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Joint care after your dog's surgery.
What can be done to better carry
out postoperative repair?
Most dogs are naturally active and run around like crazy when they go out to play, some even chasing cats or
cars. These traits can lead to falls and injuries and even car accidents. Even at home, a dog can run too
fast and bump into furniture, causing joint injuries. The worst that can happen to a dog with a joint injury
is surgery. But even though it's a joint surgery, there are many different types, including simple stitches.
Of course, it's more important for dog owners to know how to care for their dogs after joint surgery. Here
are six tips for your dog after surgery.
Change the Way Your Dog Exercises
Change the Way Your Dog Exercises
After a dog's joint surgery, the most important thing is to limit his movement and change the way of
exercises.
The most important thing for your dog's joints to recover as quickly as possible is to limit his movement and give him a good rest. But that's easier said than done, as most dogs are highly active, so their owners may have to supervise them from time to time. First of all, the owner should avoid the dog running around, forbid him to climb stairs, jump on the table or sofa, strenuous exercise and so on. Of course, small amounts of exercise are also necessary to avoid muscle atrophy, but walk slowly and carefully. If you want to take your dog outside, you can put your dog in a bag or use a special sling to carry him while he walks slowly.
Be sure to warm up for a few minutes before exercising, and do some fast-paced walking or slow jogging to help your dog relax his joints and get blood flowing to his muscles. It is also important to avoid dog movements on hard surfaces, especially those involving high jumps. Intense games of catch, for example, should be avoided. Try to exercise on soft grass to give their joints some cushioning.
The most important thing for your dog's joints to recover as quickly as possible is to limit his movement and give him a good rest. But that's easier said than done, as most dogs are highly active, so their owners may have to supervise them from time to time. First of all, the owner should avoid the dog running around, forbid him to climb stairs, jump on the table or sofa, strenuous exercise and so on. Of course, small amounts of exercise are also necessary to avoid muscle atrophy, but walk slowly and carefully. If you want to take your dog outside, you can put your dog in a bag or use a special sling to carry him while he walks slowly.
Be sure to warm up for a few minutes before exercising, and do some fast-paced walking or slow jogging to help your dog relax his joints and get blood flowing to his muscles. It is also important to avoid dog movements on hard surfaces, especially those involving high jumps. Intense games of catch, for example, should be avoided. Try to exercise on soft grass to give their joints some cushioning.
Clean Your Dog's Legs Regularly
Fresh wounds are prone to infection by bacteria and viruses, and dogs may lick them. Pathogens in the
mouth can easily enter the body through wounds, so cleaning wounds is also an important part of daily
care. Owners can use a small amount of disinfectant wet wipes to wipe around the dog’s wound, and
usually try to avoid using water on the dog's wound. If there is a cast or splint, keep it as dry as
possible, and on time to the hospital for replacement. Not changing them at the right time may cause
pressure sores or even affect the blood supply to the area.
Maintain a Healthy Weight
A surprising number of dogs in the United States are obese. It is highly recommended that your dog
maintain a healthy weight for several years after surgery, not only for their joint health, but also for
their overall health and quality of life. First, make sure you don't overfeed your dog. Second, make
sure your dog keeps exercising. Finally, the giving and receiving of treats is very important to the
human-dog relationship, but breaking them up into smaller pieces when feeding your dog will give you the
same emotional benefits with fewer calories.
Perform a Daily Maintenance Massage
Just five minutes of massage a day can do a lot of good for your dog's joints. Dog massage balances
muscle tone, which not only helps with joint flexibility but also reduces the risk of injury. In
addition, by releasing endorphins, it can reduce pain associated with arthritis, relieve stress and
anxiety, and improve circulation and lymphatic flow. This helps remove toxins and provides healthy blood
flow to vital organs.
Make Your House More Dog Friendly
First, it's important to provide a padded, comfortable bed for your dog. For dogs with stiff, aching
joints, it can be a challenge to get a comfortable deep rest every night to help repair their bodies.
Consider an orthopaedic dog bed, or add some soft blankets to make sure they have enough padding. If
your dog has trouble climbing stairs or jumping on the bed, a gradually sloping ramp can help prevent
them from overexerting themselves. If you have tile or hardwood floors, you can provide carpets and
runners to give their joints some cushioning.
Consider Physical Therapy
Walking up stairs, jumping into cars, or jumping onto couches is not only uncomfortable, but can
actually be dangerous for dogs with joint problems. Dogs just don't know when they will recover, and may
be frustrated by reduced activity levels, itchy incision sites, or an overall lack of stimulation after
surgery, so giving your dog heat therapy will greatly relieve anxiety.
Heat therapy does not cause any stretching or jumping, but is a great way to relax the muscles and cheer up your dog. The application of heat is used to reduce stiffness and muscle spasms, increase blood flow and relieve pain. Unlike cold therapy, heat therapy is applied after the initial swelling and inflammation stage of an injury. Typically, cold therapy is used within the first 72 hours after surgery.
Heat therapy can also be used for ongoing conditions. By reducing stiffness, heat therapy helps to improve joint range of motion during and after exercise. In addition to these healing benefits, heat therapy provides comfort, relaxation and anxiety reduction.
Heat therapy does not cause any stretching or jumping, but is a great way to relax the muscles and cheer up your dog. The application of heat is used to reduce stiffness and muscle spasms, increase blood flow and relieve pain. Unlike cold therapy, heat therapy is applied after the initial swelling and inflammation stage of an injury. Typically, cold therapy is used within the first 72 hours after surgery.
Heat therapy can also be used for ongoing conditions. By reducing stiffness, heat therapy helps to improve joint range of motion during and after exercise. In addition to these healing benefits, heat therapy provides comfort, relaxation and anxiety reduction.
After the surgery, the dog's owner watches its wounds every day to see if there is swelling, redness, pain or bleeding. Dogs may also experience side effects such as vomiting, diarrhea and loss of appetite.
Heat therapy is a simple, yet effective way to help your dog feel better after an injury, surgery or exercise. At the same time, it will increase comfort, relaxation, and happiness for both your dog and yourself.
A heating therapy brace is recommended for joint care after surgery. Follow your veterinarian's advice and apply the brace properly at the right time to help your dog recover better after surgery. Heat therapy is most commonly applied to joints: shoulders, elbows and wrists in the front legs; and hips, knees and ankles in the back legs. It can be used on any part of your dog's body where muscle damage, strain or spasm occurs.