What to Expect after Orthopedic Surgery for Your Pet

Orthopedic surgery in a pet is primarily designed to alleviate hip and joint complications. After a pet orthopedic procedure, it's paramount to take good care of your pet to enhance faster recovery. Therefore, as a pet owner, it's prudent to be aware of what to expect and undertake preparations for orthopedic surgery recovery and aftercare. At Desert Forest Animal Hospital, serving the regions of North Scottsdale, AZ, New River, AZ, Carefree, AZ, and Desert Mountain, AZ, our veterinarians provide varied services for pets, including surgery. We can provide post-surgery care and instructions.

What to Expect after Orthopedic Surgery for Your Pet

Like any other surgery, knowing what to expect after orthopedic surgery helps you take care of your pet for a smooth recovery. Here is what you should expect:

A Change in Eating Behavior

Your pet's eating pattern will vary after orthopedic surgery. At the initial stages, they will consume little or no food. However, they will take water, and it's always advisable to make sure water is always available.

Need for a Safe Environment

Your pet requires a safe environment after orthopedic surgery for fast recovery. It's instrumental as a pet owner to ensure that your pet doesn't use staircases and your pet stays indoors during the recovery period, depending on the extent of the surgery. You should also ensure that the family members and other pets don't engage the recovering pet in any form of play that might aggravate the wound.

Compression Bandage

After orthopedic surgery, a veterinarian on our team will cover the incisions with compression bandages. In most cases, you will find that the pets try to move the bandages as they try to lick the prevailing surgery incisions. Therefore, it's vital to book an appointment with a veterinarian at our pet hospital to inspect and change the compression bandages when necessary.

Medications

After orthopedic surgery, a veterinarian at our pet hospital may prescribe some pain medications and antibiotics to avoid infections and suppress pain. You should give drugs to your pet as advised by our pet hospital.

Let a Veterinarian at Our Pet Hospital Treat Your Pet

After your pet's orthopedic surgery, it's a good idea to conduct a follow-up appointment with an experienced veterinarian on our team to remove compression bandages and monitor its recovery progress. Visit us at Desert Forest Animal Hospital, serving the regions of North Scottsdale, AZ, New River, AZ, Carefree, AZ, and Desert Mountain, AZ, for more post-surgery assistance. Call us at (480) 488-2010.