Coming home after surgery is exciting!

Not just for you, but for your pet. While it’s important that your pet feels at home, there are some changes that are important to make to ensure they stay safe and recover fully from their surgery. 

Certain areas of your home pose a great risk to your pet. Hardwood or tile flooring can be slippery for our four legged friends, but after surgery it can be especially dangerous. Providing surfaces that are easy to walk on, with grip for your pets’ feet is essential. Throw rugs, non-slip mats, or carpet runners are an essential tool for recovery. 

An area of the home where your pet can be restricted comfortably is very important. Some use a small room in their home, some use a crate (large enough to move around in), some prefer to gate off an area of the home such as the kitchen or living room, which is close to access to outdoor areas. 

Most importantly: NO JUMPING! No jumping on/off the bed or couch, and no jumping up on people in the home. Overextension of the knee could compromise the repair of your pets’ leg and delay the healing time. 

For the first 2 – 4 weeks following surgery, stairs should be limited to a short flight to get in or out of the house. Your pet needs to be on a short leash and slowly guided up and down 2 – 3 stairs, possibly with support of a harness or belly sling. 



As hard as it will be, there must be no physical play! Slow, purposeful movement can slowly be increased as the weeks go by, but absolutely no running or play with other pets until the go-ahead is given by your vet. You can incorporate brain games and mental stimulation to help ease boredom during this time.