How To Plan For Your Dog’s Upcoming Surgical Operation – Part 3

Following your dog’s surgical operation he will be placed inside a recovery room in order to wait out the effects of the anesthetics. The veterinarian will check his breathing and the color of his gums periodically in order to ensure he does not go into shock. For example, if a dog has shallow breathing and his gums are a pale, bluish color, he is most likely entering shock and must be tended to immediately.

Waiting For The Anesthesia To Wear Off

The amount of time that it takes for your dog to become fully awake will depend entirely on the type of anesthesia that was used and the amount of dosage given. In some instances, a dog may be fully awake in 30 minutes or less. Other times it may last as long as 12 – 18 hours when a long-acting anesthetic was used for the procedure.

During this period of time when your dog is resting in the recovery room he will act sloppy and in a “drunk-like” manner. He may stagger around the room or paddle his front paws. Although these actions are innocent and harmless to himself, they may frighten the owner. It is for this reason that most veterinarians prefer keep the dog inside the hospital until the anesthetic has worn off completely.

Questions You Should Ask

Veterinarians who routinely operate on various animals day after day will generally offer a set of instructions and basic care information for your dog when he is ready to leave the hospital. You should never wait until you get home to think about further details and questions that may not have been provided by the vet.

Preparing ahead of time for your dog’s surgery and the post-surgery care for your pet means writing down questions before you arrive.  While every veterinarian will generally do a good job at making sure you are prepared to help your dog heal appropriately once he is home, there are occasionally some details that are missed. Some questions that may come to mind include:

“What should I be doing for him when we get home?”

“How do I look after the stitches?”

“What about food, do I feed my dog solid food or only liquids?”

“What about moving around, can I walk him like normal?”

These are just some general questions to give you an idea of how to prepare for your dogs trip back home.  Sit down with a pen and a piece of paper and think of as many questions as possible that may come to mind. Do not be concerned about asking a stupid question or something that you feel is too simple. This is your dog’s health we are talking about, so ask away!