Bruton Veterinary Surgery
25 High Street
Bruton
Somerset
BA10 OAH
Caring for your Dog before
and after surgery
Most Dogs will have an operation at some stage in their life, for neutering or to
treat a disease. Nowadays most operations in dog are fairly safe but the success
of treatment and recovery depends to some extent on the quality of care that the
owner gives before and after the operation.
What do I do before the operation?
If the operation is not an emergency it may be useful for you to arrange some
time off work so that you are around to take care of your dog during the
recovery period. The risk of any complications during or after surgery have
been much reduced by improvements in surgical techniques and in the safety of
the anaesthetics used. Since the stress of an operation can lower your dog's
resistance to infectious disease check that your dog's vaccinations are
up-to-date before it has surgery. Vomiting is dangerous when your dog's is
under an anaesthetic and to reduce the risk of this you will have been asked not
to give your dog any food after about 21.00 hrs the previous evening but water
should be freely available until the time you leave home. Please take your dog for
a short walk before coming in to the practice in the morning.
Lungworm treatment for all neutering procedures:
If your dog is not already being treated with Advocate Spot on we recommend
treatment prior to any neutering procedures. One treatment 6 weeks before the
operation and a repeat treatment 2 weeks before the operation. Lungworm can
cause poor blood clotting which can lead to excessive bleeding during and after
procedures.
Preoperative blood tests:
The vet will carry out a full clinical examination before administering an
anaesthetic. However, in all cases we strongly recommend a blood test before
administering an anaesthetic to check the general health status of your pet. The
blood tests check the health of the kidneys, liver, screen for diabetes, blood
proteins and red and white blood cell counts. These tests help with anaesthetic
safety.
What happens on the day of the operation?
We carry out operations in the late morning or early afternoon, and will ask you
to bring your dog to the surgery at a particular time. It is important not to be late
so that there is time to prepare your dog for its anaesthetic.
A small patch of fur will be shaved from your dog's leg so that your vet can give
intravenous injections or fit instruments to monitor your dog during the
anaesthetic. When you leave your dog you will be asked to sign a consent form
stating that you know the purpose of the operation and agree to have it done.
When will my dog be able to come home?
When your dog is admitted for their operation, you will be asked to leave a
telephone number where you can be contacted and a member of our team will
contact you after the operation and inform you of your pet's progress. After
operations most dogs should be ready to come home within a few hours of
waking up from anaesthesia. Some animals take longer to come round and we
will not allow the release of your dog until they are fully conscious. The vet or
veterinary nurse will tell you when your dog can be fed and watered, whether
they will need any medication and when they will need to be brought back to
have their stitches (sutures) removed. You will need to restrict exercise to short
lead walks for 24 hours post surgery.
What should I do when I get my dog home?
Keep your dog warm on his journey home. At home your dog should be left in a
warm, quiet room until he is fully recovered. Do not allow him/her outside for at
least 24 hours. Try to keep your dog quiet because any sudden movements may
put a strain on the stitches. Your vet may prescribe pain killers, antibiotics or
some other drugs to keep your dog comfortable and prevent infection.
Will my dog be ill after the anaesthetic?
It is quite common for a dog to appear 'groggy' for a few hours after a general
anaesthetic and it may sleep longer and more deeply than normal. Your dog may
be a little unsteady on his or her feet. If your dog is hungry you may want to feed
a small meal when you get home. Warming the food slightly and feeding by hand
may help if your dog has a poor appetite.
What are the signs of more serious problems?
If your dog is still dull or moving unsteadily when it has been home for 24 hours
you should call your vet for advice. If the stitches have come out or split or there
are any convulsions (fits), prolonged retching or vomiting or signs of swelling,
discharges or bleeding from the operation wound contact the surgery
immediately.
How do I stop my dog pulling its stitches out?
Most dogs try to lick their wounds but they should eventually get used to having
stitches. If your dog does try to remove his stitches your vet may give you an
Elizabethan collar to fit around your dog's neck to prevent him getting at the
wound.