Anaesthesia Recovery Information
Thank you for choosing the team at Animalius to look after your pet. Today your pet has had a procedure that required a general anaesthesia, so they will probably be a little sleepy. Please avoid over-stimulation and provide them with a quiet area to rest, away from other pets or children and keep cats inside. We recommend they are kept inside for 24-48 hours in an area where they are unable to injure themselves as they may still be “groggy” from the effects of the general anaesthesia. Some prescribed medications will mean your pet may not be able to regulate their own body temperature well, so an area that is at a comfortable temperature (not too warm or cold) is ideal.
We expect your pet to return to normal behaviour and routines the following day (older animals may require longer).
Please monitor your pet and contact the clinic if you notice any of the following signs:
- Loss of appetite for more than 24 hours
- Reduction in water consumption for longer than 24 hours
- Weakness, depression, vomiting or diarrhoea
Feeding
Only offer a small amount of food (half their normal meal size) and water the night following the procedure as your pet may be groggy and not interested in food. If they eat all their food and still appear hungry, please wait 2-3 hours before feeding more. If an animal eats to much at once following a general anaesthesia they can vomit. We expect a normal return to appetite and toileting habits by the following day.
Exercise
This will depend on what your pet was hospitalised for, it is important to follow the instructions provided by your Animalius care team specific to their condition.
To reduce the risk of injury we recommend keeping your pet quiet and allowing them to rest in the first 24 hours following their procedure. Avoid boisterous activity including running, jumping, climbing stairs, playing with other animals, and jumping onto and off furniture.
Toileting
Don’t be concerned if your pet doesn’t pass stools for a few days after surgery. The combination of general anaesthesia and some medications we use for pain relief slows the bowel significantly and it may take 2-3 days for normal gut motility to be restored. If your pet’s normal bowel habits do not return by this time, please let us know. Adding some fibre (e.g. unflavoured Metamucil) to the diet or feeding soft food can help restore normal toileting habits. Your care team will advise you on how much to give at the time of discharge.
Reports and Test results
A copy of your pet’s referral report along with any results from tests performed today will be sent directly to your referring veterinarian. Please contact your regular vet to discuss these results. Please allow 48 hours for your Imaging referral report to be received and depending on what test they have had performed, results can take anywhere between 1 –10 days to be received. A guide has been provided below:
- Fine Needle Aspirate (FNA) – 48-72 hours
- Urine test – Initial report 24 hours, bacterial and fungal cultures 4-7 days for final results
- Biopsy (Histopathology) – 7-10 days
- General Health Blood test – 24-48 hours
Post-Operative Care and Medications
This will depend on what your pet was hospitalised for, please follow the instructions provided by your Animalius care team specific to their condition. If your pet is discharged on the day of surgery or procedure requiring an anaesthetic, they will probably be a little sleepy. Please provide them with a quiet, warm area to rest, away from other pets or children and keep cats inside for the first 24-48 hours.
Revisit Appointments: Your pet will require a revisit appointment with your regular vet in 1-2 weeks to assess their progress. Please book an appointment for this. Any further revisit appointments will be discussed at this time.
Please note that specialised tests may take longer, you will be advised at the time of your pet’s discharge.
If you have any concerns about your pet, please do not hesitate to contact us on 6166 3770