What to Do if Your Pet Has an Orthopedic Injury?
Like humans, pets can suffer from orthopedic injuries through prolonged wear and tear, trauma, or accidents. It is not uncommon for such injuries in athletic animals as even jumping and running can cause damage. If your pet has been through pet orthopedic surgery, the doctor will prescribe some care and precaution. This will ensure a complete recovery for your pet.
After Injury
If you suspect an orthopedic injury in your pet or it has suffered an accident that requires medical attention, here is what you do immediately.
Maintain Your Distance
Maintain distance from the injured animal as it will try to bite. Your safety is more important for the long-term safety and health of your pet. Excessive touch and handling can cause pain and worsen an injury. For dogs and related long-mouthed animals, you should make a muzzle out of soft, comfortable cloth and tie it properly around the snout. For felines and other pets, devices similar to a shame cone can suffice. Anything to limit the reach of their sharp teeth.
When rushing off to the veterinary ER, make sure the animal is handled with utmost care. This is to ensure that you do not dislocate any bones.
No Excessive Touching
As mentioned before, you should not excessively touch or try to soothe your pet by touching them on the head or stroking their body. The animal is in pain and distress, and your advances may be met with resistance and discomfort.
Trust the Doctors
When you have arrived at the ER, please wait for your pet to be attended to. The severity of the injury determines your waiting time, and it does good for you and everyone to co-operate with the ER staff.
After Treatment
Your pet may or may not be required to have pet orthopedic surgery. It depends on the animal and the injury. However, most forms of treatment will follow a rehabilitation program. Here is what you can do for your pet post-treatment.
Follow Medication Prescribed
Your pet will most likely be prescribed nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and pain killers by your vet to soothe pain and discomfort. Infection prevention post pet orthopedic surgery may also be done through medications, but higher sanitation is always helpful and a requirement in most cases.
Restrict Physical Movement
In the recovery period, you must restrict the physical movement of your pet. Most pets should be on complete rest for two weeks after surgery. The rest period will be different for each animal.
Physiotherapy and Post-op Care
Aside from physiotherapy (which will most likely be done by a trained professional), you will also be required to take your pet for post-op care. The doctor will take a look at the incisions and analyze if the recovery is right on track. After consulting with the physiotherapist, you can give certain blood circulatory massages to the pet.
Moreover, immediately after pet orthopedic surgery, you can use ice packs or hot packs for your pet as well. Wrap a towel around the commercial hot-pack or ice-pack before contact with the pet, and make sure it does not discomfort your animal.
It is important to keep the doctor informed of anything you do to the pet after surgery. If a doctor prescribes not to put any cold or hot pads on the affected area, it is imperative you listen for better recovery.
