Wanted to gather my thoughts so far on tips from someone in week 2.

• medication schedules can get complex. Take a look at all meds and when they need to be taken. Make a plan that takes into account your bedtime and when you wake up
• My dog had major issues with going #2 for days after the surgery (which is expected). The issue is when things get started things can get messy. I took to wiping my dog’s butt for a couple of days and it made a huge difference in mess
• hand lotion / good soap / gloves. Trying to keep an incision clean meant I was washing my hands constantly be prepared for this and take care of your hands (mine started to crack and dry out)
• if you have a reactive dog you really need to plan. I had to disable my door bell and hang a sign on my front door to stop people from knocking. My neighborhood has tons of dogs so for every visit outside I had to look out windows and find a quiet time to go out.
• if you can take time off of work. The first 3-4 days can be intense. The first week is exhausting. Second week things start to calm down.
• don’t be afraid of sedatives. This is the only thing keeping my dog still. Your vet van help you here.
• keep things clean. Wash all bedding and blankets before surgery. Have backups ready. Messes happen.
• keep an eye out for eye crustys. My dog usually grooms himself every morning. While recovering he could not. I would take extra time to clean parts of him that he could not.
• setup a support network. Find those other animal lovers in your life and let them know what’s going on. Having someone to vent/laugh/cry with can help