How to Care for Dogs After Spaying Surgery
Signs a Dog's Surgical Incision is Infected, Caring for Spayed Dogs
Jan 23, 2009
Often, getting a dog "fixed" with a spay or neuter surgery is the first time a new dog owner will have to care for a dog that's just undergone surgery.
Caring for a dog that's just had surgery and been under general anesthesia can make some dog owners uneasy and nervous. Knowing what to expect when a dog is spayed is the first step to helping the dog through the recovery process.
This article will focus on how to help a dog recover after getting spayed; the more invasive of the two procedures that are commonly used to "fix" a dog, cat or other pet.
How Do I Prepare My Dog for Surgery When She is Spayed?
Dog owners should prepare a dog for spaying surgery starting the night before the operation is scheduled. Food and water should be withheld after 8:00 p.m. the night before the dog is spayed; this will lessen the dog's chances of vomiting while under general anesthesia.
A dog who vomits while under anesthesia can aspirate (inhale into the lungs) the vomit, causing pneumonia or even death. So it's important to pull up any food and water bowls no later than 8:00 p.m.; this will ensure that any food and water in the dog's system has moved into the lower portion of the digestive system, making vomiting and aspiration much less likely.
In a vast majority of cases, the veterinarian will perform the spay operation fairly early in the day; this will allow ample time for the dog to recover from general anesthesia under the watchful eye of the veterinarian and his/her staff. Complications from spay or neuter operations are fairly uncommon, so most dogs are sent home the same day.
What is the Dog's Recovery Like After a Spay Operation? How Long Does it Take for the Dog to Recover from Surgery?
Since the spay procedure takes a bit longer, the dog is under general anesthesia for a bit longer; this makes the recovery process a bit more difficult, especially when combined with the fact that the actual surgery is more invasive and therefore, more traumatic for the body.
After a dog is spayed, she will typically require about 24 hours to recover from the general anesthesia. When a dog is brought home from the veterinarian's office after being spayed, it's common to see the following behaviors:
- Grogginess
- Lethargy
- Sleeping (more than usual)
- A Lack of Balance
- Little/No Appetite
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Bathroom Accidents
- Aggression (usually toward other pets)
These symptoms are usually temporary, and most will disappear by morning.
When the dog arrives home after getting spayed, it's best to keep her isolated from other pets; a dog who is disoriented due to anesthesia and experiencing pain and discomfort due to the operation is more likely to snap or bite at another pet or even a child.
After spaying surgery, the dog will need to urinate more frequently due to the IV fluids that were received during the operation. It's important to bring the dog outside every couple hours in anticipation of the dog's bathroom needs, as a dog that's just emerged from anesthesia will sleep heavily; the dog may even urinate in bed without realizing it.
The evening after the dog is spayed, she can be offered a small meal. Some dogs will opt to eat, others will refuse the food. Upset stomach is common after general anesthesia, so offering a bland homemade dog food like rice with plain, skinless chicken or boiled hamburger meat will encourage the dog to eat while limiting any upset to the dog's stomach.
Special Care for a Dog After Spaying Surgery
Spaying a dog is fairly invasive, since the veterinary surgeon must cut through the abdominal muscles to access the dog's reproductive organs. This means that the recovery and healing process is longer and more painful for a female dog that's just been spayed.
It will take about 14 days for a dog to recover after she's spayed. To help promote recovery, dog owners should do the following:
- Limit Activity and Take Short Walks. The abdominal muscles and incision will need time to heal, so short leash walks for bathroom breaks only are recommended for a dog that's just been spayed.. Therefore, the dog must be kept quiet with leash walks only for 10 to 14 days after the surgery.
- Monitor the Incision. The incision for a female dog that's just been spayed will be several inches in length. It's a fairly large incision that must be closely monitored for any signs of infection, like swelling, redness or discharge. The incision will take between 10 to 14 days to heal after the dog is spayed.
- Clean the Incision 2-3 Times a Day. Dog owners must clean the incision several times a day using betadine, which can be poured over the dog's surgical incision or applied (generously) with sterile gauze to the incision and surrounding area. This will disinfect the incision and surrounding area. Allow the betadine to air dry.
- Keep the "Cone" On! After a dog is spayed, she will be sent home with an Elizabethan collar, also known as an "e-collar," "lampshade" or "cone." This will prevent the dog from licking the incision or biting the incision or stitches, as often occurs late in the healing process when the healing skin starts to itch. The "lampshade" must be kept on until the dog's stitches are removed about 14 days after the surgery.
More Help for an Owner of a Pet That's Had Surgery
To learn more about how male dogs are neutered, read How Do You Neuter a Dog?
Dog owners may also enjoy Post Surgery Incision Care for Pets and Post-Anesthesia Care for Dogs with learn tips on how to care for a dog after she's spayed.
 |
