ASK A VET™ recovery sheet
Printed
Post-Surgery Care Checklist for Dogs and Cats
Turn the after-surgery instructions into one clear sheet the owner can actually follow: medicines copied from the labels, rest and collar dates, wound care, the exact signs that mean "call now", and a checklist they can tick off on their phone. Built by a clinic, used by an owner, or filled in by an owner from their discharge notes.
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Recovery sheet
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General guidance for dogs and cats; the sheet must reflect the instructions from the treating clinic.
After-surgery care for dogs and cats: what actually matters
Quick answer. Recovery goes well when four things happen: the pet gets its pain relief on time, the wound stays untouched under a collar or suit, activity is genuinely restricted for the days the surgeon set, and the owner knows exactly which signs mean "go to a vet now". This sheet puts all four on one page with the owner's own numbers and dates.
The first night
Expect a sleepy, slightly wobbly pet. Anaesthetic drugs take a day to fully leave the system. A quiet, warm room away from other animals, a small meal of the usual food, fresh water and the medicines exactly as written is the whole job tonight. Cats often hide; that is fine as long as you can see them breathing normally and they are not crying or open-mouth breathing. Rabbits are the exception to "a small meal": they must be eating and passing droppings within hours or they need a call.
Pain relief and medicines
Give every dose on the sheet even if the pet looks comfortable. Pain that is prevented is easier to control than pain that has arrived. Never give human painkillers; paracetamol kills cats and ibuprofen is dangerous to both species. If a dose is vomited, spat out or missed, call the clinic rather than doubling up. This tool copies the label; it never calculates a dose.
The wound and the cone
Licking is the number one reason wounds break down and need a second surgery. A rigid collar, a soft collar that actually reaches past the nose, or a recovery suit for belly wounds must stay on continuously until the clinic clears it. Check the incision twice daily in good light. Normal: slight pinkness, a thin firm ridge, a little bruising. Not normal: growing swelling, discharge, a gap, a bad smell or bleeding.
Rest that is real
"Rest" means lead-only toilet trips, no stairs, no jumping on furniture, no zoomies and no visitors' dogs. For desexing and lumps this is about 10 to 14 days. After bone or joint surgery it is typically 6 to 8 weeks in a crate or small room, and the skin healing at two weeks does not mean the bone has. Cats need low-sided trays, paper litter for the first week after belly surgery, and their favourite high spots blocked off.
When to call
| Go to a vet now | Call the clinic today |
|---|---|
| Breathing trouble or open-mouth breathing in a cat; collapse; bleeding that does not stop; wound open with tissue showing; white or blue gums; straining to wee with nothing coming; severe uncontrolled pain | Not eating by the time you were told; vomiting more than once; swelling growing or discharge; collar or bandage off, wet or chewed; going backwards on day 2 or 3; diarrhoea over a day; a missed or vomited medicine; anything that worries you |
Common mistakes
- Taking the cone off "just for dinner" and finding the wound open at bedtime.
- Letting the dog off lead on day 10 because the wound looks great.
- Bathing to clean up the clipped fur before the stitches are out.
- Giving the antibiotic for three days and stopping because the pet seems fine.
- Using clumping litter over a fresh belly incision on a cat.
- Waiting overnight with a pet that is straining to urinate.
Frequently asked questions
How long should my dog or cat rest after surgery?
For desexing and lump removals most vets ask for 10 to 14 days of restricted activity until the skin has healed. Bone and joint surgery usually needs 6 to 8 weeks of strict confinement because the bone heals long after the skin does. Always follow the number your own surgeon gives you.
Does my pet really need the cone at night?
Yes. Most wound breakdowns happen while owners are asleep or looking away. A recovery suit is an alternative for some belly wounds if the clinic agrees, but the protection needs to be continuous.
My pet will not eat the night after surgery. Is that normal?
A reduced appetite on the night of an anaesthetic is common in dogs and cats. Offer a small meal and do not force it. If your pet has not eaten by the time the clinic told you to expect it, or is vomiting, call. Rabbits are different and must be eating within hours.
What does a normal healing wound look like?
Slight pinkness, a thin firm ridge along the incision and a little bruising are normal. Swelling that grows, discharge, a gap in the incision, a bad smell or bleeding are not, and need a call the same day.
Can I bath my pet after surgery?
Not until the clinic says so, usually 10 to 14 days and after any stitches are out. Water and creams soften the incision and carry bacteria into it.
Does this tool calculate medication doses?
No. It copies what is written on the label so the owner has one clear table. Doses are decided and written by the treating vet only.
Is the information private?
The sheet lives on your device and inside the share link. Nothing is uploaded to a server. Anyone with the link can open the sheet, so send it directly to the owner.
Written by Dr Duncan Houston, emergency veterinarian. Sister tools: Pre-Surgical Checklist and the free tools hub. Part of ASK A VET™.
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