My pet seems very sleepy, is this normal?

Your pet has been given a general anaesthetic and/or a sedative. These drugs can take a number of hours to wear off and may cause some patients to appear drowsy for a day or so. Over the next day or two their behaviour should return to normal, however if you are at all concerned do not hesitate to contact the surgery. Most pets sleep even more than normal in the first week after surgery.

Why has my pet’s foreleg been clipped?

This is where the anaesthetic or sedative was administered. There may also be a small dressing on the leg; if so this can be removed once you arrive home.

My pet has developed a slight cough since the operation. Is this anything to worry about?

Your dog may have had a tube placed in their trachea (windpipe) during the anaesthetic. This can occasionally cause mild irritation and a slight cough as an after-effect. If so, it will settle down over the next few days, however should it persist then contact the surgery.

What should I do if my pet is licking its wound or chewing the stitches?

If you have been given an Elizabethan-type collar to prevent your pet chewing then please ensure it is used, otherwise please contact the surgery and ask for one. Not surprisingly, many pets find these collars strange at first and will attempt to remove them. However, after a short period most animals will settle and tolerate wearing the collar. Once accustomed, it is better to keep the collar on permanently, rather than to take it on and off. Remember – it only takes a few seconds of unobserved chewing for a pet to undo its stitches. If your pet does succeed in removing any of its stitches then please call the surgery as soon as possible.

What should the wound look like, and when should I be concerned?

The wound should normally be clean with the edges together and the skin a normal or slightly reddish/pink colour. In pale skinned animals bruising may be seen around the wound. This may not appear until a few days after the operation, and in some cases can seem excessive in comparison to the size of the incision, however this is due to seepage of blood under the skin edges.

Please contact the surgery if you see any of the following at the wound:

• Continuous seepage or a large quantity of blood.
• Intermittent blood seepage continuing for more than 24 hours.
• Any swellings, excessive redness of the skin or discharge.

When do the stitches need removing?

In general most skin stitches (also called sutures) are removed 10-14 days after the operation depending on the type of surgery performed.

When can my pet resume a normal active life?

This will depend upon the nature of the operation. In the case of a minor procedure involving a small incision, some restriction of exercise should be maintained until a few days after the skin stitches are removed. However, if major operation has been performed or a large incision is present a longer period of convalescence will be required, which may involve keeping your pet house-bound for a number of weeks.

If you have been given any medication

Please READ THE LABEL CAREFULLY and ensure that all medication is administered as instructed. If you are experiencing any difficulty in dosing your pet please contact the surgery for advice.