9 Things to go over on with the surgeon on Discharge Day
A starter list of questions to ask the surgeon on discharge day. Be prepared once home, if need be, to know who to call and what to expect. Download and print out and add your own questions to make sure no concern of yours goes without an answer: https://dodgerslist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Discharge-Day-Questions.pdf
- Once home, what symptoms might indicate that something is wrong with my dog’s healing process?
- What actions should I take if something goes wrong while healing at home. (Who to call, phone #, where to go, what to do).
- What can I expect for follow-up communications with your clinic and for how many days? Do you or the vet tech call, do I call and if so, who? phone number?
- What drugs will my dog be coming home with? Will you provide a pain medication RX? What are my options to change the dose up or down if needed? Sedative if necessary for calmness during crate rest? An acid suppressor such as Pepcid AC® (famotidine) if prescribing either a NSAID or a steroid?
- Please go over all meds prescribed and the purpose of each and any adverse side effects and what action I should take if any of the side effects occur. Also, how soon after taking each can I expect them to take effect? (Ask for an information sheet for each medication.)
- How long is too long to wait for a bowel movement? What action should I take?
- What is post-op or conservative medical treatment regarding STRICT rest confinement and any appropriate physical therapy? https://dodgerslist.com/strict-rest-recovery-process/
- If my dog can’t urinate on his own, what number/person would I call prior to arrival to confirm my dog has had water 1-2 hours before the lesson on expressing? If I need another hands-on lesson, who do I call? Is there a charge?
- Reminder: I will benefit more from the expressing bladder lesson by reading the Dodgerslist article and viewing the video in advance. To receive the best demo, have them place their hands over mine, guiding mine to feel the proper placement and pressure to apply. BONUS: button below also demonstrates how to safely express for poop.