Section: Follow-up
Once your dog has been discharged from the hospital he must be kept quiet to promote healing. Restrict your pet's activity for at least two weeks after abdominal surgery. Keep your pet confined to a carrier, crate, or small room whenever he cannot be supervised. Do not allow your dog to play or rough-house even if he appears to be feeling well. Confine dogs to a leash when taking them outdoors.
Special instructions may be given for gradually increasing the volume of your dog's food or for feeding a certain type of food. If your pet is not continuing to improve each day, or begins vomiting or refusing to eat again, contact your veterinarian immediately.
If a culture sample was taken, the specific type of antibiotic that your pet was originally sent home with may need to be changed based upon those results. Antibiotics may lead to decreased appetite or diarrhea. Contact your veterinarian if you note any problems.
The skin incision needs to be monitored daily for signs of excessive swelling or discharge, which may indicate problems with healing or even infection. Contact your veterinarian if you note any abnormalities.
If the resection and anastomosis was performed because of a tumor, the biopsy report will indicate whether the tumor was benign or malignant and if it was completely removed, or not. Your veterinarian will make additional recommendations based on these results and may refer you to a veterinary oncologist for further treatment.
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