Premedication of dogs before surgery. Technique and Clinic of General Anesthesia

In the veterinary clinic, manipulations are performed daily that require the introduction of the dog into anesthesia. Anesthesia is accompanied by surgical interventions and x-ray examinations in identifying orthopedic problems (for example, such as hip dysplasia, rupture of the cruciate ligament of the knee, etc.).

Drugs for anesthesia

Veterinarians of our clinic provide surgical care to dogs with cardiological, metabolic and neurological diseases, perform emergency surgery for urgent pathologies. During operations, we use only high-quality drugs for anesthesia of dogs, which have the necessary certification. The veterinary anesthesiologist selects individual schemes for conducting anesthesia.

We use several types of anesthesia: intravenous, inhalation and epidural. The combination of methods for introducing a dog into anesthesia makes it possible for a veterinary anesthesiologist to reduce the side effects of anesthesia drugs on the pet's body without losing the quality of animal anesthesia. For surgical intervention in the clinic, drugs are used: propofol, medetomedin, isoflurane, zolazepam and tiletamine.

After the operation is completed, the dog is placed in a hospital to monitor its recovery from anesthesia. At this time, the animal cannot control its behavior, is disoriented, weakened. During epidural anesthesia, the dog cannot use its hind legs for some time, so it is necessary to limit its movement so that the pet cannot injure itself.

While the dog is in the postoperative hospital, if necessary, thermometry is carried out, additional warming (cooling) in order to reduce postoperative pain and prevent edema. In addition, oxygen is supplied to the animal and painkillers are administered. After the veterinarian makes sure that nothing threatens the life of the dog, she is discharged from the hospital and the pet can be taken home.

Complications after anesthesia in dogs

Conducting anesthesia entails certain risks for the body of the animal. In addition to cases of emergency surgery, animals that do not have severe concomitant uncompensated diseases are allowed for surgical intervention. Before an operation or x-ray examination requiring sedation, dogs undergo a preanesthetic examination. To assess the risks of anesthesia, the animal is examined, an anamnesis is taken, a general clinical and biochemical blood test is performed, and an ultrasound examination of the heart is performed. If deviations are detected at any of the stages of the preoperative examination, additional methods for monitoring the dog's health will be offered. If the surgical intervention is possible at a later date, then at the beginning, the identified concomitant diseases are treated. In cases where serious contraindications to anesthesia are found, the feasibility of surgical intervention is assessed and alternative methods of treatment are developed.

How long does a dog recover from anesthesia

During the operation, the dog is monitored using anesthesia monitors. Evaluated: heart rate, degree of blood oxygen saturation, the amount of exhaled carbon dioxide, respiratory rate, blood pressure, temperature is measured.

The term for the dog to come out of anesthesia depends on its condition before the operation and ranges from several minutes to several hours. As well as during the operation, after surgery, the dog is monitored in the hospital, if necessary, droppers are placed, additional heating is performed, an ECG is taken, and other manipulations are performed to control and facilitate the recovery of the animal from anesthesia.

Often, dog owners tend to take the animal home as soon as possible, believing that waking up in a strange place, the pet will experience severe stress from a change of scenery. This opinion is wrong. Stationary monitoring is necessary to monitor the functioning of the vital systems of the body and create comfortable conditions for recovering from anesthesia. During awakening in the hospital, the animal does not experience the stress of being transported home (noise, shaking, harsh sounds and smells).

Remember - the doctor will not keep your dog in the hospital longer than his condition requires. Leaving your pet under the supervision of our specialists, you will provide your pet with qualified and professional postoperative care.

Many pet owners are aware that cats and dogs cannot be fed before anesthesia, the administrators of the veterinary clinic warn about this in advance when registering for the operation, and the veterinarian.

In adult animals without concomitant pathologies, a starvation diet of 8 hours is allowed before the planned procedure. It is better for sick animals to endure a full-fledged starvation diet at 12 o'clock. Small kittens and puppies need 6 hours of fasting. Water is removed from the access 4 hours before anesthesia.

However, not everyone knows about the need for a starvation diet. Some people simply forget that today they cannot feed their pet. And sometimes a hungry animal, not understanding why the owners decided to starve him to death, finds his own food (steals food).
Due to a violation of the starvation diet, the procedure requiring anesthesia may be postponed (the patient is admitted to the hospital at the appointed time, but they begin to deal with it late in the evening of the same day) or even be transferred to another date. Even if the owners of the animal ask very much and say that their pet ate only one small piece.

The obligatory fasting diet before anesthesia is due not only to the harmfulness of doctors.
This is not a formality, but is really important for the health and life of the patient, because:

⚠ Vomiting often occurs during anesthesia.
This is due to the fact that anesthesia drugs cause relaxation of the diaphragm. In addition, some anesthesia drugs themselves provoke a gag reflex. Since the animal is in a deep medical sleep (and often on the operating table on its back) and cannot control its body, vomit can enter the trachea, bronchi, and when inhaled, into the lungs, which can lead to the development of aspiration pneumonia, a serious illness. , which is long, expensive and difficult to treat, and, unfortunately, often ends in death!
And if during anesthesia the animal is protected from aspiration pneumonia by intubation, then the moment of waking up from anesthesia, when it is no longer possible to keep the tube in the trachea (it is unpleasant for the waking animal) is very dangerous - vomiting is still very likely, the patient still has poor control over his body, and despite control by medical personnel, the risk of reflux of vomit into the respiratory tract is very high.

Unfortunately, aspiration pneumonia is not an abstract veterinary horror story for humans, but one of the most popular complications of anesthesia, this happens often!
For example, when the owners themselves did not know that their animal had eaten before the operation, they told the doctor that the pet was hungry, and the doctor gave anesthesia to the well-fed animal.
Sometimes a cat or dog that is hungry for 8 hours may have contents in the stomach, because for various reasons, some animals may have reduced gastrointestinal motility (which the owners and the doctor may not know about), as a result of which food may linger in the stomach longer. Unfortunately, veterinarians also have to deal with deliberate silence by the owners of the patient about what their animal ate, because not everyone understands the importance of a starvation diet, and people do not want to endure the operation.

⚠ A full stomach is larger in volume than an empty one and, in many abdominal operations, will make it less convenient for the surgeon to access other organs. In addition, a full stomach increases pressure in the abdominal cavity, pressure on the diaphragm (and, as a result, pressure on the organs of the chest cavity).

⚠ Anesthesia drugs slow down the peristalsis of the gastrointestinal tract.
This means that the contents due to anesthesia can be in the stomach and intestines of the animal much longer than it should, which in turn can lead to gastritis, enterocolitis. That is, a healthy animal without gastrointestinal diseases, which, for example, was brought in for a planned castration, may develop gastritis or enterocolitis due to the fact that he was given anesthesia when he was full.

With an understanding of the reasons why a starvation diet is required prior to anesthesia, we hope that pet owners will take greater care to comply with this rule. Not for the sake of formality, not to please the doctor and not to prevent the operation from being rescheduled for another day, but in order to reduce the risks of complications for your pet!

In the event that before anesthesia you do not know for sure whether your animal ate or not, as well as in the presence of gastrointestinal diseases or their symptoms in history (vomiting, decreased appetite, diarrhea, constipation)
- it is necessary to inform the veterinarian about doubts, and, if possible, check whether the stomach is full with the help of ultrasound.

It is inherent in any dog owner to want their beloved pet to live a long life without getting sick. Unfortunately, dogs, just like people, can become seriously ill, and often treatment requires surgery. How the rehabilitation period will go depends on the owner, so his task is to help the four-legged pet recover and restore strength as soon as possible.

Consequences of anesthesia

Narcosis is an artificially induced reversible state of inhibition of the nervous system. Before performing the operation, the veterinarian must obtain the owner's consent to the use of anesthesia, as this procedure is associated with risks:

allergy to the drug used;
long awakening;
decrease in body temperature;
slow breathing and heart rate.

Even if the animal has no complications, blood loss, extensive wound, weakness greatly affect its condition.

The dog recovers from anesthesia while still in the clinic, and if something goes wrong, experienced specialists will always provide the necessary assistance. That is why you should not rush home even before the dog opens its eyes. Some animals wake up after 2-3 hours after the operation, others will need at least 20 hours.

Only after the dog finally wakes up, after listening to all the recommendations of the veterinarian regarding care, can you pick up the pet from the clinic. It should be taken home carefully, covering it with a warm blanket - to reduce chills and protect the fresh seam from drafts.

How to care for your dog after surgery

First of all, you need to take care of a comfortable, warm and dry bedding for your dog. It is better to put the mattress directly on the floor, since any sudden movements and jumps are contraindicated for the animal, and overcoming even a slight elevation will be a very difficult task for the dog. There should be no drafts in the room.

It is reasonable to cover the bedding with oilcloth: the first days after the operation, the dog is unlikely to want to go outside to send natural needs. An electric heating pad will provide additional convenience, as the patient often has chills and low body temperature. Next to the mattress you need to put bowls for food and drink.

An important point of the rehabilitation period is the care of the seams. In most dogs, they heal quickly, this is due to good tissue regeneration. However, the dog can bring an infection into the wound, gnaw the seams with his teeth.

In order to avoid such cases, a special blanket is put on him, fitting his chest and stomach, and tied behind his back. They change it every day. An Elizabethan collar is put on especially active animals, which will not allow tongues to reach the wound.

Suture treatment is carried out 1-5 times a day (on the recommendation of a veterinarian). The problem area is wiped with disinfectant solutions without alcohol (Chlorhexidine, Aluminum spray, an average solution of potassium permanganate). It is necessary to apply a sterile gauze bandage to the treated seams, and a blanket on top. With proper care, the stitches heal in 10-14 days.

A dog experiencing severe pain or anxiety is injected with analgesics prescribed by a veterinarian. Antibiotics are indicated to avoid complications and inflammation. To support liver and heart function, a doctor may recommend drips. If the owner cannot do the infusion on his own, he invites a specialist to the house.

As for feeding, then moderation must be observed in it. The dog's body is unable to expend energy on the processing of food. The best option: liquid low-fat broths, cereals, which should be given often and in small quantities. You can't force feed!

Water should be freely available and changed daily. If the dog refuses to drink, you need to inject water into her mouth with a syringe. In case of dehydration, a dropper with saline is placed.

What are the possible complications after surgery?

The postoperative period is dangerous with complications for which the owner must be prepared. These complications include:

Decrease in temperature, pallor, cyanosis of the skin and mucous membranes. If this is accompanied by difficulty breathing and fainting, then you can not hesitate.
The dog does not recover after 20 hours after the operation.
Epileptic seizure, convulsions, swelling of the muzzle and neck. This indicates an allergic reaction to the drug used for anesthesia.
Vomiting more often 5-6 times, feces mixed with vomiting.
Redness and bleeding of the wound, swelling around the seams, the release of purulent exudate.
Pressure sores caused by lying in one position for a long time. To prevent bedsores, the dog must be turned over, not allowed to lie on a wet mattress.

Each of the owners would like his four-legged friend to live a long happy life without being ill with anything more serious than a runny nose. However, there are diseases in which the pet requires urgent medical attention, and sometimes surgical intervention. And if veterinary specialists are fully responsible for surgery and anesthesia, then how the recovery postoperative period will go, to a greater extent depends on the owner. How can you help your pet recover and rejuvenate as soon as possible?

Narcosis and its consequences

The most difficult and dangerous thing for the body during the operation is, of course, anesthesia. It is the reaction of the body to the introduction of anesthesia that determines the severity of rehabilitation therapy in the first postoperative day. Add to this the loss of blood, a painful, sometimes extensive, wound, and you will understand how difficult it is for the animal to recover from the intervention.

Most often, the exit of a pet from a state of sleep occurs even in a veterinary clinic. This moment is not without reason considered the most responsible and dangerous - if something goes wrong, your beloved friend will need urgent help from specialists, therefore, no matter how you rush home, wait until your dog opens his eyes. After that, with a sigh of relief, listen or write down all the recommendations of the veterinarian regarding the postoperative period.

It should be remembered that recovering from deep anesthesia, the pet may experience tremors and anxiety. During transportation home, try to calm the animal as much as possible and be sure to cover it with a warm blanket on the way - this will reduce the chills and protect the fresh seam from drafts.

home care

In addition to the help of native walls, your sick pet needs to create special conditions for speedy rehabilitation. The first thing you should take care of is for him. It should be remembered that for a long time after the operation, jumping and other sudden movements are contraindicated for the dog, so it is better to make a mattress on the floor - any, even a low elevation, may be beyond the power of your patient.

Both the period of withdrawal from anesthesia and the first day after the operation are accompanied by a reduced activity of the dog. It may well be that he does not even want to go outside to relieve himself, so it is best to cover the place with oilcloth, then even emptying yourself will not take you by surprise. However, there is another danger. Some animals, coming out of a narcotic sleep, become overly excited and active. Make sure that there are no objects in the room where the dog is kept that he could push or dump on himself.

Seam care

Care of postoperative sutures is another important stage of postoperative therapy. Fortunately, such wounds on animals heal especially quickly, as on a dog. This is explained by better tissue regeneration in canines, as well as the absence of suspiciousness and anxiety inherent in a person in such a situation. However, animals, for obvious reasons, follow the recommendations of doctors much worse, and strive to bring dirt into the wound or remove the stitches with their teeth on their own.

To prevent this from happening, protect the incision site with a special postoperative bandage that fits securely around the pet’s stomach and chest, tying around the neck and back. You need to change the blanket daily, so it is advisable to have several pieces of such capes and wash them as they become dirty. Particularly enterprising patients who believe that they know better than you how to care for stitches can wear the so-called Elizabethan collar - one of the methods of barrier therapy. Thanks to this limiter, the dog will not be able to reach the problem area with his tongue.

Seam processing is also extremely important. It should be done 3-5 times a day (more frequent or less frequent treatment is at the discretion of your veterinarian). It is better to wipe the incision site with disinfectants that do not contain alcohol - chlorhexidine, a medium solution of potassium permanganate or liquid silver in a spray. After processing, a sterile gauze bandage is applied to the seam, and a horsecloth is already on top. If you did everything right, after about 10-12 days the wound will finally heal and the stitches will be removed from the body.

If your pet has a catheter in a vein, do not leave it unattended. Very often, such a tube causes severe soft tissue swelling. To prevent this from happening, carefully observe the dog and in case of severe edema, pull the catheter out of the vessel. Another trick that experienced veterinarians are certainly aware of is placing the catheter lower, just above the wrist. It is in this area that it is easily tolerated by the body.

Drug therapy

The first thing you should take care of after some time after arriving home is to alleviate the pain that your pet is experiencing. In most cases, animals endure pain, but too much suffering can lead to shock and loss of consciousness, so if the dog shows anxiety, cries or screams, be sure to inject it with an analgesic that your doctor will prescribe.

The second mandatory remedy is antibacterial drugs. To prevent inflammation and the development of complications, the doctor will definitely prescribe antibiotics for you. Remember that they need to be injected at strictly defined intervals, otherwise the entire effect of these drugs will be nullified.

In the first days after surgery, the dog may be prescribed droppers to support the heart and liver functions of the body. If you are unable to administer the infusion yourself, arrange for a house call to your veterinarian.

Nutrition

Despite the fact that during and immediately after the operation, the dog loses a large amount of strength, you should not immediately provide him with enhanced feeding. In the first five to seven hours after the operation, especially if the intervention was carried out in the abdominal cavity, neither eat nor drink at all. And then moderation is the best way to recover. After all, the body needs strength to regenerate, which is stupid to spend on processing large amounts of food. The postoperative diet should include fresh, quickly digestible, which should be given frequently, in small portions.

Often, after the intervention, the dog does not show appetite at all - you should not force food into it, as soon as its condition improves, the desire to eat will fully manifest itself again.

Fresh water within reach is another important condition for recovery. If the pet does not drink liquids at all, you can gradually pour water from the syringe into it at regular intervals. A dropper with saline solution, which retains fluid in the body, will also prevent dehydration.

Possible Complications

As much as we would like everything to go well after the operation, sometimes there are complications that you need to be aware of. What is the danger of the postoperative period, and what complications should the owners be ready for?

Low body temperature, pale or cyanotic mucous membranes and cold paw pads require urgent medical attention. As with deep fainting and shortness of breath, this is a matter of life and death, so no delay is possible.
If during the day after the intervention the dog does not regain consciousness, or, having fallen asleep, does not wake up for 20 or more hours.
Convulsions or an epileptic seizure, as well as swelling and swelling of the neck and muzzle. Such a reaction may signal a particular drug and requires urgent correction of prescriptions and the introduction of an antihistamine.
Stools with fresh blood mixed in, as well as constant vomiting, including water that the dog tries to drink. It should be warned that immediately after anesthesia one or two times vomiting occurs, but if this happens more than 5-6 times, it's time to sound the alarm.
Swelling and redness of the wound area, profuse purulent transudate with an unpleasant odor or bleeding from the suture.
Long lying in one position, if the motor function is impaired after the operation, can lead to bedsores. To prevent this trouble, turn the dog over more often, do not let it lie on a wet bedding. The bedsores themselves are successfully treated with wound-healing drugs and free access of fresh air to the wound (it can be provided by placing a pillow under the bottom and lifting the affected area of the body).

The doctors themselves and experienced dog owners unanimously claim that the first three days after the operation are the most difficult. It is during this period that the risk of complications is quite high, the wound hurts, and the tissues have not yet got rid of edema. Having gone through this difficult stage, your pet will be closer to full recovery every day. And you will readily help him in this, taking care of his comfort and strictly following medical recommendations.

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Most owners get a dog as a friend and even family member. With the growing up of a pet, if breeding is not planned, the owners often decide on sterilization or castration.

Neutering of dogs involves the ligation of the fallopian tubes / seminal ducts in animals. That is, sex hormones continue to be produced and sexual behavior does not stop, but the chance of pregnancy is excluded. Castration is also called the removal of the main sex glands (ovaries and testes). However, at present, in order not to confuse the owners, in veterinary clinics, the services often indicate castration of males and sterilization of females (although during the sterilization, the uterus and ovaries are completely removed).

For females, both castration and sterilization are abdominal operations, they depart somewhat harder than males. Therefore, you need to know how to care for the dog in the postoperative period.

Preparing your dog for surgery

For scheduled sterilization, as a rule, it is advisable to sign up first. You can find out by phone whether you will need to bring something with you (for example, a veterinary passport or other documents) and whether it will be possible to leave the dog after the operation for some time in the clinic so that it is under the supervision of a specialist when coming out of anesthesia.

Before the operation, the dog should not be fed for 12 hours. Drinking should be no later than 4 hours. The fact is that after the introduction of sedatives (anesthesia), most animals experience vomiting and the dog can simply choke on vomit.
You can and should walk before the operation, but you should not allow excessive loads. It is enough to wait for the dog to just do all the “things”.
It is undesirable to carry out sterilization during estrus, because. during this period, the dog's uterus is supplied with blood more intensively, the vessels suitable for the uterus are filled with blood. Damage to the vessel during the operation is fraught with excessive blood loss in the animal. Therefore, before going to a planned operation, it is better for the owner to make sure whether the dog has estrus or not.

Every dog owner should understand that anesthesia is the introduction of sedative and narcotic drugs that can cause an allergic reaction in an animal, regardless of health status and age. To reduce the risk of such a reaction, in many clinics, immediately before the operation, the dog is trained with special preparations (premedication). However, the owners must be made aware of all the consequences and potential reactions to anesthesia!

Dog the first day after surgery. Getting out of anesthesia

For the operation, usually 3 methods of administering narcotic and sedative drugs are used. After sterilization of the dog, anesthesia is removed in a day or two. Naturally, animals depart from each in different ways.

Inhalation (gas) anesthesia. The most effective and relatively non-toxic method with minimal side effects. The dog comes to himself almost immediately after the apparatus for supplying a gaseous substance is turned off. There is mild disorientation and decreased activity. The disadvantage is the high cost due to a special apparatus for anesthesia and the narcotic mixtures themselves.
Analgesics + muscle relaxants. The most commonly used mixture, but the animal takes a long time to recover. Depending on the name of the drugs, the dog "wakes up" from 5-8 hours to a day.
Epidural anesthesia + muscle relaxant. Mixtures of low toxicity and, as a rule, are well tolerated. Small breeds are not done because of the difficulty of introducing to the desired depth in the epidural space of the spinal cord. With such anesthesia, the qualification of the surgeon is very important. From such anesthesia, the dog leaves a maximum of 6-8 hours.

Care of the dog immediately after sterilization should be appropriate:

The pet is placed in a low place. The coordination of movements is still broken, and the dog may not calculate the strength for a normal jump on a sofa, bed, or any other hill.
The dog is protected from drafts and low temperatures (you can cover it with a light blanket). All processes in the initial postoperative period are slowed down and thermoregulation is also impaired. Any anesthesia slightly lowers body temperature and somewhat inhibits thermoregulation processes, so all risks of hypothermia should be completely excluded!
Starvation diet 10-12 hours maximum. Access to water is free. Any meal can provoke vomiting, and in such a weakened state, the dog can choke on vomit.
After 10-12 hours, you can start feeding the dog a little with small portions of food. In the first two days, an emetic reaction to water and food is allowed, because. the stomach starts after anesthesia gradually, so you can not overfeed.
You need to be prepared for the inappropriate behavior of the pet against the background of withdrawal from anesthesia. Disorientation, attempts to run in an unknown direction, sudden falling asleep on the move, whining, unsteady gait, possibly involuntary urination. Doesn't always respond to calls. In this state, the main thing is not to let the dog hide somewhere where it will be problematic to get it from.

The next 2-3 days the dog gradually fully recovers from anesthesia after sterilization, comes to his senses and the behavior becomes normal. This period may be different for each pet.

The dog must be prescribed an antibiotic in the form of injections. The most effective way to apply ceftriaxone or synulox- intramuscularly once a day, 1-5 ml per animal, depending on the size and intensity of the inflammatory process (1 bottle is diluted in 5 ml of 0.5% novocaine). The course is 5-7 days. The diluted solution is good for a day. Sometimes used Amoxicillin 15% at a dose of 0.1 ml / kg subcutaneously, once a day or every other day (a 10 ml bottle costs 165 rubles), but its power is often not enough and inflammation still breaks through.

Medicinal postoperative support

How can you anesthetize (usually it takes a day - a maximum of two and strictly according to the doctor's prescription, because there may be a conflict with the remnants of anesthesia in the body):

Meloxicam - intramuscularly at a dose of 0.2 mg / kg on the first day, then 0.1 mg / kg for another 1-2 days.
Tolfedin - 4 mg / kg orally with food or water once a day (how much this in tablets will depend on the dosage component).
Rimadyl (carprofen) - is injected subcutaneously at the rate of 1 ml of the drug for every 12.5 kg. Once a day. Not longer than 3 days.
Ketanov - 1 ml / 13 kg up to a maximum of 2 times a day.
Ketofen (ketoprofen) - 0.2 ml / kg once a day for no longer than 4 days.
Travmatin - calculation 0.1-0.2 ml / kg, but not more than 4 ml in one injection.

Seam treatment (according to the instructions for preparations):

Vetericin spray;
Chemi spray;
Aluminum spray;
Horhexidine;
Betadine + sea buckthorn oil or rosehip oil;
ointment Levomekol;
Terramycin spray.

Fortifying agents:

Vitam - 1 to 4 ml subcutaneously, depending on the size of the dog, twice a week until the stitches heal.
Gamavit - if for general preventive therapy, then 0.1 ml / kg is enough, if the dog is weakened, then 0.5 ml / kg. The general course is prescribed by the veterinarian, because can be administered daily or at intervals of several days, depending on the condition of the dog.

If the stitch is bleeding:

Vikasol - 1 ml / 5 kg intramuscularly twice a day at regular intervals. Can be used alone or together with etamsylate.
Etamzilat - 0.1 ml per kg of body weight twice a day.

Week after surgery (day by day)

1 day

Depending on the anesthesia used, the dog is in narcotic sleep from 2 to 12 (14 hours). "Awakening" begins with lethargy, disorientation, unsteady gait. Hallucinations are possible. 1-2 involuntary urination is allowed, tk. the dog will not be able to immediately find the toilet (if the breed is small and it is in the house) and does not have the strength to go outside for this.

It is forbidden to administer any drugs to speed up the recovery from anesthesia without the consent of the veterinarian!

It is advisable to be next to the dog during these days. If you need to leave, leave somewhere in a small enclosed area where the dog can not injure himself in case of attempts to move.

On the first day, access to water is not limited, you do not need to feed. If the animal does not drink, pour it by force into the mouth from a syringe or rubber bulb through the toothless edge, not very quickly, so that it has time to swallow. To begin to do this when the first signs of coming to oneself will already be noted.

When observing a long narcotic sleep, the eyelids should be closed to prevent the cornea from drying out.

On the first day, you need to be prepared for the dog's inappropriate behavior. The pet can jump up, try to run in an indefinite direction, fall, suddenly fall asleep, whine or bark, etc.

If it becomes clear that the dog is in pain when coming out of anesthesia, you can give an anesthetic injection with the drug recommended by the veterinarian.

2 day

The dog becomes more and more adequate. On the 2nd day, you can start complementary foods with easily digestible food, often, but in very small portions - about 1/4 of the usual. It is better not to give dry food, it is harder on the stomach than wet food. The digestive tract works slightly slowed down, so you should not overload it. Regurgitation is allowed in the first day or two after taking water and / or food - this is an indicator of a slow acceleration of gastric motility. You don't have to be afraid.

If coldness of the extremities is noted, it is necessary to warm them - with a heating pad or rubbing. There are risks of hypothermia against the background of a slowdown in metabolism after anesthesia.

The dog should always be in sight, especially the small breed, which always strives to hide. On these days, the management of all their needs is still carried out indoors.

On the 2nd day, the dog should relieve himself, appetite should be noted, the general condition should visually improve. Body temperature should be within normal limits (37.6-39°C). Painkillers are pricked on demand, but usually by the end of these days the pain subsides on its own.

3 day

The dog is fully conscious, responds adequately and with interest to what is happening, asks to use the toilet outside (if it is large) or consciously and timely goes to its home toilet (if it is small).

On the 3rd day, a pronounced postoperative swelling usually appears in the suture area. If there is no additional pain syndrome, nothing additional is required, the treatment should be carried out in the normal mode.

If by this day there were no acts of bowel movement, one should give the pet a microclyster - 1 or 2, depending on the size of the dog (Mikrolaks, up to 80 rubles / piece) and inject cerucal to stimulate gastrointestinal motility (0.5-0, 7 mg/10 kg) twice a day. As an additional laxative, lactulose or preparations based on it (Duphalac, Lactusan) can be given for several days. The dosage is calculated by weight according to the instructions.

If there is no urination, the dog is given a no-shpy tablet or an injection is given, after 15-20 minutes the abdomen is gently massaged in the bladder area and it is expected that urination will still occur. If not, you need to go to the veterinary clinic, you may need to install a urinary catheter.

Be sure to measure body temperature. If during the day two readings are overestimated, you should start taking or prick an antibiotic if this was not done immediately after the operation, or replace it with a stronger one if it was taken. If, after starting a course of antibiotics, the temperature does not return to normal, you need to take the cat to the veterinarian, it may be a viral infection.

At low temperatures (below 37.5 ° C), a consultation with a veterinarian is also required.

The dog is still not allowed to walk long distances - they went outside, relieved themselves and went home. If the housing is located in a multi-storey building, then it is better to take the pet outside in your arms so that it does not jump up the stairs - it's too early.

Day 4

The dog is active, the general state of health is satisfactory, there is an adequate interest in food and drink, the intestines and urinary tract are emptied in a timely manner.

Day 5

Starting from this period, you can not be afraid to leave the animal by itself and allow you to walk around the apartment a lot, you can let it go for a walk in the yard (if there was free access to the street before), you can be allowed to climb low surfaces, not run up the stairs for a long time.

By this time, postoperative swelling in the suture area usually subsides, redness disappears, in some places traces of the first scarring of the wound may appear. The blanket is not yet removed, it is also impossible to lick the stomach.

6-7 days

The dog practically does not pay attention to the blanket, active, with a good appetite and adequate thirst, runs, jumps a little, sleeps in his sleeping or favorite place. There is no longer any pain, all physiological needs are handled naturally and in the usual way, without attracting much attention to the owner.

Outwardly, the postoperative wound is of the same color as the skin of the abdomen, the hair begins to grow, the process of scarring is visible. There should be no redness, bleeding, swelling, etc.

The stitches are not removed yet, it is still kept for 10-14 days, depending on the suture material. Dogs are very mobile animals, the risks of divergence of the seams on the skin still remain.

What should alert

As with any operation, some complications can occur after sterilization. It is better to call a doctor if you notice in a dog:

If the dog does not go to the toilet "in a big way", it is not so dangerous. Up to 3 days, this is considered the norm (even with a good appetite), since anesthesia slows down intestinal motility (see). If the dog has not passed for more than 3 days, it can be given vaseline oil from 5 to 30 ml, depending on the size of the dog. The oil is sold in a pharmacy and costs 60 rubles per 100 ml.

We process the seam

The seam after sterilization is located in the dog on the underside of the abdomen, along the so-called white line - from the navel to the tail. The length of the suture depends on the size of the dog and can be from 2 to 10-15 cm. Doctors recommend removing the sutures 10-14 days after the operation. In some cases, removal is carried out earlier (with good healing or, conversely, with rejection of the suture material). Seams are treated daily 1-2 times a day.

As a rule, the treatment of the seam does not cause discomfort to dogs. On the contrary, some pets are pleased when their belly is scratched, especially after a few days, when the seam may itch a little during healing. Cats, for example, endure this procedure much more painfully, because. their groin area is "inviolable" for outsiders.

Immediately after the sterilization operation, the dog is put on a special blanket so that it cannot lick its seam. You should immediately purchase a second blanket for a shift, because. the first days after sterilization, there may be small bleeding from the suture. In addition, the blanket will become dirty during the walk.

It is most convenient to process the seam with sterile gauze wipes. Ready-made wipes are sold in a package of 10 pieces in a pharmacy (price 10-15 rubles). You can use a sterile bandage and just fold a piece in several layers.

The napkin is abundantly moistened with a solution of hydrogen peroxide and applied along the entire length of the seam. Peroxide is preferable to use, because. it will well soak the bloody crusts, which must be removed. With a second napkin along the seam, all dirt is erased so that the seam is clean. Then they blot dry.

After the general hygiene of the wound, the suture is treated with any wound healing and anti-inflammatory agent (see section Medicinal postoperative support).

Ointment Levomekol

The ointment is applied to the cleaned seam 1-2 times daily. From above, a sterile gauze napkin is applied to the seam and put on over the blanket. A tube of ointment 40 g costs 110 rubles.

Spray Terramycin

This is a veterinary drug. You can process a seam with them 1 time in 3 days. This may be convenient for owners of aggressive dogs, or for dogs kept in kennels and kennels. The cost of the aerosol is 520 rubles.

Aluminum spray

After application to the seam, a thin film is formed that prevents the penetration of bacteria and contamination of the wound. Processing can be done daily. The price is about 800 rubles. An analogue can be the Second Skin spray, its cost is 380 rubles.

Assessing the condition of the seam

Normally, with good healing, a few days after the operation, the seam:

dry;
skin without redness;
edema gradually disappears (an exception may be dogs with thick skin (shar pei, chow chow, pugs, bulldogs) or overweight);
after 7 days, the wound gradually heals, and the skin becomes holistic.

A poorly healing suture can be caused by infection or suture material rejection.

Outflows are observed from the seam (possibly of a purulent nature);
the seam area is hot;
the treatment causes pain to the dog;
the seam is edematous, red;
the edges of the wound may diverge.

In severe cases, repeated suturing may be required (in this case, the dog will most likely be under anesthesia again, but not as deep). The edges of the wound are excised for better healing, treated with antiseptic solutions and sutured again (in case of rejection).

All possible postoperative complications

Any deviations in body temperature: prolonged hypothermia (decrease) or hyperthermia (increase). It is not without reason that dog owners are required to measure the general body temperature for the first few days. If the readings are below 37°C, this is a reason to immediately wrap or cover the animal with any natural cloth or blanket, putting it on a heating pad (if the size of the dog allows it), and contact the operating or veterinarian on duty. If during the first 3 days the temperature is above 39 ° C, especially despite the antibiotic being administered, then no measures can be taken on their own. Urgently to the vet!
Intra-abdominal bleeding. If traces of freshly leaked blood from the suture or genital organs were found, the suture itself is clearly sore, swollen, but the dog has pale mucous membranes, then a visit to the veterinary clinic should be made immediately. These are all signs of internal bleeding. If the fact is confirmed, a second operation will have to be carried out, because. there is a risk that the dog will die from blood loss.
cones or protrusions in the area of the suture wound should always be a concern. Consultation with a specialist is required. The most innocuous thing that can be is local postoperative edema or abnormal growth of granulation tissue (“young” skin). These changes take place on their own. But if it is an abscess or a tumor, only a surgeon will help.
Decay of the postoperative wound. There can be a lot of reasons for suppuration, but the main factor is bacterial seeding of the seam. If topical preparations do not eliminate this, you need to contact the veterinarian. You may have to clean the edges of the wound, removing purulent signs and re-sew.
Edema, swelling and redness of the seam. These phenomena without a pronounced pain syndrome normally appear on day 2-3, and disappear on day 5. If longer and pain is added - to the veterinarian.
Urinary incontinence in dogs. In some cases, 3-7% of cases in small breeds and 9-13% of cases in large breeds develop urinary incontinence after spaying. It is important to understand that the reason is not in an incorrectly performed operation or postoperative infections, but in the individual restructuring of the hormonal background, when the sensitivity of the smooth muscles of the bladder decreases, which, in turn, affects the activity of the sphincter. The period for which a complication develops ranges from several days to several years. Treatment is medical or surgical.

The result of the operation

After castration (complete removal of the uterus and ovaries), estrus in dogs stops. After sterilization, estrus in dogs persists, mating can even occur, just pregnancy will not occur.

Incontinence in dogs is a common consequence of spaying. On average, it develops 3 years after the intervention, but there are cases when urinary incontinence first appeared only 10 years after the operation.

The behavior of a dog after sterilization, as a rule, changes slightly. Some owners note that the dog has become much calmer, aggressiveness (if any) has decreased, and the level of activity in general is falling somewhat.

The metabolism also changes. Dogs that are prone to obesity should be fed dietary foods, or there are food lines designed specifically for neutered dogs. Their calorie content is lower than for ordinary dogs.

Question answer

Are there postoperative complications in dogs?

No, not necessarily, everything is individual and depends on many external and internal factors. It is important to follow your veterinarian's recommendations for post-operative care to minimize the risks.

Do dogs stay in heat after spaying?

After true sterilization - yes, it is preserved, because. the ovaries remain in place. After sterilization, which is called the operation of castration for convenience, no, there will be no more estrus. During this operation, the ovaries are removed - the main sexual organ that produces sex hormones. Therefore, always clarify what the veterinary surgeon means by sterilization in order to avoid misunderstandings.