Postoperative Care

Personalized aftercare instructions are provided for every patient that has surgery at VSA. The instructions are reviewed with you at the time of your pet’s discharge from the hospital, and a printed copy is provided to you for home reference.

The following examples of aftercare instructions are provided to give you a basic idea of what home and follow-up care is typically prescribed for a soft tissue procedure (such as skin, thoracic, or abdominal surgery), TPLO surgery (the most common orthopedic procedure we perform), and neurological surgery (such as decompressive spinal surgery).

Your pet’s surgeon will tailor aftercare instructions specifically for his/her situation, so your pet’s aftercare instructions may differ somewhat from these samples. Medications—most commonly pain relieving medications and antibiotics—are often dispensed after surgery, and directions regarding their administration will be included in your pet’s aftercare instructions as well.

Sample aftercare instructions for general soft tissue surgery

Sample aftercare instructions for TPLO surgery

Sample aftercare instructions for neurological surgery

Frequently asked questions after discharge