You may feel happy and may feel worried after your loving dog’s surgery. You’re happy that the process is complete and you’re aware that you’re not completely yet completely free of any issues. While your dog heals there’s always the chance that the surgical wound may reopen, get infected, or not be healed properly.
The positive side is that when you take care of post-surgical issues by yourself, the risk of complications decreases dramatically. We hope that these suggestions assist.
Top 6 tips to take care of the surgical wounds speed up recovery.
First, Follow Your Veterinarian’s Instructions
Following the procedure, the veterinarian will give specific instructions regarding how to take care of the incision of your dog. Following these guidelines to properly care for your wound helps reduce the risk of infection as well as other complications. It also helps your dog heal quicker. The nature of the surgery and incision, these rules could vary from changing bandages to cleaning the drainage site every day, or simply watching the area of the incision.
It’s crucial to leave the vet’s office to ensure that you are aware of what you need to do (and the appropriate time) to treat the wound of your dog’s surgical procedure correctly, the basic guidelines for caring for your dog are identical for all surgical wounds:
Make sure that the area is kept dry. Most likely, you’ll not bathe your dog for the initial few weeks. If it’s raining or wet outside, you should cover the wound or bandage it with plastic. Do not allow your dog to lay on the ground if it’s damp or muddy.
Avoid applying any creams disinfectants, creams for antibiotics or other products to the area of the incision, unless you are specifically directed to apply it by your physician.
Don’t utilize hydrogen peroxide or alcohol to clean your wound, because they can damage cells and hinder healing.
Know What a Normal Incision Looks Like
It’s crucial to know what the surgical incision of your dog ought to look like so that you are aware of the signs of an abnormality. Incisions that are healing well usually appear neat and have edges that are touching one another. The skin should appear to be its normal colour, or slightly pinkish-red. It’s normal for the area of surgery to turn slightly redder in the initial few days following surgery.
The appearance of bruises can be observed on the surgical site, particularly in dogs with pale skin but this isn’t a reason to be worried about. In certain instances there is a tiny amount of blood could seep in through a new incision for as long as 24 hours, which is normal. However, massive quantities of blood or a constant flow of blood is definitely a reason to speak to your vet.
Know What an Incision That Is Not Healing Properly Looks Like
After you have a better understanding of what an incision that is normal looks and feels like, there are things to be aware of that could be warning signs. Consult your veterinarian immediately if you observe any of the following signs in the site of your dog’s cut:
- Redness, swelling or swelling excessively
- The smell of unpleasant odours or discharges
- Incessant drips or seepages from blood, or any other fluids
- The presence of large amounts of fluid or blood (anything greater than a couple of drops isn’t normal)
- Blood seepage intermittently that lasts for more than 24hrs
Check Your Dog’s Incision 2x per Day
Once you know the difference between what’s normal and not, it’s crucial to inspect your dog’s cut often following surgery. We recommend it at least two times a day. Following the procedure, keep track of the size of the incision and the number of stitches and the overall appearance on the surface. So you can get an idea of what it will look like and can tell when any part of the skin begins to appear off.
Tips for the Pros:
every time you examine your dog’s wound then take a photograph of the incision in the same spot, with the same light. This will make it easier to remember the proper way to look and will provide great documentation to present to your vet in the event of anything happening that isn’t normal.
Avoid Your dog from licking wounds
It’s all-important. When your dog’s wound from surgery is healing, it could develop itchy, which could cause your dog to chew or lick it. It’s a common misconception that saliva from dogs can be considered to be antibacterial or aid in healing the wound. It just takes a few minutes of chewing or licking for the dog to take out the stitches and then reopen their wounds, or cause infections. Both of these situations warrant a visit to your vet. Both will significantly slow the healing process.
The prevention of your dog chewing or licking at the incisions made during surgery can result in an e-collar being needed for as long as two weeks following the procedure. Many pets (and their owners) dislike the cone of shame however, it’s to their own benefit.
Restrict Your Dog’s Activity Immediately after Surgery
Ensuring that your dog doesn’t become too vigorous too soon after surgery is essential to ensure the wound doesn’t open again. Based on the kind of procedure that was performed, it might be vital for your pet to stay clear of running, jumping, or climbing up the furniture (including sofas and beds) or going up or down for a period of time following surgery.
What time and the extent you’ll need to limit your dog’s activities will depend on the kind of surgery they went through. If it’s minor surgeries that just require a tiny incision there will be some restrictions on activity that are recommended for the day after the stitches are removed. If, however, your dog has had an extensive procedure or a significant incision, a longer time of restrained movement may be needed, which could mean being homebound for a few weeks. Your vet may also recommend the use of a crate or confinement in an area that is small in specific circumstances
