Keep pets appropriately active following surgery

You've probably been through this thought process when recovering from illness or surgery: "Wow, I feel so much better than I did, I must be well now!" But you're not. And neither are pets who also have the urge to return to normal activity when recovering, says CVC-now Fetch-speaker David Dycus, DVM, MS, DAVS-SA.

More about recovery

Take a look at these postoperative enrichment techniques for pets from Dr. Ellen Lindell.

Read three remarkable stories of veterinary rehab recovery.

"It's not the one or two times where they're maybe a little too active or they do a little too much, but it's more the repetitive aspect of things," he says.

So, jumping off the couch a couple times-not so bad; resuming active routine-not so much. In this video Dr. Dycus explains why exercise restriction is important during this critical time and offers suggestions for how clients can maintain their normal closeness with pets while not putting them at risk for postoperative complications.