What is an important aspect of postoperative support?

Thermal support is crucial in postoperative care as it helps in maintaining the animal's body temperature within a normal range, which can be significantly affected by anesthesia and surgical procedures. After surgery, animals may experience hypothermia, leading to complications such as increased susceptibility to infection, delayed recovery, and prolonged anesthesia effects. Providing thermal support, such as warming blankets or heated pads, ensures that the animal's metabolic processes function optimally and aids in faster recovery.

While factors like nutrition, physical therapy, and behavioral assessment are also important in overall postoperative care, they play different roles. Nutrition supports healing and recovery in the long term, physical therapy helps restore mobility and strength, and behavioral assessment addresses the animal's psychological well-being. In the immediate postoperative period, thermal support is particularly vital for stabilizing the patient and facilitating a safe recovery.