Postoperative care for rabbits and small furries

GENERAL POST OP INSTRUCTIONS FOR RABBITS/GUINEA PIGS/RODENTS

Your pet has had an anaesthetic, to ensure a full and complete recovery please observe the following:

• When you get your pet home, you should keep them warm, quiet, and comfortable and do not allow children or other pets to excite him/her. Pets will not be returned home unless they can walk, however, they will be a little unsteady and they may take up to 24 hours for the general anaesthetic to wear off.
• If your pet has had surgery there will usually be an incision at the site of the operation. Remember that this area can be painful so avoid handling unless instructed to do so. Please check surgical wounds daily, if possible.
• Report any swelling, excessive discharge/bleeding, or loss of stitches.
• When your pet gets home they should be given food straight away. You should supply normal food and favourite titbits, this is very important for your pet as some species can have a gut stasis (this is when the digestive tract can start to shut down). This can be detrimental to recovery. If your pet is not eating you can syringe feed small amounts of baby food. If your pet has not eaten within the first 24 hours then please phone the surgery.
• Keep your pet’s housing clean and remove soiled areas daily so this does not interfere with the wound healing. Avoid loose shavings as this may stick to the wound.
• Do not let your pet interfere with the wound as this may cause infection/suture removal and delay wound healing. It is quite common for rabbits to pull out sutures, so keep a daily check of the wound.
• If you are unable to give the prescribed medication please contact the surgery for advice.
• We would appreciate it if you could call us the day after for a preliminary update on your pet.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Rutherglen: 0141 643 0404

Mount Florida: 0141 649 5351