent your dog from having accidents in the house, do not forget to take your dog outside at least every few hours.

Keep Your Dog in a Crate

After surgery, you will want to keep your dog from doing too much activity, such as running around the house or jumping on furniture. Excessive activity can increase your dog's risk of injury and hinder the recovery process. If possible, have your dog rest and recover in a crate. This way, you know that your furry family member will be safe from hazards.

Administer Pain Medication

If the veterinarian prescribed your dog pain medication, it is important to give it on schedule. Excessive pain can make it more difficult to recover from surgery.

If you follow these helpful tips, you can help your furry family member recover successfully from surgery. If you have additional questions, you should get in touch with your veterinary surgical services provider promptly. 

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