By Dial A Vet Veterinary Team
Leg surgery is only half the job. Whether your dog had a cruciate repair, a fracture plated or a kneecap stabilised, the weeks at home decide much of the outcome. The most common setback vets see is a dog that felt better, jumped off the couch or chased a bird, and loosened an implant or tore a repair. Recovery is usually measured in weeks to months, and it asks a lot of owners. A clear plan makes it manageable.
Key takeaways
- Follow your surgeon's written discharge instructions first. They are specific to your dog's procedure.
- Strict activity restriction is the backbone of recovery, even when your dog seems ready to run.
- Check the incision or bandage twice daily and stop licking with a cone or recovery suit.
- Give only the medicines your vet prescribed, exactly as directed. Never give human pain relief.
- Call your vet for sudden lameness, swelling, discharge, a wet or smelly bandage, poor appetite or lethargy.
- Related: cruciate ligament rupture, patellar luxation, physiotherapy for dogs.
Set up the recovery space before you pick your dog up
- A pen, crate or small room with non-slip flooring. Rubber-backed bath mats or yoga mats work well over tiles and floorboards.
- A firm, supportive bed low to the ground.
- Water within easy reach so your dog does not need to walk far.
- No access to stairs, couches, beds or slippery surfaces. Use baby gates.
- A quiet spot, away from the front door and other pets that might trigger excitement.
The first 24 to 48 hours
Many dogs are groggy, sleepy or whiny on the first night as anaesthetic wears off. Offer a small, bland meal if your vet has advised it, and water. Some dogs do not pass faeces for a day or two after surgery, as they have eaten less and are moving less. Keep toilet trips short and on lead. If your vet has given you pain relief, give it on schedule so your dog stays comfortable. Do not wait for your dog to cry before giving it.
Toileting safely
- Always on a short lead, even in a fenced yard.
- Use a towel or a purpose-made sling under the belly to support the back end for back leg surgery.
- Avoid steps where possible. Carry small dogs. Use a ramp for larger dogs if steps are unavoidable.
- Keep the outing brief: out, toilet, back inside.
Wound and bandage care
Check the incision morning and night. A little redness and mild bruising along the edges is common at first. Contact your vet if you see:
- Increasing redness, heat or swelling
- Discharge, especially pus or a bad smell
- Gaping edges or missing stitches
- Bleeding that does not stop with gentle pressure
Keep the wound dry and do not bathe your dog until your vet says so. Do not apply creams, oils or tea tree oil.
If your dog has a bandage or splint, keep it clean and dry. Cover the foot with a plastic bag for outdoor toilet trips only, then remove it inside. Check the toes daily. Swelling, coldness, a smell, slipping, or your dog chewing at the bandage all need a call to the clinic.
Stopping licking and chewing
Licking is the fastest way to infect a wound or pull out stitches. Use the cone, soft collar or recovery suit your vet recommends, and keep it on whenever you are not directly watching. Most dogs adjust within a day or two.
Activity restriction and gradual return
Orthopaedic repairs need time for bone to heal or for tissues to scar firmly. Your vet will give a timeline, often eight to twelve weeks for many procedures, with lead walks gradually lengthened at each stage. No running, jumping, rough play or off-lead time until your vet has cleared it, usually after a recheck and sometimes follow-up X-rays.
To keep a bored dog calm:
- Feed meals from food puzzles and lick mats
- Teach quiet tricks such as nose touches and "settle"
- Short sniff sessions on lead, which are mentally tiring
- Ask your vet whether calming strategies or medicines are appropriate for very excitable dogs
Rehabilitation
Many dogs benefit from guided physiotherapy, which can include controlled exercises, massage and hydrotherapy at the right stage. Only start exercises your vet or a veterinary physiotherapist has shown you. Keep your dog slim, because extra weight puts more strain on the repaired leg and the other limbs.
When it is an emergency
Contact your vet urgently if your dog suddenly stops using the leg after improving, cries out in pain, has a swelling that grows quickly, a wound that opens or bleeds, a bandage that is soaked, smelly or has slipped, pale gums, fast breathing, vomiting, or has not eaten for more than 24 hours. Lethargy with a hot, swollen limb can mean infection.
Rechecks
Expect a wound check or stitch removal around 10 to 14 days, and further rechecks to assess healing. Bring a list of questions and notes on appetite, toileting, comfort and leg use.
FAQ
My dog is putting weight on the leg after a week. Can we go for a proper walk?
Not yet, unless your vet says so. Using the leg is a good sign, but healing tissues and bone still need protection.
Can I give my dog human pain relief if they seem sore?
No. Many human pain medicines are toxic to dogs. Call your vet if pain relief does not seem to be enough.
How long will my dog need the cone?
Usually until the wound has healed and stitches are out. Your vet will advise.
Is it normal for my dog not to poo for a day or two?
It can be after surgery. Call your vet if your dog strains, vomits or goes longer than your discharge sheet suggests.
Talk with a vet
Recovery questions often come up after hours. A Dial A Vet veterinarian can look at photos of the wound, talk through how your dog is coping and help you decide whether to contact your surgeon. Book a Dial A Vet consult.
References
- American College of Veterinary Surgeons. Cranial cruciate ligament disease.
- Gruen ME, et al. 2022 AAHA Pain Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 2022;58(2):55-76.
- Millis DL, Levine D. Canine Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy. 2nd ed. Elsevier; 2014.
- WSAVA Global Pain Council. Guidelines for the recognition, assessment and treatment of pain.
Disclaimer: Educational only. This page does not replace an examination or advice from your own veterinarian. If you are worried about your pet right now, contact your local vet or nearest emergency animal hospital.
