POST SURGERY | chancellorparkvet

CARING FOR YOUR PET POST SURGERY

When your pet has surgery they are placed under general anaesthetic.

Anaesthesia is usually induced by an intravenous injection, to make your pet unconscious, followed by gas to maintain this state. The anaesthetic gas is administered through an endotracheal tube placed in your pets trachea (windpipe). As a result of this tube, occasionally your pet may experience some irritation or discomfort causing them to cough for a day or two after the procedure.

Before anaesthesia an intravenous catheter is placed into one of your pets legs and as a result they may have a shaved patch on one or more legs. This catheter is used during anaesthesia to administer drugs and intravenous fluids. If there is a light bandage on the catheter site when you pick up your pet, it is important to remove it after an hour.

Following an anaesthetic most patients are a little groggy for the first 24 hours at home and should be kept inside and observed. Dogs should be taken outside on lead only to toilet, and cats should be kept confined inside and provided a litter tray. Sometimes it may take a day or two for their bowels to function normally, however they may urinate more than usual for the next 24-48 hours as a result of any intravenous fluids. Because they may be groggy, you may find that pets urinate inside or in their sleep, even if normally house trained.

Following an anaesthetic your pet is able to eat dinner that night, however it is important to offer only a small amount of food and water at a time. This is because sometimes they will eat too much too fast and in combination with any drugs still in their system, they may feel nauseas and vomit. If they do manage to keep down what was first offered and they are still hungry you can offer more at a later stage.