Recommendations for Open-Heart Surgery Post-Operative Activity

 The importance of post-surgery healing process 

For the first, second- and third-month post-op, you would have been given guidelines by your surgery team on what to avoid, what movement is acceptable and how much exercise your dog is recommended. It’s vital that given guidelines are followed to allow a successful healing process to take place. 

The first three months is the most crucial time in the healing process as the heart is remodeling itself. By helping your dog to eliminate certain movement you are supporting the foundations for a stronger healthier heart muscle. It is therefore essential that certain movement is avoided or eliminated from daily life and activities. By planning, preparing and preempting situations, you will make way for a successful healing process. This is not to take place of the advice of your dog’s Cardiologist. 

Surgery recovery postop month 1-3 

•Patients should be kept under strict rest.•No jumping up / No jumping down•No stairs•No abrupt starts and stops.•Please keep your pets separated from other animals in the home. This will avoidplay and other movement that may disrupt healing of repair.•Set up a pen area as this is a great way to keep dog at rest. This will ensure thedog stays calm and resting when you are not around.•Block off furniture - Please keep dog off bed/sofa, so your dog is not tempted tojump off.

Shampoo or grooming 

• No shampoo until 1month post-surgery.

• If skin/hair gets dirty, you may wipe him/her down with a wet towel.

Walking instructions 

• Specific instructions may be given depending on your dog’s post-op condition.

After 3 months: 

• keep dog on leash (even when in yard/garden/walks)

• Allow dogs to meet and greet in controlled environment.

• Begin walking your dog, on lead for 20-30 minutes twice per day.

• No running

• No Jumping

• No stairs

• No abrupt starts and stops.

• Please continue to keep dog off bed/sofa, do not allow them to jump off anyfurniture.

• No frantic play, No zoomies, no chasing wildlife, or animals

• You can allow gentle play interaction with other dogs.

After 6 months 

• Please continue to keep your dogs on lead during this time, due to risk of high energy play with other dogs.

• After 6 months, you may use a ramp when needed, in place of stairs.

• No wildlife and/or animal chases, avoid high energy play, avoid high energy dog sports such as agility.

Remember that you have made an incredible journey by choosing open-heart surgery for your beloved dog, so please take care of the repaired valve as best as you can so that you can enjoy quality time with your pup!

Please contact your surgical clinic for the latest updates in post-op care or if you have additional questions

The Mighty Hearts Project team