Diet

• Give only small amounts water at frequent intervals tonight.   You can offer a few laps every 15‑30 minutes for the first 6 hours after you take your pet home.
• In general do not feed them any food until the morning after surgery. 
• Regular diet morning after surgery.
• If vomiting occurs once you get home or after they eat or drinks, give Pepto Bismol at a dosage of 1 teaspoon / 30 pounds.  You can repeat this every 30 to 60 minutes for 3 doses if vomiting continues. Call the hospital if your pet continues to vomit after the 3 doses.  Give nothing else by mouth as long as vomiting continues.

You may feed your pet a small meal or snack after 8pm if the following apply:

• Your pet has a normal activity level. 
• If they have had no vomiting since coming home.
• Your pet is acting starved and just will not wait till morning.

Activity    

• Please restrain your pet when leaving the clinic by using either a leash or a pet carrier, to prevent them from getting hurt or escaping.
• Drowsiness may be noted today and tomorrow.
• Recovery and some medications administered following surgery may cause your pet to be sleepy.  Keep them in a protected environment so that they stays warm, dry and does not get hurt.
• Your pet can go back to their regular activity, within reason, tomorrow if they are acting normal.

Incision Care 

• Watch any incisions for swelling, redness, or drainage.  Apply nothing to the incision without our knowledge. 
• Prevent excessive licking, and keep them in an environment that will keep incisions clean
• If your pet has any open wounds, wash or flush the wounds with the prescribed medication as directed.

Medications

• Give any pain medication prescribed as directed on the label.
• Give any antibiotics prescribed as directed on the label.
• Apply topical medication as directed.
• Use other medications prescribed as directed on the label.

Other General Instructions 

• Call for an Elizabethan collar if your licks the sutures excessively.  If after hours, they can be found at the pet stores as well.
• Many pets will not have bowel movements for 1 ‑ 3 days after anesthesia.  This is normal, provided they are acting normal otherwise. 
• Recheck in 5-7 Days if directed to do so.
• Recheck with us in 10-14 days so we may check for complications, examine the incision(s), and remove sutures.  There is no additional charge for this procedure unless sedation is required
• Please do not give your pet a bath till any stitches are removed. In the event your pet must be bathed, apply Vaseline or antibiotic ointment to the incisions and shower them.  Do not submerge or soak them in a bath.
• Our major concern is the comfort and healing of your pet.  Please call the clinic ANY time you have a question or concern.

Notify the clinic if you observe any of the following

• Vomiting or Diarrhea after 24 hours.
• Refusal to eat after 48 hours.
• Severe pain.
• Any evidence of significant bleeding from the incision.
• Continuous lick or pulling at the sutures.  (Restraint Collar May Be Needed)
• Excessive swelling of the incision.
• Any incision comes open. 

Please feel free to contact us with any concerns or questions at:

615-459-0802

Thank You For Trusting Us With Your Pets Care!

Is your pet a Premier Pet? If not you could be saving even more on your future pet care needs.

NOTE:  We make every effort to avoid complications, BUT unexpected problems can always occur.  Complications might include infection, wound dehiscence, or chewing out sutures.  THE OWNER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY AND ALL CHARGES RESULTING FROM ANY COMPLICATION OF THE SURGICAL PROCEDURE BEYOND OUR CONTROL.