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Below you will find the most common questions that pet parents ask during the first 2 weeks of the recovery process.
IMPORTANT: If your pet has any combination of the following: DIARRHEA, VOMITING, LETHARGY and/or LACK OF APPETITE, then your pet will need to be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible. During normal business hours this can be us at VSS, otherwise seek your regular veterinarian or an emergency clinic.
Our medical team is available to answer questions and address concerns Monday – Thursday: 7 am – 5 pm Friday: schedule varies
We cannot determine how your pet will behave as the anesthesia continues to work out of their system in the first 12-24 hours after coming home.
Yes. Appetite is closely associated with pain and dysphoria. Please make sure you are giving all pain medication as prescribed. If decreased appetite continues after giving pain medications correctly, please contact our medical team.
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes – If you are giving the pain medications as prescribed, then this is not due to pain.
Try using a heating pad (low setting) to keep your pet warm.
Your pet has been sent home with medications to control pain, inflammation and (in some cases) infection. It is ESPECIALLY important that ALL medications be given as directed until they are gone. All medications provided by us can be given with each other unless otherwise specifically instructed.
No! Your pet is not in pain because of the pain medications. It’s hard for you to gauge what you pet is really feeling. Our medical team sent the appropriate amount of pain medications based on the surgery your pet had. We recommend giving all medications as prescribed until finished to ensure your pet’s comfort.
No
Any modification to our instructions for the cone can result in serious post-operative complications & additional costs. For ALL orthopedic procedures involving implants if the incision becomes infected the implants will ultimately have to be removed.
No. These types of cones do not offer enough protection for the incision.
No. Do not use anything that has not been specifically approved by our medical team.
Please make sure the cone is as tight as possible on the neck while still being able to breathe normally. Make sure at least 1-2 fingers fit in between your pet’s neck and the gauze. Alternatively you can pass a sturdy dog/cat collar through the loops of the cone. This will make it even harder for your pet to remove it.
Give your pet time to adjust. This is not a comfortable situation, but a necessary one. Usually 24-48 hours to adjust will suffice. Also, a dark, quiet space usually helps. Consider placing the crate away from sight of you, your family and other pets. If the issue continues after that, please contact us to see if sedatives can help.
No. Your pet has been sized for the appropriate cone on surgery day based on the specific needs of the surgery that was performed.
Most pets can. If your pet is having difficulty with this, please assist your pet with eating/drinking while the cone is on.
Put the e-collar back in place. Take a clear picture of the incision and email it to the clinic along with details. If this happens after hours, then please wait until we come back to the clinic for review or seek help with your regular vet or an emergency clinic.
If you notice a serious opening and/or sutures/staples are missing, the patient needs to be seen ASAP. If this happens when our clinic is closed please go to your primary veterinarian or go to the emergency clinic.
If your pet requires crate confinement and activity restrictions, those have been explained during the discharge process. DO NOT MODIFY THESE RESTRICTIONS UNTIL NOTIFIED BY A TEAM MEMBER AT VSS. FAILURE TO COMPLY CAN RESULT IN COMPLICATIONS & ADDITIONAL COSTS.
Patients that had knee surgery need STRICT crate confinement for about 6-8 weeks. FHO patients need to be crated for 2 weeks. All others: refer to the information provided to you–may be in introductory information or in the discharge paperwork. Our medical team will let you know when it’s safe for the patient to be out of the crate.
Yes. Most pets usually adjust fairly easily and rapidly to crate confinement. (Most issues with crate confinement are the owner’s anxiety and not the pet!)
No. If the medical team instructed crate confinement for your pet, then that is the only acceptable option for activity restriction while the patient is in recovery.
No. Leave your pet in the crate until our medical team has indicated it’s safe to come out. Even simple handling of your pet is risky while the patient is still healing.
Yes, absolutely. Your pet can suddenly take off running or jump on furniture, which can cause serious complications. Something as simple as walking around the home can be detrimental for your healing pet.
Yes. Swelling can appear adjacent to the surgical area. Bruising can appear a deep red or purple. Both bruising and swelling are NOT EMERGENT situations and they will resolve in time.
Your pet may not urinate within the first 24 hours after coming home. Keep in mind that if water intake is decreased, urine production will be decreased. In some cases, female dogs will hold urine for up to 48 hours. DO NOT try to force elimination by taking your pet outside multiple times. Normal urination schedule will return within the first 72 hours.
Yes. We would expect the appetite to increase over the next 24-72 hours.
Once appetite has returned to normal ALL medications can be resumed.
Yes! Failure to correct this within 24 hours may result in serious consequences. If we are closed, your pet needs to go to the emergency clinic.
If within business hours please email us a clear, bright picture as soon as possible. Monday to Wednesday after 5pm: please email a picture as well. We will contact you upon retrieving your message. Thursday after 5pm, Friday to Sunday and Holidays please go to the emergency clinic.
If within business hours please email us a clear, bright picture as soon as possible. Please include the toes. Monday to Wednesday after 5pm: please email a picture as well. We will contact you upon retrieving your message. Thursday after 5pm, Friday to Sunday and Holidays please go to the emergency clinic.
No. The bandages need to breathe. Please only use the protector when the patient is going outside or whenever dampness may be present.
(Only for dogs that had knee or hip surgery)
Formal rehab is an extremely important component of the final outcome of your pet’s surgery. It helps strengthen muscles, improve coordination and balance, decrease pain, and maintain good range of motion. Many pets will still recovery fully without formal rehab, albeit more slowly.
The day after surgery.
10-20 repetitions, 3-4 times a day. Not all dogs will tolerate these activities, so do not continue at-home exercises if these activities cause undue stress on your pet.
Allow your pet to start weight bearing on the surgery leg when ready. This usually happens sometime in the first 2 weeks. Once your pet naturally begins using the leg we want you to encourage weight bearing, but just in a controlled manner (slow pace, short leash & short potty break walks). Assist your pet with a sling only if needed. Your pet should not go on long walks until cleared by our medical team.
No. This is not recommended at all. It limits range of motion and does not allow the incision to breathe. A brace will also increase muscle atrophy.
Our medical team will let you know when it’s safe to do so.
Low sodium chicken broth is an excellent alternative.
These are only included for some knee or hip surgeries. For those that don’t include the recovery period, rechecks are $10 and follow up x-rays are $42.50. (Prices subject to change.)
If you modify any of the instructions provided on surgery day without the approval of our surgical team, we are not responsible for any complications.
9231 Burnet Rd, Suite 102 Austin, TX 78758
P: (512) 428-6167 E: surgery@vssaustin.com
Mon 7 am – 5 pm Tue 7 am – 5 pm Wed 7 am – 5 pm Thur 7 am – 5 pm
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