Play Nose Games
If your pooch can’t work out his paws, let him work out his nose! It’s no secret that dogs have an excellent sense of smell, but it takes practice for them to start using scent rather than visual cues to find objects. With nose games to entertain your pup, you can make recovery less stressful.
Test your pup’s sense of smell by playing hide-and-go-seek with dog treats. To keep the activity at a low intensity, you can start off by hiding treats in one of your fists for your dog to sniff out. Or try placing them under a cup and shuffling the remaining ones to challenge him to nose the right one. When your dog chooses the correct hand or cup, praise and reward him with the treat inside! This will ensure that your pup stays entertained and motivate him to complete the challenge.
Once your pooch is feeling better, you can begin hiding treats around the house to encourage your pup to start moving again.
Nose games are the perfect entertainment for your dog after surgery, because there’s a low risk of injury or overexertion. Additionally, the mentally stimulating nature of nose games will tire your dog out, allowing your pup to stay calm and get plenty of rest post-surgery.
Managing Your Dog’s Pain After Surgery
Following surgery, your veterinarian will take time to explain any pain relievers or medications they need to prescribe for your pet so you can prevent infection and manage post-surgery discomfort or pain.
Your vet will brief you on the dosage of medications your pup will require and how to administer it safely. To help your dog avoid unnecessary pain as they recover, be sure to follow your vets instructions as closely as possible. If you arent sure about any instructions you have received, dont hesitate to ask follow-up questions.
Some dogs may be a bit more high-strung or experience more anxiety about their condition after surgery than others. If this is the case for your canine companion, your vet may also prescribe them with an anti-anxiety medication or mild sedatives to help your pupo remain calm while they heal.
A word of caution: Never give your dog human medications without consulting your veterinarian first. While medications for people help us feel better, they are dangerous for our dogs and other pets.
How can I help my dog with severe anxiety?
With severe anxiety, your veterinarian might recommend a prescription medication to help them cope with the stress. Be sure to talk to your vet before giving your pet any medications or supplements. There are many over-the-counter supplements and ‘stress relief’ products available today.
What to Expect After General Anesthesia
You may also have seen videos of kids or adults waking up from anesthesia, after dentistry or surgery, and they say the weirdest or funniest things – which they don’t even remember later. Since dogs don’t understand what’s happening, it causes anxiety.