Help! I Can’t Keep My Pet Calm After Surgery!

Keeping your dogs or cats calm after their spay or neuter surgery is one of the most important parts of recovery — but it’s also one of the most challenging. Many pets act “back to normal” quickly, even though their body is still healing on the inside. Too much activity during this time can lead to complications that are completely preventable.

Here’s why calm rest matters and how optional post-op sedation can help make recovery smoother.

Why Staying Calm Is So Important

1. Preventing Bleeding & Discharge

When pets get excited, their heart rate and blood pressure rise. This can cause small blood vessels near the incision to reopen, leading to:

• Bloody spotting

• Redness

• Increased swelling

• Slower healing

2. Reducing Seromas (Fluid Pockets Under the Skin)

Too much movement can irritate healing tissue, causing it to release fluid that collects under the incision — forming a soft lump known as a seroma.

These often develop when pets are overly active and can take weeks to resolve.

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Learn more about Seroma, as we try to answer one of our most frequent clients' question: "What Is This Lump at My Pet’s Incision Site?"

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3. Minimizing Scrotal Swelling in Neutered Males

Excessive activity can cause inflammation and fluid buildup in the scrotal area, especially in young or energetic males.

All of these complications are common — and preventable with appropriate rest.

Optional Post-Op Sedation: A Helpful Tool

We know keeping pets calm isn’t always easy, especially for active or anxious pets. That’s why we offer optional post-operative sedation to support a smoother recovery.

This medication:

• Helps pets relax without fully sedating them

• Reduces anxiety, pacing, and sudden bursts of energy

• Makes it easier to maintain the calm environment their body needs

• Lowers the risk of the complications listed above

Sedation is not required, but we strongly encourage it for pets who:

• Are high-energy or easily excited

• Live in busy households

• Tend to jump, run, or climb

• Have difficulty settling

• Get the “zoomies”

• Are young, nervous, or overly curious

Most pets benefit from having this safety net available — even if they only need it for a few days.

You might also want to learn more about À La Carte Services provided to help your pets go through the overall Spay / Neuter process.

Tips for Helping Your Pet Stay Calm

Even with optional sedation, environmental management is crucial:

• Use a crate or small room to limit movement for “timeouts” when pet gets over stimulated

• Avoid stairs, couches, or elevated surfaces especially for small pets

• Separate playful pets temporarily to prevent rough play

• Leash-walk only for bathroom breaks

• Offer calm enrichment (lick mats, puzzle toys, gentle affection)

When to Reach Out

Contact us or text a photo to 678-834-0777 if you notice:

• A rapidly growing lump

• Persistent bleeding or discharge

• Redness, heat, or foul odor

• Excessive swelling, especially in males

• Signs of pain or discomfort

• Anything that just doesn’t look right

We’re happy to guide you through next steps.

We’re Here to Make Recovery Easier

A calm pet heals faster — and we’re here to help you every step of the way.