Post-Op Recovery FAQs

Should my pet be constipated after surgery?

It’s not unusual for there to be a delay between the time your pet comes home from the hospital and when they have their first bowel movement.

Your pet can become constipated after anesthesia and surgery. Signs of constipation include straining to pass feces; passing minimal amounts of small, dry, hard stool; vocalizing while attempting to pass stool; and making frequent attempts.

Drugs used during anesthesia can slow down gut movement in general. In addition, you were likely asked to fast your pet prior to surgery, which means their gut may initially be empty (having nothing to pass).

The type of pain medication administered to your pet in hospital, as well as the medication sent home during their recovery can also slow this process. No bowel movement for up to 6 days is common and not urgent. You can try a couple of things at home:

• Feed plain organic canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling). Pets under 40 lbs: 1 tablespoon. Pets over 40 lbs: 2 tablespoons. Can be given 2 times daily for 5 days.
• Soften kibble with warm low-sodium broth or water

Additionally, your pet may have difficulty ‘posturing’ to defecate after surgery, due to being painful or uncomfortable. This is also normal.

Most of the time, your pet should have a bowel movement within 48 hours of being discharged from the hospital. If you see signs of continued straining or discomfort a week after surgery, check in with Quartet or your regular veterinarian on the next best steps.
 

What if my pet lays on the surgical leg/hip/site?

If your pet feels comfortable, they may choose to lay on their surgical site. This is not a cause for concern. Additionally, they may feel comfortable enough to use their leg while walking immediately after surgery. This is also not a cause for concern.

The recovery journey is different for each pet. Some may not use their surgical leg/hip for the first 2 weeks after surgery. Over time, they will get more comfortable putting weight on it. If you are concerned, please give us a call, and/or feel free to make notes and bring them into your suture removal or recheck appointment.
 

Is it normal for my pets urine output to change after surgery?

Your pet received IV fluids during their hospital stay. This means they may urinate more than usual during the first 24-48 hours at home. Their urine may look more clear than normal and should occur without difficulty.

Normal urination schedules should return in about 72 hours after your pet’s discharge. Keep in mind that if water intake is decreased (less frequent visits to the water bowl), urine production will also be decreased. DO NOT try to force elimination by taking your pet outside multiple times.
 

 Will my pet’s appetite change after surgery?

Not eating while in the hospital or the first night at home is common. Your pet’s appetite should improve in 24-72 hours.

ALL PAIN MEDICATIONS must be given, as pain will result in a decreased appetite.

If your pet does not want to eat once home from the hospital, you can try:

• A bland diet: add low sodium chicken broth, boiled chicken & rice, or baby food that has protein in it.
• Avoid treats, cheese, or table food to prevent stomach upset.

 

 What are the possible side effects of general anesthesia in my pet?

We can’t determine how a pet will behave as the anesthesia works its way out of their system in the first 24 hours. Here are some common reactions that are to be expected:

• Panting
• Lack of appetite
• Excessive thirst
• Restlessness – Anxious – Standing up
• Crying or whining

 

Is the bruising and swelling I see on my pet normal?

Bruising and/or swelling are not uncommon following your pet’s surgery.

• Bruising can appear a deep red and/or purple.
• Swelling can appear adjacent to the surgical area
• Follow the instructions provided in your detailed discharge instructions (this may include icing the surgical site for a specified period)
• Bruising tends to be at it’s worst 72 hours (or 3 days) after surgery.
• Both bruising and swelling themselves are NOT EMERGENT & will resolve in time.

 

Is it bad for my pet to lick the incision site? Does my pet have to wear a cone?

Pets are sent home with our soft e-collars after surgery. The “cone” or “e-collar” (short for Elizabethan collar) can be a very useful tool when used properly and can help protect your pets incision.

You will need to always keep it on your pet, even when they eat and sleep. Taking it off because you feel bad for your pet can lead to premature stitch removal and surgical site infection. This can create more problems for your pet.

If your pet has access to the surgery site, it can result in the incision opening and becoming infected and can cause damage to tissues.

We strongly recommend the cone be worn until stitches are removed or wounds are healed.

The e-collar (when fitted appropriately) will still allow your pet to eat, drink, and use the bathroom.
 

What are the signs of infection?

Our surgeons take several precautions to minimize the risk of a surgical site infection. Even so, it’s important to know what signs to watch for at home.

The signs of infection are not always easy to recognize and can be vague. Infection can be present on the surface of the skin (at the incision site) or deeper in the tissue.

If there’s infection inside the body or deeper tissue, your pet may:

• Be lethargic
• Run a fever (normal temperature range for cats and dogs is 100.5 to 102.5. The only way to take an accurate temperature on a pet is with a rectal thermometer).
• Refuse food for a period of time

If the incision site itself is infected, you may see these signs:

• The area may be warm, red, and painful to the touch.
• There may be excessive swelling and/or discharge at the surgical site.
• Your pet may be reluctant to stand up and move around.
• Your pet may even vomit or have diarrhea.

If you suspect your pet may have an infection, let us know right away. We will likely recommend an examination to check the surgical site and maybe run some diagnostic tests (lab work, imaging such as x-ray or ultrasound).

If an infection is found, antibiotics and other therapies may be prescribed. Depending on the severity of the infection, they may require hospitalization for administration of IV fluids, antibiotics, and other supportive therapies.
 

Why does my pets breathing seem different after surgery?

Medications
One reason may be drugs or medications. Medications used to manage pain, anxiety, and inflammation can have several different effects on your pets body and behavior. Drugs used during anesthesia can also affect the way your pet behaves and breathes in some cases.

Pain
Pain is another reason your pet may pant or breathe heavily after surgery. If the drugs used to manage pain during anesthesia are wearing off, you may start to see changes in your pets behavior. We discuss your pets pain-management plan in detail at the surgical discharge appointment.

Other causes for changes in breathing include over-hydration, heart conditions, lung conditions, complications of chest (thoracic) surgery, trauma, infection, and diseases affecting other organ systems (such as the liver or kidneys).

If your pets breathing appears labored or difficult, or their energy is low, or their gums look pale, gray, or bluish, please go to your nearest emergency vet immediately.
 

My pet seems depressed after surgery. What can I do?

Your pet could seem a bit down after surgery. They just went through a big ordeal, and depending on their age, health status before the procedure, type of procedure, and length of procedure, it can take a while to recover.

In the immediate post-surgery period, your pet may want to sleep……. A LOT! This is usually because they are still feeling the effects of anesthesia. During this time, you should still be able to rouse your pet to get their attention. They should be able to pick their head up and stand to move around if needed. They should seem aware of their surroundings.

That said, pain and sedative medication (both are used during anesthesia) may take a bit of time to completely wear off, making it hard to know if your pets lack of energy is normal or not.

Your pet’s normal energy level should start to return to normal over their first 24 to 48 hours at home. However, if you are worried, or they seem more lethargic than expected, they are not perking up with time, or you cannot rouse them, check in with your vet right away.

These can be signs of a more serious issue or surgical complication. Your vet may suggest bringing your pet in for reassessment to be sure.
 

Will my pet need a refill of pain medication?

We send home enough pain medication to keep your pets pain managed during the initial recovery period. Your pet typically does not need controlled pain meds past this point. The idea is not to keep them completely sedated during the entire 8-week recovery.

However, all pets recover from surgery differently, and you may find your pet still needs something to help them rest.

Controlled substances are very difficult to refill anywhere other than the original prescriber, due to strict federal regulations. This is out of our control. Most human pharmacies will not refill controlled substances from a veterinary doctor.

If you feel your pet would benefit from a short refill of medication, please contact our office Monday – Friday 8:30am to 5:30pm. We will do our best to accommodate you but understand a refill may only be able to be picked up at our facility.

 

We are happy to answer any questions you feel have not been answered, or to address any additional concerns you may have. Our phones are answered Monday through Friday, 8:30am – 5:30pm. Please understand that you may have to leave a message for one of our patient care staff to return your call, as receptionists cannot answer medical questions about your pet.

In the event of an emergency, we recommend you take your pet to your nearest emergency vet.