How can I prepare for my pet's surgery?

Your family veterinarian will schedule surgery on a day that works for you, their practice, and our team. Once this is coordinated, a plan will be made for any pre-operative testing, feeding and medication schedule, and what to prepare for in anticipation of surgery. Nearly every procedure requires exercise restriction and confinement following surgery. The best time to think about this is before surgery. Your pet will need to avoid stairs, furniture, jumping, running, and playing for an extended period of time. Surfaces should be modified to avoid slipping. Find an area of the house where this can be accomplished.

Here are some tips:

Kitchens, laundry rooms, or bathrooms make a great place to confine pets, as they usually have no furniture.
Baby gates, ramps, kennels and movable X-pens may all be used to prevent unwanted activity.
For areas with slippery surfaces such as tile or wood floors, bath mats with a rubber nonslip underside or yoga mats make a great way of preventing falls.
Avoid things that unnecessarily excite your pet. For example, you might unplug your doorbell and ask people to phone you instead when they arrive at your door.
Boxes or other objects may be placed on furniture to avoid your dog or cat from jumping on or off of surfaces.
Many family members like to sit with their pets next to them on furniture. As long as they do not jump on or off of furniture, this is allowed, with caution. If you are planning on this, assist them into a comfortable position. Attach a leash to them and hold onto the leash. This will make it much easier to avoid them from deciding to leave unannounced without support.

Setting up your pet’s environment in advance will make his or her recovery much easier on you and him or her. It is a good idea to practice these techniques ahead of time to get a routine in place before surgery.