Your Pet Surgery Questions, Answered

In order to better serve you, we are providing answers to some of the most commonly asked questions in regards to the procedures we conduct regularly. If you do not find what you are looking for here, please contact your local veterinarian or email the GVS staff.

General Questions

TPLOs, knee surgery, and soft tissue or cancer surgery in cats and dogs.

You may book through your rDVM if they are listed as one of our partner clinics. You may also contact us through our outpatient surgery center Pet Referral Plus

Great communication for upcoming appointment and a surgical recovery appointment to help lower stress and optimize communication. Collaborative care with your rDVM.

Surgery Preparation & Costs

Dr. Wardlaw cannot give out estimates because all clinics charge differently. In some cases, medical progress exams, bloodwork, or radiographs may also need to be performed in addition to the surgery itself. Please consult with your regular veterinarian for a complete itemized estimate.

Make sure your pet has a small confined space to keep them well rested after surgery which could be weeks to months, depending on the surgery your pet had and get them use to leash walking if they are not already.

Post-Surgery Recovery

Typically 3-4 weeks, assuming healing goes as expected.

8-12 weeks, assuming healing goes as expected. The first 4 weeks include strict cage rest.

After surgery, your pet will need a quiet and comfortable place to rest. Limit their activity to prevent stress on the incision site. Ensure they have access to fresh water and their prescribed medications. Offer small meals, as anesthesia can cause nausea. Monitor for any signs of pain, swelling, or discharge from the incision site.

The rest period depends on the type of surgery. Most pets need at least 10–14 days of restricted activity, meaning no running, jumping, or rough play. Orthopedic surgeries often require 4–8 weeks of rest with gradual reintroduction of movement.

It is imperative that your pet is confined after surgery so they are able to heal accordingly. Excessive activity can cause post-op complications such as: increased pain, opening of the incision, tendonitis, and implant failure.

Yes, it is important that they wear their E-Collar at all times to prevent them from licking and chewing at their incision, which can lead to infection. If the site becomes infected, additional surgery may be required.

There are various types of e-collars that are available for purchase at your local pet stores. Please be sure to consult with your veterinarian to make sure you are purchasing the correct e-collar that is suitable for your pet’s needs.

  • Many inflatable e-collars are not suitable for extremity surgeries (ie. TPLO, Lateral Suture, Medial Patellar Luxations) because many pets can still lick or chew at their legs and paws.

It depends on each dog individually. There are two devices we like very much that can aid with movement after surgery: Help ‘Em Up Harness or the Walk-a-bout sling. Please consult with your veterinarian if your pet will need aid after surgery.

Incision & Bandage Care

Your pet’s incision should look very similar to what it looked like when your pet came home from surgery. It is normal to have a little redness and crusting around the incision for the first few days while it heals. However, if you notice increased redness, swelling, bruising, discharge, or missing staples please call us or your veterinarian promptly.

  • Keep the area clean and dry—no bathing or swimming.
  • Check twice daily for redness, swelling, discharge, or an odor.
  • Prevent licking by using an Elizabethan collar (E-collar) or a surgical suit.
  • Do not apply ointments unless prescribed by your veterinarian.

  • Ensure the bandage stays dry and clean—cover it with a plastic bag if your pet goes outside, but remove it after to avoid moisture buildup.
  • Check for tightness—swelling above or below the bandage can indicate circulation issues.
  • Monitor for odor or wetness—this may indicate infection or poor healing.
  • Change bandages only as instructed by your veterinarian.

No, Do Not put Neosporin or other over-the-counter products on your pet’s incision. Neosporin can cause a Pseudomonas infection which may cause your pet to need additional surgery. There are other options, such as Silver Sulfadiazine cream, that your veterinarian may prescribe for you if it is needed. Please call your veterinarian promptly if you think your pet’s incision looks infected.

Pain & Inflammation Management

  • Follow the prescribed pain medication schedule exactly.
  • Use cold compresses (10–15 minutes, 2–3 times daily) for the first 48 hours to reduce swelling.
  • After 48 hours, warm compresses may help with healing.
  • Keep your pet calm and confined to reduce unnecessary movement that can worsen pain.

Cold compressions will help minimize bruising and swelling, as well as increase your pet’s comfort. Warm compressions will help speed the healing of the incision by increasing blood flow as well as increase your pet’s comfort.

  • Administer pain medications (NSAIDs, opioids, or gabapentin) as prescribed—never give human pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
  • Watch for signs of pain or discomfort, such as whining, restlessness, reluctance to move, or loss of appetite.
  • Provide a soft, supportive bed to minimize pressure on sore areas.

It is typical for some swelling after an orthopedic procedure 2-3 days post-op. Your pet may develop swelling around the ankle in the interim. Cold and warm compressing and massaging from the toes upward will help decrease swelling.

Follow-up & Ongoing Care

If your pet is completely healed, you can begin to ease them into their normal routine. If there are any signs of muscle atrophy, effusion, or if the bone is not completely healed, your pet will be prescribed physical rehabilitation and will need to ease back to function over a 2-3 week period.

Progress radiographs will be taken to make sure healing is progressing as expected.

  • Complications from over-activity, like effusion or tendonitis, can be diagnosed with these radiographs. If that’s the case, prolonged bed rest will be necessary and NSAIDs may be prescribed for your pet.
  • If healing is as expected, your pet’s activity can be increased to “house arrest”. Restrictions are as followed:
  • Confine to one level of the house without free access to the stairs.
  • Running, jumping, climbing on and off furniture, stairs, and rough-housing are still prohibited./li>
  • Time outside is limited to short, leash-controlled walks for elimination.

We are able to do a post-op physical to examine a range of motion and stability, however, we need radiographs to make sure the bone is healing as expected. The progress radiographs are medically necessary before increasing your pet’s activity level or adjusting the physical rehabilitation regimen.

Just like humans, animals suffer from arthritis as they age or from everyday wear and tear. Joint supplements will help ease their arthritis and aid in joint health. Please consult your regular veterinarian for joint supplement recommendations.

Bowel Movements & Digestive Health

Bowel movements may be delayed after illness, anesthesia, or surgery. Several days may be needed before the gastrointestinal system returns to normal, and bowel movements are likely to be small and infrequent until your pet is eating with a normal appetite. If it has been more than 4-5 days without a bowel movement, please call your veterinarian.

  • Mild constipation is common post-surgery due to anesthesia, pain medications, and decreased activity.
  • Offer a fiber-rich diet, such as adding canned pumpkin or prescription high-fiber food.
  • Encourage hydration with fresh water or low-sodium broth.
  • Gentle short walks (if permitted) can help stimulate digestion.
  • If your pet hasn’t defecated in 48–72 hours, contact your veterinarian.

Mild diarrhea or soft stool can sometimes occur after surgery. Stress, anesthesia, changes in diet, and medications can all temporarily upset your pet’s stomach.

If your pet is otherwise comfortable, eating and drinking, and the diarrhea is mild, you can usually monitor them closely at home. Make sure fresh water is always available and avoid introducing new foods, treats, or table scraps while their stomach is upset.