Your Pet's Aftercare Sheet
Print this and stick it on the fridge — it's everything for the next two weeks, at a glance.
Tonight
- Quiet, warm room indoors — no stairs, no jumping, no other pets roughhousing
- Small dinner is fine; don't worry if they skip it
- Cone stays ON — even while sleeping, even with the sad eyes
- Grogginess and wobbliness are normal as anesthesia wears off
The Two Weeks
- Days 1–3: rest and short leash walks only (dogs); indoor confinement (cats)
- Days 4–7: energy returns — keep restricting activity anyway; check the incision daily
- Days 7–14: incision healing and fading; keep the cone on until it's fully closed
- No baths or swimming for 10–14 days
Call Us If You See
- Bleeding that doesn't stop, pus, or foul smell
- The incision opening or growing swelling
- No eating, or vomiting/diarrhea beyond 24 hours
- Extreme lethargy — can't stand, can't wake
Rule of thumb: trending better each day is normal. Trending worse — call.
Pets Alive Indiana · (812) 349-1349 · Mon–Thu 8 AM–5 PM
2444 S Walnut Street, Bloomington, IN 47401 · petsaliveindiana.org/is-this-normal
Nights & weekends: your discharge paperwork rules. True emergency? Nearest emergency animal hospital — don't wait for us to open.
Want the full detail? Read the complete post-surgery care guide or the Is This Normal? checker.