3 Things Vet Wants Owners To Know About Taking Care of a Dog Post-Surgery

While a dog’s postoperative recovery plans vary by procedure, the first few days are critical, according to a veterinarian who outlines three key rules for post-surgery care.

When a dog comes home after surgery, the hardest part of recovery often isn’t pain management- it's restraint, as owners Landry Parrack and her husband, Sam, soon discovered after their 5-year-old English yellow Labrador, Charlie, underwent surgery for a recently torn cranial cruciate ligament (CCL), one of the most common knee injuries in dogs, according to VCA Animal Hospitals.

The couple received strict instructions to keep Charlie off the bed and to crate him at night, but they struggled with the idea of leaving him alone, Parrack told Newsweek via email. Instead, they made a bed for themselves on the floor so they could sleep beside him, only to discover Charlie wasn’t following the same rules. In the middle of the night, Parrack woke up to find Charlie had abandoned the floor for a comfortable spot on the couch.

What happened in their home is a common scenario post-surgery: well-intentioned recovery plans often collide with a dog’s instinct to return to familiar routines as soon as they feel able.

Dr. Mark Primiano, a surgical spay-and-neuter veterinarian at Tree House Humane Society Veterinary Wellness Center, told Newsweek via email that the foundation of a successful recovery comes down to three essential rules: monitoring the incision site, leaving it alone and strictly controlling activity.

Primiano advises owners to closely monitor the incision site, watching for signs of infection, openings or complications. If any concerns arise, he suggests contacting a veterinarian rather than attempting to treat the area at home.

“No baths, no Neosporin, no anything,” he said. “Bodies are built to repair themselves pretty well.”

He added that overhandling the incision can delay the healing process.

While incision care is often top of mind for pet owners, Primiano emphasized that movement restriction is just as important, if not more so, during the early phase of recovery. Owners may assume their dog is ready to resume normal activity simply because they appear more comfortable or alert.

Charlie’s behavior is a familiar example of that mismatch. Even with careful restrictions in place, dogs may still attempt to return to normal routines before they are medically ready. Although canines often seem improved, the surgical site is still healing beneath the surface.

Similar to a person spraining their ankle, Primiano said some patients begin feeling better after a week and assume they can push themselves, risking setbacks that undo early healing progress. The same goes for dogs.

“The body isn't fully healed from surgery until about 10 days out, so it's important to not do anything that could potentially undo or setback recovery,” he said.

But recovery isn’t one-size-fits-all. Primiano said younger dogs may heal faster but are often harder to restrict, while older dogs may be slower to recover but naturally more sedentary.

Safe Ways to Keep Dogs Active Post-Surgery

While Charlie eventually broke the rules and made his way onto the couch, Parrack said the hardest part of the recovery has been keeping Charlie calm enough to protect his knee as it heals. He still acts like a puppy and wants to play constantly.

Primiano said owners should first clarify with their veterinarian exactly what level of activity restriction their dog’s surgery requires. He said unless it is orthopedic surgery, leash walking is usually safe, as long as they don’t take off running.

“You can also do some scent training around the house, as well as puzzle feeders to help keep them enriched during the rest period,” he said.

Providing dogs with mental stimulation can help prevent boredom and frustration that can build when physical activity is limited.

Ultimately, Primiano said, the goal is to allow healing to progress without interruption, even when a dog appears ready to return to normal life sooner than expected.

“You have to remember that you and your dog are going to be much happier in the long run if you don’t go back to normal routines before being fully healed,” he said. “Repeating the surgery or going to the emergency room due to complications is stressful, expensive, and frustrating.”

As for Charlie, Parrack said his surgery was successful. He will be four weeks post-op this Wednesday, and he has been “in great spirits and feeling so much better.”

Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Rebecca Flood and Gray R. Thomas

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This story was originally published June 30, 2026 at 3:33 PM.