You must restrict your pet’s activity for the next ten days to allow the tissue time to heal, & avoid causing the incision to open. Cats should stay indoors. All dogs should go out on a leash to urinate/defecate & then return inside to rest. Keep the incision site dry; do not bathe or apply topical ointment during the recovery period.
 

Keep males away from unspayed females for 30 days. Keep females away from unneutered males for seven days. Be prepared to keep pets separate during the recovery period.

Check the incision site twice daily. Females should have no drainage; redness & swelling should be minimal. The incision for male dogs is pre-scrotal with subq sutures are placed and then glued.  Too much activity causes more brusing and swelling, so activity restriction is very important. Do not allow your pet to lick or chew at the incision. An Elizabethan collar MUST be applied at all times, for 7 to 10 days, to prevent any licking/chewing that could cause infection.
 

Appetite should return gradually within 24 hours of surgery. Do not change your pet’s diet at this time, & do not give them junk food, table scraps, milk, or any other people food during the recovery period. Feeding them their regular diet will help avoid gastro-intestinal upset.
 

Minimal redness & swelling of the surgery site should resolve within several days, but if they persist longer, please call our office at 330-952-1800.  You should also contact us immediately if you notice any of the following: pale gums; depression; unsteady gait; loss of appetite or decreased water intake; vomiting; diarrhea; discharge or bleeding from the incision; difficulty urinating or defecating; labored breathing. Do not give human medication to the Animal. It is dangerous & can be fatal.
 

If your pet received a vaccine at our clinic other than rabies, please discuss a “booster” vaccine with your regular veterinarian. Canine distemper/parvo vaccine & feline distemper vaccine all need to be “boostered” three to four weeks after administration of the first vaccine for maximum effectiveness.

We will make every reasonable effort to treat at OUR CLINIC, at minimal cost, any post-operative complications resulting directly from the surgery, if the above post-operative instructions are followed in full. Your regular veterinarian must address illnesses or injuries that are not a direct result of surgery. Please call for an appointment as soon as you see any cause for concern at 330-952-1800.