WEEKS THREE AND FOUR 

Important: To move onto this recovery phase, your pet’s incision must be healed and remain healed. If you see them licking or chewing at their incision, then you must put their cone back on and contact your veterinarian if you have any concerns.  

 

Primary goals for weeks 3-4: 

• Prevent muscle stiffness  

• Begin short outdoor walks 

 

• Week 3 after surgery: 

  • Continue performing weight shifting exercises frequently throughout the day in your pet’s recovery zone.  

  • Begin outside leash walks with the goal for this week being to go for duration walk of 5-minute length and the remaining walks kept to 3-5 minutes 

• Week 4 after surgery: 

  • If your pet tolerated the previous week, then you may begin to extend their leash walks with the goal for this week being to go for duration walks of 8–10-minute length and the remaining walks kept to 3-5 minutes 

  • As we begin to extend leash walks, it becomes common for episodes of muscular strains and set back. If this occurs, then let your pet rest (no duration walks) and use anti-inflammatory medication. Contact your veterinarian if you ever have concerns, or if the setback lasts longer than 3 days with appropriate rest. 

  • Continue performing weight shifting exercises frequently throughout the day in your pet’s recovery zone. 

 

Four-week check-in:  Send a video of your pet walking and detailed progress update (as it relates to the points mentioned above) to Dr. Lynch. 

• Progress updates should include the daily exercises you are performing (frequency and duration), walk duration and frequency, any potential set-backs you have encountered and how you feel your pet has been progressing.

 

Allow up to three business days for response – Do not continue to recovery weeks 5-6 until you have been directed by Dr. Lynch or his nurse to do so. 

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