Dog Surgery Recovery Checklist
What should you watch after your dog’s surgery? The first two weeks are mostly about rest, a protected incision and medication on schedule. This one-page checklist puts the daily checks in one place (incision twice a day, cone on all the time, leash-only potty breaks), shows what’s usually normal and what means a call to your vet, lists the signs of pain, and gives you a daily log. It is built from the American College of Veterinary Surgeons’ guidance for owners and doesn’t replace your vet’s discharge instructions.
Fillable · bilingual EN/ES · vet-sourced, not a scanned template.
Got the free sheet? The full version → Dog Surgery Recovery Tracker $3.73 What's inside
- The daily checklist: incision checks, cone or suit, activity limits, medication, no baths, appetite and toilet
- Normal or call? Four cards: what’s usually fine, when to call, other warning signs, and signs of pain
- A fillable recovery log: day, incision, appetite, pee and poop, meds given, notes
- The human pain reliever warning, and when stitches usually come out
How to use it
- Put the sheet on the fridge the day your dog comes home, next to the discharge instructions.
- Check the incision morning and evening, and photograph it to compare day to day.
- Log each dose and each meal, pee and poop, so nothing is missed or doubled.
- Call your vet for anything in the “Call your vet” cards, and bring the log to the recheck.
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- How long should my dog rest after surgery?
- Often 7–14 days of restricted activity for routine surgery, with leash-only potty breaks and no running or jumping, according to VCA. Major surgery, such as orthopedic surgery, can mean several weeks. Your vet sets the plan.
- Can the cone come off at night?
- VCA advises keeping the cone or recovery suit on constantly, not on and off, because a few minutes of licking can open an incision. Call your vet if your dog licks and no cone was sent home.
- My dog hasn’t pooped since surgery. Is that normal?
- A 1–2 day delay before the first bowel movement is common, according to the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. Call your vet if it lasts several days or your dog is straining.
- Can I give my dog ibuprofen for pain?
- No. The FDA warns that human pain relievers such as ibuprofen, naproxen and aspirin can cause stomach ulcers and kidney or liver damage in pets. Give only the pain medication your vet prescribed, exactly as directed.
Free educational printable. Not veterinary advice, and not a substitute for your vet's official records or an emergency call. Full disclaimer → · Leer en español →