Orthopedic Surgery

General Instructions:

Following surgery, your pet will require 8 weeks of activity restriction. During this time period the only allowable activity is walking on a leash for elimination. These walks should last no longer than 10 minutes total. No free activity (off leash) should be allowed outside or in the home. Stairs should be limited to as infrequently as possible and always on a leash. Your pet should be separated from other house pets and not allowed to play or get onto or off of furniture. Ideal restriction would be isolation to a pet carrier or crate with enough room to turn around and lay down comfortably. A small room with good footing and no furniture would be a second – best option. Your pet should not be allowed to follow you around the house. Sitting at your feet or in your lap is allowable, if a leash is in place to prevent sudden movement if a door bell should ring or otherwise exciting event should occur. This level of restriction is necessary until specifically cleared (usually at the 8 week recheck radiograph appointment).

***Protect your investment. If your pet received implants or plates, they are made to walk on, but not run or jump on. High impact activities can cause damage to the implants, leading to catastrophic failure of the fixation.

Please monitor the incisions for any redness, swelling or discharge. Please do not allow any licking, scratching or chewing that may traumatize the incision. If your pet shows a tendency to lick the incision, please place an e-collar and call our office immediately. E-collars can be purchased at most local pet stores and veterinary offices.

If your pet will tolerate it, a medical ice pack (purchased from a human pharmacy) can be placed on the surgical site for 5 minutes as often as every 4 hours for 3-5 days following discharge from the hospital. Please use a clean, dry cloth placed over the surgical site to provide a barrier between the skin and the ice pack. It is important to have a cloth barrier between the ice pack and skin to prevent any trauma to the skin. Some dogs find this comforting and it reduces inflammation and swelling which leads to pain.

Please tempt your pet to eat at home. Please monitor for any signs of illness such as vomiting, severe lethargy, or lack of appetite lasting more than 24-48 hours. If these occur, please call us.

It is common, due to the anesthesia and pain medications, to see no bowel movement for up to five days. If your pet does not have a bowel movement in longer than five days, please contact our office. You may supplement your pet’s diet with 1/4 – 1/2 can of canned pumpkin with each meal for the next few days to increase fiber intake if you would like.

Recheck:

Please make an appointment for a recheck in approximately 10-14 days for an incisional recheck.

We will also ask to see your pet in approximately eight weeks for a recheck x-ray to make sure the bone has healed completely. Sedation may be necessary for adequate x-rays, so please do not feed the morning of this appointment. The cost for follow up s-rays and sedation is not included in the price of the surgery.