Remember to always discuss your plan with a veterinarian tomake sure you’re on the right track.
Not all injuries are created equal. While most require changes to your pet’s exercise regimen, some call for more ginger reintroduction methods than others. In order to get back to exercising your dog after surgery check out some common injuries below that you may encounter and how to help your pet recoup.
There’s no set rulebook for every dog. However, here are afew principals to keep in mind after injury:
Sterilization surgery (spay or neuter) is a part of almostevery American dog’s life. Spaying or neutering your pet is a foolproof way toavoid unwanted puppies, but it’s also a significant surgery for your dog! Maintainingyour dog’s quality of life during these tough periods can be a challenge.
However, post-surgery periods often require careful management of your pet’s exercise regimen. Here are some tips for exercising your dog after surgery.
No matter what procedure your pet had, exercise for pets after surgery is going to play an important role in the healing process.
Don’t forget that we are on your team, too! When it comes to your pet’s care, never hesitate to ask if you need help. We want to see your pet do well just as much as you do.
During the first 24 hours after a procedure, unless otherwise instructed, it is usually best to let your furry patient rest. Most pets are still groggy and a little disoriented from anesthesia and will appreciate being left alone.
Exercise for pets after surgery may not be the most exciting thing, but a good rest and recovery period is vital for healing. The more you are able to encourage rest and careful activity in the first few weeks, the faster your pet is likely to be back to normal.
After a medical procedure, it is important to rest and heal, but it is also important to get your body accustomed to moving again. Pets are no different than us when it comes to needing a game plan after a major surgery.
However, it is generally too risky for these dogs to bounce up and down on the operated leg, to run or jump on it, or to use stairs.
It’s also a good idea to watch out for signs of tiredness in your dog during each walk. Your dog should come home walking just as well as when they left the house. Signs of tiredness are listed below. If you notice these getting worse during the walk, then it’s a good idea to come home early, to make the next walk a little shorter than usual as well, and to let your vet know if problems continue.
In most cases, the safest walking speed for your recovering dog will be slower than how he or she usually chooses to move.
So you shouldn’t take your dog faster than his or her walking speed. As a general rule for the average-sized owner, this means that you, the owner, should walk:
An example of an exercise regime prescribed by a surgeon for one particular dog is as follows (NB each dog has different exercise requirements, and this regime is just shown as an example):
Puppy Spay and Neuter Aftercare and Exercise
After a surgery, your pet will be required to rest for a set period of time. In more complex surgeries, they may need to be crated to avoid movement. But eventually, your pet will need limited forms of exercise and activities to keep them healthy, encourage better recovery, and make them happy.
The team at Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital wants to give our pet owners some insight into how to safely exercise your pet after surgery. Movement is important to their healing and well-being, which is why understanding the right way to exercise and play post-surgery is so important.
Before you venture out with your pet after surgery, remember to inquire with your veterinarian and veterinary surgeon about how much and how soon exercise should occur. Some pets require physical therapy that focuses on slow and progressive movement to build strength and flexibility.
To avoid injury and possibly setting your pet’s recovery back, always follow the post-surgical instructions for exercise and play.
Once you pet the go-ahead that you can introduce exercise, one of the ways you can give your pet low impact exercise is through short, slow walks. Your pet should be, at this point, able to get up and walk outside or to the litter to potty. As they are more stable to walk, they can be leashed and walked a block and back home, increasing the length of the walks over time.
Passive range of motion is another form of physical therapy, in which the joints and muscles are gently manipulated to increase mobility. These exercises target joints that have been injured, but they can be useful as a form of low impact exercise. Speak to your veterinarian about information on targeted muscle and joint exercises you can do with your fur friend.
Over time, you can start to play a short game of fetch in the home, or other small area, to avoid full running. Tug of war can also be a good choice, as well as it is done softly, to engage the full body. Swimming in the pool while being supervised, walking up steps in the home, and walking on the treadmill are other great options in providing your pet exercise.
Being locked up in the home during postoperative recovery can be emotionally hard on our pets. Just because they are healing doesn’t mean they need to be fun-free. In fact, keeping your pet’s spirits up requires enrichment and play.
Make your pet’s environment stimulating by playing an animal video or channel, like Dogs’ World or Animal Planet. Make use of windows by putting up a bird feeder to attract birds into the backyard. Your pet will love to watch this “real time” animal show.
It’s important to keep your pet engaged in something they can enjoy. As long as you are following your veterinarian’s guidelines, offering gentle forms of play and exercise are crucial to their great recovery. Call us for more information or to schedule an appointment.