6 practical ways to care for your dog after neutering

As a pet owner, you are probably very familiar with the necessity to spay or neuter your pet dog. Not only will it help you with your dog’s future training endeavors, but it will also help protect the domestic dog as a species, and eliminate several different health concerns.

The spaying and neutering procedures are relatively routine these days, with more and more people understanding the importance of this step in their dog’s life. However, with any surgical procedure, your dog will need to go through a recovery period. 

While your dog is recovering you can still spend lots of quality time with them. You can pick up a few professional grooming tools, like dog nail clippers, to ensure that during recovery your dog is still being pampered. Keeping your dog’s nails trimmed will help you avoid having your dog scratch and pull out stitches. 

Here are six practical tips to remember to care for your dog after neutering or spaying.

1. Rest and recuperate 

The week after your dog’s surgery, you will have to make every effort to keep life low key. If your dog is a puppy, and he or she probably is, this may be quite difficult. Puppies are notorious as being balls of energy. 

Your dog may cause harm to himself if you allow too much physical activity after spaying or neutering, so try and keep things as low key as possible to prevent injury. 

2. Check for signs of infection

You must check for any signs of infection, and call your veterinarian if you notice anything out of the ordinary. Your pet could have sutures that you can see on their skin and around the wound. 

Keep an eye out for redness and swelling of any kind. It’s not uncommon for a dog to develop an infection after the operation, so if you notice anything odd call you vet immediately. 

3. Prevent licking and chewing

Your dog may try to lick the stitches, or even chew on them. If this is the case, talk to your veterinarian about placing an Elizabethan collar on your dog. These are a common protection measure for dogs and have an extremely high success rate. Another option, use an inflatable collar.

E-collars can be uncomfortable and irritating for your dog so it’s best to use them when other options fail. These collars will ensure that the wound is less likely to get inflamed or infected so it is usually recommended for fussy or sensitive dogs.

4. Try a belly wrap

Another smart way to prevent damage post-surgery is to pick up a belly wrap or some protective clothing to shield the wound. There are vet-approved skincare products that are very effective for post-surgery protection. 

They aid in the healing process and will provide light relief for most irritation. They also significantly reduce the likelihood of licking or biting the wound. 

5. Check the odor

One thing that many pet owners forget is that their dog can get smelly. Most vets will restrict bathing after surgery for up to 14 days. This time is essential for the wound to heal correctly, but it can cause your dog to smell foul.

Because your dog will be unable to groom himself, you also may notice general smelliness around your dogs’ private areas, which can become mildly unsettling for some pet owners. Just remember, this problem is temporary.

Remember if your dog has a yeasty or putrid odor post-surgery, that could be a sign of infection. If in doubt ask your veterinarian for advice. 

6. Distract your dog

The key to successful recovery post-opt is to keep your dog distracted from the surgical site. You’ll also have to keep your dog calm to avoid having him tear out the stitches and prolong the healing process. Take your dog for easy walks, but try to keep your dog from jumping on or off furniture. 

When you take your dog out, be sure to keep him on a leash to control his movements. You also may want to crate your dog when you are not home to supervise him.

Check your dog’s stitches throughout the day to make sure they remain intact.

Care for your dog after neutering or spaying to ensure speedy healing

The good news is most dogs recover quickly after they are spayed or neutered. Follow these six helpful tips to care for your dog after neutering or spaying and ensure a speedy recovery.

Amy Davis loves her pets. She has a diverse variety including two cats, one dog, three rabbits, two guinea pigs, a rat, and a beautiful macaw. She loves writing about everything pet-related and spends as much time as she can sharing her personal experiences on her blog Ultimate Pet Hub.

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