Taking Care of Dog After Spaying

When you are caring for a dog after a spaying, keep in mind that this surgery carries similar risks to other abdominal surgeries. Your dog's incision should be monitored closely for signs of infection or bleeding. In addition, the dog's overall demeanor should be observed, especially during the week following surgery, to make sure there are no signs (fever and lethargy, for example) of internal infections. Cared for properly, most dogs recover without serious complications.

Although it is one of the most common surgeries performed by veterinarians, spaying comes with risks. During this procedure, the female dog's abdomen must be opened to remove her uterus and ovaries. The incision is not large in a normal spaying, but there is risk of infection or bleeding. Observing the incision and your dog's general demeanor allows you to catch signs of infection before it leads to serious complications.

Your dog will need rest and extra attention after her spaying. Make sure she does not run and, especially, not jump until the incision has begun to heal. Your dog might lick at the incision. This is acceptable unless she is persistent. Her licking can irritate the area, and she might bite at the stitches. If this happens, you may need to get a plastic protective collar for her. These collars may be available at your veterinarian's office. Feed your dog her normal diet, unless your vet advises otherwise

Check the incision at least once a day for redness, fluid or increased inflammation. It usually takes at least one week for the incision to have healed enough for normal activity. Complete healing will take longer--how long depends on the individual dog. For the first day or two after surgery, your dog may sleep a lot and have little appetite. If this persists longer than two days, you should call the vet.

Some redness and swelling around the incision are normal immediately following the spaying. If redness and swelling worsen or are accompanied by pus or bleeding, consult the vet's office. Do this also if your dog does not regain her appetite, develops a fever, vomits or develops diarrhea.

Hyper dogs may need to be crated for a day or so after surgery to prevent jumping and running. Like humans, emotional care is an essential part of helping a dog heal. Speak to her with comforting tones and assure her with your presence. She won't understand what has happened to her. She will only know she is in pain and may be frightened by it. Avoid scolding her or exposing her to other stressful things until she is fully healed.