After a procedure, many pets show some discomfort as anesthesia wears off and the incision site settles. Green Valley Animal Hospital wants owners to separate expected post-op soreness from pain that needs a phone call, then use one locked number: (916) 933-0527.
Expected soreness vs "this is not settling"
Discharge sheets often describe mild reluctance to jump, a quieter evening, or guarding when the area is touched. Those signs can be part of recovery when they trend milder over the first day or two and match what your veterinarian wrote down. Unexpected patterns include pain that escalates after a calm stretch, vocalizing that does not ease with rest, or sudden inability to get comfortable in positions that were fine earlier. Compare what you see to your printed instructions—not to a generic internet timeline.
Build a pain log before worry fills the gaps
A simple notebook beats guessing:
- Time of last dose from the hospital (if any was sent home—follow that label only)
- Resting vs moving behavior every few hours
- Incision look: swelling, heat, discharge, or licking that breaks the barrier
- Any trembling, panting at rest, or refusal to lie on a preferred side
Bring the log if you call. It helps the team triage without asking you to diagnose.
Red-flag pain patterns: call
Phone (916) 933-0527 promptly if you see:
- Pain that worsens after an initial improvement window
- Collapse, extreme lethargy, or pale gums with discomfort
- Incision opening, heavy bleeding, or rapidly expanding swelling
- Uncontrolled licking that damages sutures despite an e-collar
- Vocalizing, aggression when touched near the site, or inability to settle overnight
Do not add human pain tablets, neighbor leftover meds, or dose changes based on a blog. Prescribing belongs to the veterinary team after they hear the history.
Discharge-sheet questions that keep aftercare concrete
Ask at pickup (or on the call):
- Which comfort signs are expected for this procedure type?
- Which pain behaviors should trigger a same-day call versus a next-morning check-in?
- How should the e-collar, ice/heat guidance, and activity limits interact with soreness?
- Who answers after hours if pain spikes overnight?
Those questions stay educational. They do not replace an exam when red flags appear, and they are distinct from pee/poop clocks or car-sickness prep covered elsewhere.
Owners sometimes worry that calling "too early" wastes the team's time. Early calls about escalating pain are appropriate—especially when the discharge sheet already flagged those patterns. Waiting overnight solely to avoid a phone conversation can turn a simple adjustment into a harder recovery. When in doubt, dial the locked number and describe the log.
Contact Green Valley Animal Hospital
For post-op pain questions in El Dorado Hills, contact Green Valley Animal Hospital at 321 Green Valley Rd, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762. Call (916) 933-0527
Call (916) 933-0527 ((916) 933-0527). We will not text you from this page.