Post-operative discharge instructions

How to look after your pet at home after a general anaesthetic or sedation.

After a general anaesthetic or sedation

Following an anaesthetic or sedation, your pet may be quieter than usual, drowsy or unsettled for the first 24 hours. Keep them warm and comfortable and let them rest. Don’t let other pets or children disturb them.

Anaesthesia usually involves placing a breathing tube in the windpipe. This can cause a little irritation and a mild cough, which should clear up over a few days.

A small patch of hair may have been shaved from your pet’s leg or neck so we could collect blood samples or place a catheter into a vein for injections. If your pet still has a small bandage on their leg, please remove it when you get home.

Clipping can sometimes make the skin sore. Don’t let your pet lick the area, as this will make it worse. In most cases the irritation clears up quickly without treatment, but contact the practice if you’re concerned.

Feeding

Dogs and cats sometimes get a tummy upset after sedation or anaesthesia. Have a small amount of water available as soon as you get home. Don’t let your pet drink large amounts, because this may cause vomiting. Give a normal amount of water from tomorrow morning.

We advise waiting 1–2 hours before offering food. If you prefer, you can feed a small bland meal this evening, such as boiled chicken, rice, scrambled egg or white fish. If you’d like to buy a recovery pack of easily digested food, please ask. Alternatively, feed half your pet’s normal amount. Feed them as normal from tomorrow.

Vomiting and diarrhoea can be common. If it’s mild and your pet is otherwise well, feed a bland diet and it should clear up without further treatment in 1–2 days. If you’re concerned or your pet is unwell, please contact the practice.

Exercise

Dogs: lead walks only until after their final post-op check, when stitches will be removed. Stop them running, going up and down stairs and jumping up. Take them to the toilet on a lead too.

Cats: keep them indoors until after their final post-op check or until stitches are removed. Stop them running or jumping. After castration, keep cats indoors for one week.

Wounds

Please keep wounds clean and dry for 10 days. Don’t bathe your pet or let them swim.

It’s important that your pet doesn’t lick their wound or dressing. This transfers bacteria from their mouth and is likely to cause an infection.

Use buster collars and body bandages to stop your pet interfering with wounds, especially when you can’t supervise them directly.

If your pet has a bandage, it’s very important that it stays clean and dry. Please keep cats indoors and use a waterproof cover when taking dogs out to the toilet. Read our bandage care instructions.

Please check any visible surgical wounds daily. If you notice problems such as swelling, redness or discharge, please call for an appointment. Bruising around the wound is common. After castration in dogs, it’s normal for the empty scrotum to swell.

Pain relief

Your pet was given pain relief injections before surgery, which last for up to 24 hours. If needed, the vet will have prescribed pain relief for you to continue at home.