“Where should my pet be at this point after surgery?” This is a very common question to have, and it varies from patient-to-patient. In this section we will introduce the four major phases that you will encounter after surgery, and the goals you should strive for in each of these phases.
As we discuss leash walks and their duration, it should always be prioritized to go for more frequent walks of shorter duration to minimize your pet’s stiffness. When we talk about extending our leash walks, we should pick one or two of our daily walks and have these be our “duration” walks, with the remaining walks of the day being shorter walks.
Each time we extend our leash walk duration or introduce new exercises, we will cause muscular fatigue. Episodes of limping are therefore common, and you should reduce your pet’s activity and notify your veterinarian, especially if the episode lasts more that 2-3 days.
Remember – If you had an equivalent surgery as to what your pet had, then you would be likely be in physiotherapy for six months after surgery with continual exercise restrictions, so give your pet the time and credit they deserve.
The four phases of your pet’s rehabilitation:
1. Week 0-2: Early healing phase
This first phase is all about getting your pet’s INCISION HEALED so that we can safely begin Phase 2 on-time. We cannot proceed to Phase 2 until we have successfully completed Phase 1, so be vigilant while monitoring your pet’s incision.
2. Week 3-7: Mobility conditioning
During this phase, we will begin your pets leash walks so that they maintain their muscle mass and get the appropriate stimulus for healing.
Bone and other connective tissues need to “learn” what forces they will be exposed to, and by conditioning them in this manner they will heal faster.
3. Week 8-11: Advanced strengthening
Once your pet is in the advanced conditioning phase, we will begin to focus on their muscles and other supporting tissues, like tendons, that have become stiff and atrophied over the previous weeks.
4. Week 12-16: Return to full activity
In this final phase, your pet is able to resume their normal activity gradually, introducing each new activity individually so that we can be confident that your pet is comfortable and capable performing that activity.
Your week by week goals:
For details related to when certain exercises may begin, please see the previous section “Strengthening Exercises and Physiotherapy” and discuss the exercise with your veterinarian/physiotherapist before starting any exercises.
One week BEFORE surgery:
Prepare your home for your pet’s recovery process as detailed previously
If you or someone else in the family are able to take the first 2-3 days after surgery off to be home with your pet, then this can be helpful but is not essential
Day 0-4 after surgery:
Let your pet rest – They just had general anesthesia and surgery, they will be exhausted and groggy. Aim to get your pet up to walk around the living room every 3-4 hours, or to go out to go for a 2-3 minute controlled leash walk for bathroom purposes only. You should be using a sling or recovery harness (for larger dogs) during this time. There are no duration walks yet.
Redness around your pet’s incision and swelling below it are common to develop during this time – See the section about Your Pets Incision.
It might take a day or so for their appetite to return – This is common and you can try to entice them with any food that they would normally tolerate (that wouldn’t upset their stomach). Notify your veterinarian if you fell your pet is nauseous or has any regurgitation/vomiting.
It is very common to not have a bowel movement during this period – Don’t let this concern you. If you want to preemptively do something to help your pet have a bowel movement, or feel that it has been a couple days and that they need help having a bowel movement, then you may feed canned pumpkin (1 tablespoon per 10lbs in each meal) or metamucil (1 teaspoon per 10lbs per day to start). Notify your veterinarian if you notice your pet straining ever.
Medication can be stressful – If your pet is not eating, then do not force them to take pills and contact your veterinarian. They are still recovering from anesthesia and may act differently than they normally would, so never put yourself at risk for getting injured if your pet is not taking their medication willingly. Thinks like peanut butter or cream cheese can be helpful with dogs when giving them their medication so that they do not spit them out.
The plastic collar MUST remain on at ALL times – There is nothing more horrible than waking up and seeing a completely open incision. No matter how good your pet is, they will chew at their incision because it is itchy!
Day 5-7 after surgery:
Continue goals as per day 0-4 with very brief but frequent episodes of assisted ambulation and ensuring that their plastic collar remains on at all times. There are no duration walks yet.
Your pet’s appetite and ability to take their medication should be normal, and they should have had a bowel movement at this time
The swelling and redness that may have occurred near their incision should be almost fully resolved.
Week 1-2 after surgery:
Continue your goal of very brief but frequent episodes of assisted ambulation and ensuring that their plastic collar remains on at all times. Example, just get them up every hour or two through the day to stand and take a step or two to avoid stiffness. There are no duration walks yet.
Recheck with your veterinarian at 10-14 days after surgery for suture removal –Suture removal can be itchy, and when combined with the novelty effect of your pet not seeing their leg in almost two weeks because of their cone, this can make them want to lick their incision. If you see this, then replace their plastic cone for a couple hours and try removing the cone again a couple hours later.
Remember, many pet’s will have ABSORBABLE sutures that do NOT need to be removed by your veterinarian (i.e. you do not have a recheck for suture removal). Check with Dr. Lynch if you are uncertain whether or not your pet’s sutures are absorbable (we wouldn’t want you to go to the hospital for an appointment that isn’t necessary).
Weeks 2-3 after surgery:
As long as your pets 10-14 day check-up with their veterinarian was all clear, then you may begin to extend their leash walks with the goal for this week being to go for duration walks of 5-8 minute length and the remaining walks kept to 3-5 minutes.
Weeks 3-4 after surgery:
As long as your pet tolerated the previous week, then you may begin to extend their leash walks with the goal for this week being to go for duration walks of 8-10 minute length and the remaining walks kept to 3-5 minutes.
As we begin to extend leash walks, it becomes common for episodes of muscular strains and set back. If and when this occurs, then let your pet rest (no duration walks) and use anti-inflammatory medication. Contact your veterinarian if you ever have concerns, or if the set back lasts longer than 3 days with appropriate rest.
Weeks 4-5 after surgery:
As long as your pet tolerated the previous week, then you may begin to extend their leash walks with the goal for this week being to go for duration walks of 10-12 minute length and the remaining walks kept to 3-5 minutes.
Weeks 5-6 after surgery:
As long as your pet tolerated the previous week, then you may begin to extend their leash walks with the goal for this week being to go for duration walks of 12-15 minute length and the remaining walks kept to 3-5 minutes.
Weeks 6-7 after surgery:
As long as your pet tolerated the previous week, then you may begin to extend their leash walks with the goal for this week being to go for duration walks of 15-18 minute length and the remaining walks kept to 3-5 minutes.
Weeks 7-8 after surgery:
As long as your pet tolerated the previous week, then you may begin to extend their leash walks with the goal for this week being to go for duration walks of 18-20 minute length and the remaining walks kept to 3-5 minutes.
Weeks 8-10 after surgery:
As long as your pet tolerated the previous week AND they have had their 8-week recheck visit with appropriate healing/progress being documented by your veterinarian, then you may begin to extend their leash walks to FULL duration. This means that your pet should still be confined to leash walks, but these leash walks may be as long as your pet wishes and tolerates.
Weeks 10+ after surgery:
As long as your pet tolerated the previous goal set at weeks 8-10, then you may now begin introducing short (5-10 minutes) episodes of off-leash activity AFTER your pet has gone for a full-length walk (so that they have some of their energy out of their system).
Once your pet has tolerated those short episodes of off-leash exercise after their leash walks for at least one week, then you may begin introducing off-leash activity.
The return to normal activity should be gradual – Introduce one new variable at a time, whether that is an increase in walk duration or a new exercise, so that if your pet has a set-back then you’ll have a good idea as to what caused it.