Taking Care of Your Dog after Bladder Stone Surgery
When your child is sick, you do everything in your power to make it all better. It's the same with a dog. Any good dog owner knows just because Rover has four legs and wears a fur coat 365 days a year, even in Jacksonville, they're just as important as the human members of the family. So, what happens when the dog needs surgery? Of course, they get 24/7 TLC. A common surgery for dogs is bladder stone removal. Here are tips for caring for your dog after bladder stone surgery.
Bladder Stones 101
Dogs, like humans can develop bladder stones. Bladder stones are like rocks formed from a variety of minerals. Also, like humans, bladder stones start out small. They can develop into large stones and cause a significant level of pain for the animal. Dogs give clues when they're suffering from a bladder stone. They may start having accidents. You may notice straining when they urinate. Often a dog will make multiple attempts to urinate but won't produce more than a tiny amount of urine. They may also lick around the opening to the urethra, which is the urinary opening. If you're able to see their urine, you may notice it's discolored. Be aware that these symptoms can be caused by other conditions that affect the dog's urinary tract. It's always best to have a veterinary doctor confirm the diagnosis with an exam.
Time for Surgery
Once the vet sees your dog and confirms they have bladder stones, it's time for surgery. The surgery to remove the stones is a cystotomy. The staff at Forever Vets Animal Hospital understand surgery can be traumatic for both your dog and you. They'll be right there with your beloved pet for the entire process. The procedure involves an abdominal incision. The incision must be done so the vet can access the bladder. Once the stones are removed, the vet will suture, or stitch, the incision back together. After the veterinary staff make sure your pet is stable, you can head home where you'll help them begin the recovery process.
No Playing Fetch
We know one of you and your dog's favorite activities is playing fetch together. Surgery for dogs is a lot like surgery for their humans. They won't feel much like running after a ball. In fact, they may feel tired and groggy for a few days after surgery. Your most important job for the first 2 weeks is making sure your dog doesn't participate in any rigorous activity, including playing fetch. That doesn't mean they can't take short walks on a leash! Any practice that offers veterinary services in Jacksonville, FL, will provide you with postoperative instructions. Follow them and your dog will be back to chasing the ball in no time.
Take Them Outside Often to Urinate
After bladder stone surgery, your dog will need to urinate frequently. They will likely have a trace of blood in their urine as well. Don't scold them if they have an accident. It may take 1-2 weeks for them to get back to a normal potty routine. Although it may seem inconvenient, allow them outdoors to urinate, even if they were just outside a few minutes ago.
Caring for the Incision
Check your pet's incision twice daily to make sure it's dry. The incision will look a little red on the margins. The edges of the incision will be slightly swollen. You should see the swelling and redness decrease over the next several days. We want to hear from you if you notice discharge, abnormal swelling, or if the edges of the incision develop a gap. If you've ever had an incision, you know they can feel itchy as they heal. It's the same for dogs, only dogs lick instead of scratch. Don't let your dog lick or chew their incision.
Here at Forever Vets Animal Hospital, our mission is caring for your dog with the same love and compassion as you give. With 8 locations, we're able to get our patients in quickly, especially for emergency veterinary care. Contact us today and schedule an appointment.
Serving Jacksonville, Orlando, Nocatee, St. Johns, St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra and more. We can't wait to meet your pet!
