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Dr. Christopher James Wood, DVM (Dist), MS, BSc
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons (Small Animal)
Dr. Christopher Wood was born in London, England, moving to Sydney, Australia in 2009. Chris graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine with Distinction, after his recognition on the Dean’s Honours list in each year of his degree, and was one of only five recipients nationwide of the Australian Small Animal Veterinary Association Award for Clinical Proficiency.
During his final clinical year, Chris was selected to attend the West Arnhem Land Dog Health Program amongst remote Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory of Australia, as well as being selected as an Australian delegate for the International Symposium on Wildlife Utilization in South Africa, based out of the University of Pretoria and Kruger National Park.
En route to achieving his goal of becoming an American College of Veterinary Surgeons-Certified Veterinary Surgeon (Small Animal), Chris completed:
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a one-year Small Animal Rotating Internship,
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an extended, 19-month Small Animal Specialty Surgical Internship
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and a three-year Small Animal Surgical Residency, including additional education in
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Advanced Techniques in Small Animal Fracture Management and
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Small Animal Thoracoscopy and Advanced Small Animal Laparoscopy.
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What can I expect at my first appointment?If this is your first visit, please arrive 5–10 minutes early to complete the necessary paperwork. We recommend planning to spend at least one hour at the hospital. If your pet requires diagnostic testing, they may need to stay with us for a few hours. Any questions that you have will be incorporated into a discussion on all aspects of your pet’s planned care, including diagnostics, surgery, and aftercare. You will receive an itemized estimate for the entire treatment plan, including all recommended diagnostics, surgical procedures, hospitalization, and post-operative care.
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Will my pet be sedated during their visit?We may recommend sedation to perform advanced imaging, such as diagnostic X-rays or a CT scan. Sedation allows us to obtain high-quality images at precise angles on the first attempt and helps ensure your pet remains comfortable throughout the procedure. For safety, your pet should be fasted prior to sedation to minimize the risk of aspiration. If your pet has not been fasted, we may need to reschedule imaging for a later date.
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Fasting Instructions (PLEASE READ)To ensure your pet’s safety during sedation or anesthesia, it is very important to follow these fasting guidelines: No food after 10:00 PM the night before the consult. No breakfast or snacks on the morning of the consult. Water is allowed overnight and on the morning of the consult. Exceptions: Young puppies and kittens (generally under 4 months for most breeds, or under 6 months for toy breeds such as Chihuahuas or Toy Poodles) should not be fasted. If you are unsure whether your pet should be fasted, please contact us before your appointment.
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When can my pet eat after being sedated?Most pets can safely eat once they are fully awake, alert, and able to walk steadily—typically a few hours after sedation. We recommend starting with half of their normal meal. If they tolerate this without vomiting or signs of nausea, the remaining portion can be offered later, and their regular feeding routine can resume.
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When will surgery be scheduled?If surgery is elected, it will typically be scheduled for a Tuesday or Wednesday, depending on availability. We aim to book your pet’s procedure at the earliest opportunity, but please note that surgery slots are limited. This allows our team to accommodate emergency surgical transfers from our Emergency Department and, more importantly, enables me to maintain a high standard of postoperative care—even after your pet has gone home. This approach ensures I can remain available for photo incision checks, email follow-up, and complementary recheck appointments during your pet’s recovery. By limiting the number of scheduled procedures, we’re able to provide more attentive and personalized care—including timely updates, accessible communication, and comprehensive aftercare support.
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What happens on the day of surgery and during hospitalisation?Your pet must be fasted prior to surgery—no food after 10:00 PM the night before, and no breakfast or snacks on the morning of surgery. Water is allowed. Please plan to drop your pet off at 7:00 AM on the day of surgery. Throughout your pet’s stay, you will receive regular updates from me and the surgical team: A pre-surgery call from me on the day of the procedure A follow-up call approximately 2–4 hours later, once your pet has recovered from anesthesia and is breathing on their own A morning call the next day with an overnight update and to schedule a discharge time that works with your availability If your pet remains hospitalized for more than one night, I will provide two updates per day: A morning update with their progress and the plan for the day An evening update summarizing how they’ve done and what to expect over the next 12 hours
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Week 1 - Strict confinement indoorsShort leash walks only for toileting. Use sling support if needed. No stairs, running, jumping, or off-leash activity. Begin gentle rehab exercises (e.g., passive ROM, balance drills), 3×/day.
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Week 2 - Suture RemovalShort leash walks only for toileting. Use sling support if needed. No stairs, running, jumping, or off-leash activity. Begin gentle rehab exercises (e.g., passive ROM, balance drills), 3×/day.
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Week 3 - Milestone WeekBegin controlled leash walks: 5 minutes, 3×/day. No off-leash activity, or rough play Stairs still restricted. Continued in-home exercises; introduce light weight-bearing challenges.
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Week 4Leashed walks increased to 10 minutes, 3×/day. May progress to longer leash or flexi-leash. Stairs and off-leash activity still restricted. Exercises increase in difficulty (e.g., curb walking, high stepping).
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Week 5Walks increased to 15 minutes, 3×/day. Still no off-leash activity. Introduction of sideways walking, plank squats. Continue progressive strengthening and proprioception.
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Week 6 - Milestone WeekWalks increased to 20 minutes. Short periods of off-leash time allowed in a controlled, fenced area at the end of walks. Stairs may be permitted pending surgical clearance. Reduce rehab sessions to 1–2×/day.
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Week 7Walks increased to 25 minutes. More off-leash time allowed, still in a confined space. Stairs remain supervised and controlled. More complex balance and strength activities (e.g., crawling, unsteady squats, walk around).
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Week 8 - X-ray & Clearance WeekWalks: 30 minutes + more off-leash time. Stairs formally introduced as an exercise. No running, rough play, or off-leash in public/unfenced areas yet.
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Week 9Unlimited leash walking. Continue controlled off-leash time. Hill work and obstacle courses introduced.
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Week 10Trotting introduced, gradually during walks. Continue structured play (ball toss, tug-of-war) with care. Still no full-speed running, jumping, or sport activity.
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Week 11Maintain trotting. Add jumping up, high squats, trot poles, and balance & speed drills on unsteady surfaces. Progress: ball toss and tug on more challenging terrain.
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Week 12Add jumping over, 1-leg balance, and see-saw balance work. Maintain trotting, high squats, and balance-speed routines. Final transition toward normal activity, no restrictions indoors, but no full-speed sport yet.
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How long does my pet need to stay on the prescribed medications, especially if they seem to be feeling better?The answer depends on the type of medication: Pain medication is prescribed based on your pet’s specific surgery and individual needs. While the full course is intended to be completed, if your pet appears comfortable at home, we can discuss the option of tapering or discontinuing these medications early. Antibiotics and other systemic medications should be given for the entire prescribed course, even if your pet seems to be improving. Stopping early can contribute to relapse or resistance. Trazodone (or other calming/sedation medications) MUST be continued until your pet is fully healed. This typically means until stitch removal for soft tissue procedures, or for orthopedic patients, until bone healing is confirmed with follow-up X-rays.
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How long until the incision is fully healed?We schedule your pet’s postoperative recheck for the time we expect the incision to be fully healed. This timeline may be adjusted based on how your pet is doing in the days following surgery. For dogs, incisions are generally healed within 10–14 days For cats, we recommend a longer period of 14–21 days due to differences in skin blood supply At the recheck appointment, we will examine the incision and remove any non-absorbable sutures or staples, if healing is satisfactory. Once this recheck is completed, and the incision is confirmed to be healed, your pet no longer needs to wear their Elizabethan collar (E-collar, “cone of shame,” etc.). We do recommend monitoring your pet closely for a few days after the recheck, in case they start licking or scratching at the incision. If that occurs, the E-collar should be used for a few additional days.
Contact
Consult Hours
Monday
10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Thursday
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Address
2616 Bank St, Ottawa,
Ontario, K1T 1M9, CANADA
Your pet should be fasted (water is okay) the morning of their appointment. This allows safer sedation for any further imaging that may be required (orthopedic planning x-rays, imaging for cancer spread [chest, abdomen, or lymph nodes], or 3D imaging for bone deformities or cancer removal. I see myself as "a pet parent, with additional surgical knowledge and training" and look to guide you through the options and help make the overall best decision for your family member.
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