Can I bathe my dog 4 weeks after ACL surgery if she's healing well?

Exercise should be strictly limited for the first six weeks post surgery. To help guide you with Sunday's recovering, I will put a link to a website that details exactly what needs to be done in regards to exercise after this surgery. The first few weeks, Sunday will likely be toe tapping before moving on to gingerly putting weight on her leg. By six weeks post surgery, she should be using her leg without limping, but it will still be at least another six weeks before she is allowed to run, jump, or play. https://www.webvets.com/Resources/resource.php?Anterior-Cruciate-Ligament-Surgery-Post-Operative-Care-44

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. As long as there are no wounds it should be fine to bathe Brixy. If the legs are sore, you can place a towel or rubber mat down on the shower floor so that he does not slip. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Molly. No, you do not want to bathe her while her stitches are still in as her skin is not completely healed yet. I usually recommend waiting about 24-48 hours after the stitches have been removed. If she has soiled her suture site, then spot clean the area with a damp cloth. I hope this information helps!

For routine bathing, I recommend waiting at least 10-14 days, or until the skin appears visibly healed. If Princess has managed to get herself quite dirty prior to this, you may wipe the area clean with a soapy wet towel (mild hand-washing dishsoap such as Dawn works well) - it's important to keep the area around the incision clean while it's healing, but I would wait until the incision is totally healed before immersing her in water. Hope this helps!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your dog. If her mobility is back to normal, then it is fine for her to go up and down stairs. If this exercise seems to cause her any discomfort, then I would avoid it. However, it should not cause her any problems. I hope this information helps!

Thanks for visiting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I do see one little scabby area at the lower part of the incision, but otherwise it appears closed and healing well. Just to be on the safe side I would recommend waiting a full another 4-5 days before bathing to allow the scab to fall off. Continue to monitor this area for any discharge or separation of the skin. Also that swelling on the left side should be evaluated by your vet if it doesn’t resolve, just to make sure it isn’t another hernia. Mild suture reactions just below the skin can also cause swelling, which is usually firm and doesn’t depress when pushing down on it. I hope this helps and best wishes with your pet Aspen. Take care.

Many of my patients travel from out of town for surgery at my hospital, cruciate repairs included. As long as he doesn’t jump in and out of the car I don’t see any reason to withhold travel. Best of luck and I hope his recovery continues to do well. Thank you for using Pet Coach.