You can help your dog recover from surgery with a few easy, uncommon approaches outlined below. In addition to your vets instructions, there are tons of articles that cover the general, common sense actions that pet parents should take after their dog has had surgery. This includes guidelines of “don’t let your dog jump”, “don’t let them lick the wound site”, and “don’t let your dog roughhouse with other dogs (or your kids)”. But is that all we can do for our beloved dog? With modern medicine and science, it seems like there should be additional actions to take.
This article shares 5 actions you can take that may help your dog (or cat) recover from surgery faster.
I’ve been exposed to a LOT of what can go wrong with a pet. Does this sound familiar?
Cancer removal surgery in my dog’s leg? Yep.
ACL rupture in one leg, followed by a tear and rupture in the other leg 8 weeks later? Yep.
Spay and neuter surgeries? Yep.
Slipped disk in an older dog? Yep.
4 pound tumor in the stomach? Yep.
You’ve been there too! Throughout the many surgeries with my dogs, horses and even sheep. I’ve spent a lot of time with both large and small animal vets. My own studies in canine massage therapy have taught me a lot about what’s happening inside of dogs. The outside of your dog can reflect what’s happening on the inside. You can see pain points through restricted movement, off-kilter gaits, and general malaise that comes from a constant state of pain or discomfort.
This experience has given me a history additional actions to take that support my dog as he (or she) is recovering from major and minor surgery. Some of these tips can help help speed the healing process. Others can simply make your dog more comfortable.
I’m sure you can relate with you own dogs set of health challenges, as you watch, worry and wish you could do more than “wait”. Here are 5 things you can do to help your dog recover from surgery and be more comfortable.
Always follow your vets instructions. They will help you understand what expect after your dog has surgery. While you know what your dog is like when he/she is at her best, remember that your vet performed your dog’s surgery. They know what is “normal” for a dog who is recently post-surgery. If you’re unsure about anything, call your vet.
There are many general actions you can take that apply to most common dog surgeries, some are free and others are an additional investment in your pets health.
#1 How to help your dog eat after surgery
You can make homemade dog food for after surgery. It’s easy, requires no slaving over the stove and will help both you and your dog feel good! You’ll feel like you’re helping (because you are!) Your dog will get the nutrition and fiber needed to recover and poop! Since most dogs don’t feel like eating in the days after surgery, you want to pack as much nutrition into each bite as you can. Each time I’m cooking for a dog who is recovering from surgery, I make the Hiking Hound Healing Stew. It’s an art, not a science, and It looks something like this:
Hiking Hound Healing Stew
To pack the stew with minerals and amino acids, start with a bone broth base so the . Your dog will use to these goodies to help repair the surgery area.
Add some ground meat
Mix in some fiber, such as pumpkin, mashed sweet potato or rice.
Add some vegetables like carrots, celery and broccoli. The “normandy mix” frozen veggies you find at Costco or the frozen food aisle of your local grocery store work great. Veggies are an additional fiber source too!
Put all of those ingredients into a slow cooker or instant pot and let it cook for a few hours. If you find that you didn’t put enough bone broth for the amount of other goodies, then just add water.
Now you have a nice mushy stew that smells great, is easy to chew, is high in liquids for hydration and is easy on the digestive system. Some dogs have very sensitive tummies, so the bone broth can help pave the way to keeping food down.
Other bonus features you may want to have on hand are specific nutrients designed to help skin, bones and joints heal. A bit of powdered unflavored collagen protein can be mixed into the stew right before you serve it to your dog for an extra healing boost.
#2 Drink a lot (your dog, not you)
Most pets are on IV’s during surgery, which serves to keep them hydrated. Once they get home, it’s vital to continue to drink liquids that will flush their system of the ongoing pain meds and keep them hydrated as they heal. It’s especially important that they drink a lot if they are on anti inflammatories (NSAIDS, like Caprofin). That class of medication is important for keeping inflammation down, but can be hard on the liver. That’s true for people too. Always drink a ton of water when taking people-ibuprofen and never feed your pet people-ibuprofen.
When your pet isn’t feeling great, how do you encourage him or her to drink? There are a few tricks. The easiest and quickest is to try different temperatures of water. Warm, cold, tap and ice cubes. Does your dog show more interest in one than the other? If so, then use that temperature until they are feeling better and less picky.
If that doesn’t work, give bone broth or bone broth ice cubes a try. You can offer straight bone broth to get them started. An alternative is to add a bit of bone broth to their water as an appetite simulator. Another idea is to give them a bone broth ice cube. Many dogs will lick and play with the cube which gets a little liquid into them, stimulates their appetite, and makes a huge mess for you. So put it in a bowl or be sure they play with their ice cube in an area that is easy for you to mop up.
#3 Spend some time soaking up the energy
There is a field of study called “grounding”, also known as “earthing”. In essence, the concept is that skin contact with the ground can reduce inflammation, pain and stress. This one is a little controversial. Some people say it’s woo-woo and silly. Others will show evidence how the earth and people are connected through electricity. The concept is very, very simple and most everyone with a dog has access to the required equipment…it’s simply the ground. Grass, dirt or sand are ideal. Concrete isn’t great, but can be ok if it’s wet, such as after a rain. Asphalt doesn’t conduct enough electricity, so it’s not helpful.
All you need to do is help your pet spend time connected directly to the ground through their paws or any other part of their body. The purported benefits of grounding/earthing that apply to your dogs recovery are reduced inflammation reduced chronic pain, lowering of stress and promotion of calmness by reducing stress hormones.
Our natural inclination is to keep our dog inside when he or she doesn’t feel good. It’s easy for our pet to miss out on a natural and potential healing connection with the ground outside when we’re trying to protect them from further pain. There is also a mental aspect to sun, fresh air and a change of scenery for both you and your dog! While you’re out there, take off your shoes while you lounge in the grass with your recovering pup and soak up the grounding energy together. This isn’t just to help your dog recover from surgery, it’s for “anytime”.
If you live in an apartment on an upper floor, if it’s the dead of winter with 4 feet of snow outside, or if your dogs surgery hasn’t left him mobile in the short term, there are products that tap into the electricity in your home. They use a specially designed “earthing pad” to get many of the same benefits as being connected to the ground. Grounding is the same for both people and pets, so you don’t need to find a special “pet grounding” pad. One of the original grounding companies has some nice products that work for people and pets.
If you want a quick read about how grounding works and ways for you and your pets to better connect, check out Barefoot Wisdom written Sharon Whiteley, a pioneer in using grounding for health. Even if you don’t believe in grounding/earthing, getting some sunshine and a change of pace for your ailing dog is valuable to your mental and emotional state.
#4 Physical or hydrotherapy
When you are thinking about how to help your dog recover from surgery, sometimes less is more…and sometimes more is more. Just because physical therapy wasn’t prescribed as a required part of your pets recovery doesn’t mean it won’t do your sad pooch a wold of good. Your dog may not “need” physical therapy to recover. For example, most standard ACL (the dog’s knee) recover just fine with surgery and 8 weeks of very restricted movement, followed by 8 more weeks of leash walking only. However from an emotional and energy level, physical therapy may be an excellent option to keep your dog mentally engaged and stop the “stir crazy” look in her eyes. Canine hydrotherapy (fancy words for dog swimming with an expert) and canine massage can help keep your pet in shape and safely wear off some of the energy while she’s recovering.
When my Welsh Terrier had back to back ACL surgery, hydrotherapy (shout out to Cindy at Aquadog Spa) meant his prey drive was satisfied since he got to swim after the squeaky toy, his legs and body got to move, and his legs that had surgery recovered without stress and strain. You can google “dog hydrotherapy Your City” and you’ll get a good list. Or you can get a referral from your vet. Either way, always check with your vet first before any type of physical, hydrotherapy or massage. And never try to do the hydrotherapy or massage on a recovering dog yourself. It may look “easy”, but there are a bunch of anatomy, physiology, kinesiology and techniques that ensure the health and safety of your dog.
#5 Cold Laser Therapy
This technology is becoming more available and can improve the speed and quality of wound healing, including for muscle, tendon and ligament injuries. Some vets are using cold laser in their practices to help your dog recover from surgery.
Cold laser therapy works in 3 primary ways, with a focus directly on the injured areas:
- Blocks the pain signals to the brain by stimulating nerve cells
- Reduces inflammation at the site where the laser is used, which reduces pain
- Activates the lymphatic system, which drains swollen areas and reduces pressure
As inflammation at the surgery site is reduced, nerve centers are interrupted and lymphatic swelling goes down,. The result is the overall pain level in your dog is reduced. The treatment time is short- normally 10 minutes or less. Here is a great visual on how laser therapy works.
Pros: Cold laser therapy is non-invasive, doesn’t hurt or cause pain to your dog; doesn’t require surgery or drugs; can be used in conjunction with existing pain drugs or other treatments.
Cons: The good units are fairly pricey, so isn’t practical for most people to purchase for a one off surgery. You have to have a vet in your area who offers the treatment. Cold lasers don’t penetrate deeply and a fur can get in the way of the laser being able to penetrate the skin into injured tissue, so it’s best used on shaved sites only.
Many veterinary practices now offer it, and there are many at home units available. The good ones are fairly pricey, so you’re probably best off having your vet do the laser treatment if your dog is not having multiple major surgeries.
Please note that this post contains links to other websites. Some of those links are to studies and sources, while others are affiliate links. Clicking any link will open a new tab in your browser and doesn’t cost you anything! Any sales made through such links will reward me with a small commission – at no extra cost to you. If you like the content here at The Hiking Hound, please consider using the links in this article if you decide to purchase materials or products. The information on this website is not intended to replace the relationship between you and your veterinarian and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended only as a sharing of knowledge and information. If your pet is pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or has a medical condition, consult your veterinarian before using products or processes presented on this website.