What veterinary surgery involves -- and how to help your pet recover

This guide covers general information about veterinary surgical procedures. Your pet’s specific surgery and recovery will depend on their condition, the procedure, and your vet’s instructions. This is not medical advice.

Before surgery: what to prepare

Most surgical procedures require pre-operative preparation on your end and the clinic’s end.

Your responsibilities:

• Fasting: most surgeries require no food for 8 to 12 hours before, and no water for 2 to 4 hours. Follow your vet’s exact instructions — the timing matters for anesthesia safety.
• Medications: ask specifically which regular medications to give or skip on the morning of surgery.
• Transportation: plan for someone to help if your pet is large or if post-op sedation will make them difficult to manage.
• Home setup: prepare a recovery space before you go — comfortable, quiet, away from stairs and other pets if possible.

The clinic’s pre-operative process: Most clinics run pre-anesthetic bloodwork to check organ function before administering general anesthesia. This is especially important for older pets or those with health history. An IV catheter is placed for fluid delivery and medication access during the procedure.

What happens during surgery

Phase	What occurs
Anesthesia induction	Short-acting induction agent administered through IV catheter
Intubation	Breathing tube placed to maintain airway and deliver anesthetic gas
Monitoring setup	Blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation, temperature monitored throughout
Surgical procedure	Sterile technique maintained; procedure performed per plan
Anesthesia reversal	Anesthetic gas reduced; pet breathes it off
Recovery monitoring	Pet monitored in a warm, quiet space as they regain consciousness
Discharge	Pet goes home once alert, stable, and comfortable; usually same-day for routine procedures

For complex or lengthy procedures, pets may stay overnight. Emergency procedures may skip some pre-operative steps when speed outweighs the risk.

Recovery at home: what to expect and what to watch

Recovery varies by procedure, but some principles are consistent across most surgeries:

First 24 to 48 hours:

• Sedation and grogginess are normal — anesthesia takes time to clear fully
• Small amounts of food and water; some nausea after anesthesia is common
• Keep the pet quiet; no running, jumping, or stairs

The following week or two:

• Restricted activity is critical — ligament and abdominal repairs require rest even if the pet “feels fine”
• E-collar (cone) to prevent licking the incision
• Incision check daily: it should be dry, the edges should be together, and there should be no redness or discharge

Signs to call the vet about immediately:

• Significant swelling, discharge, or gap at the incision
• Pet has not eaten in 48 hours
• Difficulty breathing
• Pale or white gums
• Persistent whimpering or signs of significant pain

Pain management

Modern veterinary surgery includes multi-modal pain management. Most pets go home with oral pain medications, and some receive long-acting injectable pain relief during the procedure. Do not skip the pain medication because the pet seems comfortable — some pain medication prevents the kind of pain that leads to self-trauma (licking) and slows healing.

If your pet seems to be in significant pain despite the prescribed medication, call your vet. Do not give human pain medications (ibuprofen, acetaminophen) — many are toxic to dogs and cats.

Our veterinary surgery category lists Denver-area clinics offering surgical services. Browse the full directory on the home page and read how we score clinics in our ranking method.