Liver Shunt Surgery Aftercare Instructions
A day-by-day recovery guide for liver shunt surgery: what to expect, how to care for yourself, and when to call. Free to read and print.
Liver Shunt Surgery recovery, day by day
Post-Surgery
- Your pet will be groggy from anesthesia. Keep them confined in a warm, quiet space.
- Offer water in small amounts 4-6 hours after surgery
- Do NOT feed until your vet gives the okay (usually 12-24 hours post-surgery)
- E-collar on at all times. Give pain medication as directed.
Monitoring
- Introduce bland diet in VERY small amounts (1-2 tablespoons every 2-3 hours)
- Check incision twice daily
- Monitor for vomiting. Any vomiting after starting food: stop and call us.
- Continue all medications on schedule
Recovery
- Gradually transition from bland diet to regular food over 5-7 days
- Incision should be improving each day
- Suture check and removal at 10-14 days
- Gradually increase activity as tolerated
When to call your provider or 911
- •Excessive bleeding from the incision that doesn't stop
- •Incision opens, separates, or has pus/foul odor
- •Your pet is extremely lethargic or unresponsive
- •Persistent vomiting or diarrhea for more than 12 hours
- •Difficulty breathing or blue/pale gums
- •Refusal to eat or drink for more than 24 hours after surgery
- •Collapse or inability to stand
- •Persistent vomiting after starting food
- •Bloody stool or black tarry stool
- •Abdomen appears distended or painful
When in doubt, call your clinic. For a medical emergency, call 911.
Recovery milestones
- Day 3
Eating normally
Tolerating bland diet without vomiting
- Day 14
Incision check
Verify clean healing, suture removal
- Day 14
Expected recovery
Resume normal activity and diet
For clinics
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