Milford Mobile Vet Tip of the Day-Donald H. DeForge, VMD -Caring for the Pet You Love After Surgery

Milford Mobile Vet Tip of the Day
Donald H. DeForge, VMD
www.MilfordVeterinaryHospitalofCT.com
www.SilverSandsVeterinary.com
17 Seemans Lane
Milford, CT 06460
203-877-3221  E-Mail DoctorDeForge@yahoo.com
Just across the street from Dan Perkins Subaru in Milford, CT
General Practice on-site
Urgent Care Practice on-site
New Mobile House Call Practice-Milford Mobile Vet

CARING FOR THE PET YOU LOVE AFTER SURGERY

Post Surgery Dermal Wound Care*

Did you know?

Skin heals best in warm moist conditions!


New studies have proven that a moist wound 


environment rather than a dry one is best for wound


 healing!

surgical post-operative instructions

---

Caring for Wounds with Stitches

 

CLEAN & BANDAGE THE WOUND when directed to do

so by dr. DeForge!

• If a bandage has been placed by Dr. DeForge, leave the initial bandage in place and keep the area completely dry for 24 hours unless otherwise advised.
• Clean with tap water and a Q-tip twice a day. Do not soak the incision!
• After cleaning apply white petrolatum (Vaseline) or Aquaphor Healing Ointment to keep the area moist. If using Vaseline or Aquaphor.... if the supply you already have is more than three months old discard and get new product. Do not let the area dry out and become scabbed.
• Continue the above steps until all of the stitches are removed.

If a major wound dressing has been applied do not remove until directed to do so by Dr. DeForge.  Some major dressings are removed in 24 hours.  Others stay in place longer.  Do not leave a dressing on any longer than prescribed by Dr. DeForge.  This could impede healing.

Do not confuse a wound dressing with a bandage where an intravenous injections was given.

All bandages covering IV injections sites should be removed within 3 hours of returning home.

Communication is the key to proper post-surgery healing.  When in doubt call Dr. DeForge first and do not make a decision on care based on Internet reading or recommendations of a friend.

Remove your wound dressing in___________________________days.

No wound dressing has been applied___________________________

If an Elizabethan collar has been applied please do not remove the Elizabethan Collar until recommended by Dr. DeForge.

Remove the Elizabethan Collar in ______________________________days.

Apply a small amount of Aquaphor Healing Ointment to the biopsy site twice daily.

PAIN-Pain is related to swelling and should be minimal. For the first 2 days, if needed, you may apply an ice pack over the surgery site for 5 minutes 3-4 times daily.  Use INDIRECT ICE----do not use ice cubes or ice packs directly on the wound.  An ice bag or a bag of frozen corn or peas that is package in a freezer baggie is an excellent way to cool the site.  If your pet objects stop and do not struggle.  Do not given Aspirin, Tylenol, or Ibuprofen to pets.  If you feel your pet is in pain call Dr. DeForge for a safe pain killer. 

ACTIVITY-If no stitches have been placed there is no limit on activity----- that is supervised activity.  Leash walking or being with your pet in the yard is acceptable.  Strong play with other pets or lying in dirt or mud is not acceptable post-surgical activity. Avoid soaking the wound in standing water; no lake swimming or pools until after your 14 day recheck.  If the wound is hot, painful, red, or discharging fluid call Dr. DeForge immediately.  If there is a fluid pocket under the skin [i.e. seroma] call immediately for a recheck.

Limited activity is good--------increased activity leads to poor wound healing until the sutures are removed in 3 weeks.  Sutures are left in place longer in animals than in people to prevent dehiscence from their premature removal. {Dehiscence means the wound opens up or breaks down where the sutures or surgical staples have been placed}  Avoid any activity that stretches or pulls on the surgical site.

APPEARANCE-Surgical sites rarely get infected if all instructions are followed at home. A red rim around the edge or a pinkish white appearance of the skin edges if Radiosurgery was utilized is normal. A small amount of yellowish material at the bottom of a vertical wound is normal. If the wound becomes very warm; very red, or drains a creamy material with a bad odor, call Dr. DeForge immediately.  These are signs of infection.

 

Some skin wounds will bleed from the edges.  Do not panic.  Have your pet lie down and apply steady firm but gentle pressure to the incision for 5-10 minutes.  If the oozing continues use an ice pack for another 5-10 minutes.  If the bleeding will not stop call Dr. DeForge or your local 24/7 ER Center.

BIOPSY-If a biopsy has been performed Dr. DeForge will call you as soon as it returns. This can take 1-3 weeks.  I know you are concerned but Dr. DeForge places a priority on all biopsy reports and returns a call to you as soon as he gets the report.

If you refuse to have a pathologist determine if a growth is benign or cancerous, you will be asked to sign an Informed Refusal for Histopathology.

IMPORTANT:  Call if you have questions!  E-Mail us for the first 72 hours after surgery –DoctorDeForge@yahoo.com to let us know all is well.

*The above instructions are for surgery procedures at Milford Veterinary Hospital-Silver Sands Veterinary as written by Dr. DeForge.  If you have had surgery at another hospital or specialty center you must check with the surgeon about their specific post-surgical care instructions.  In some cases, medicine to reduce pain and antibiotics will be dispensed as part of the post-care program.