Information for Pet Owners

Most pets will be discharged near the end of the same business day so that they can be monitored after surgery for several hours.

A member of your doctor’s staff will discharge your pet. Dr. Bibevski and COR nurses will provide written instructions for home care and also a summary of the procedure performed.

Please reach out to your doctor with any concerns that may arise. In the event of an emergency, you can also email COR at [email protected] or call . Please note that we are not an emergency service but will try to answer any questions if it outside of your doctors regular business hours.

The recommendations for physical activity depend on the type and specifics of the procedure performed. Typically, your pet should be limited to very short walks outside and always on a leash for elimination purposes. No running, jumping or playing is permitted for a period of 1-2 weeks (abdominal procedures), 6-8 weeks (orthopedics). After your pets’ recheck visit (1-2 weeks after surgery), you will receive further instructions regarding allowed activity.

Unless we advise you differently, we only want you to keep a watchful eye on the incision. We want to be alerted if you notice any redness, swelling, moisture or odor. We want the incision to stay clean and dry. Please do not allow your pet to lick or chew at the incision site, swim or play in water during the healing period.

When the incision heals. This will be determined at the recheck visit, 7-14 days after surgery.

No. Due to the surgery, anesthesia and medications, intestinal function can be delayed. It may take up to a week for your pet to have a bowel movement and this is ok. However, if your pet is straining to have a bowel movement, please contact your primary veterinarian or COR Veterinary Surgery Services for assistance.

Any of these changes are concerning and warrant an evaluation of the bandage either with your primary veterinarian immediately. Bandages can quickly cause problems to your pets skin and we take these issues very seriously.

If your pet will not take his/her prescribed medications after surgery you can try to hide them in their normal food or try meat flavored baby food or boiled chicken/hamburger. If these tricks do not work, please contact your general doctor. If your pet has allergies, please consult with a doctor before trying any new foods.

It is normal for pets to have a decrease in appetite for several days after surgery due to the stress of being away from home, change in routine, anesthesia, medications etc., just as we experience in the human hospital. If you pet doesn’t have allergies or dietary restrictions, consider the following to either add to your pet’s normal food or use instead for a few days after surgery:

• Try a canned version of their normal food
• Offer meat flavored baby food
• Canned chicken
• Boiled chicken/hamburger
• Scrambled eggs
• Low fat cottage cheese