Taking care of your female dog after she has been spayed requires some extra attention and consideration on your part.
In the same way that a human woman needs time to heal after uterine surgery, female dogs require time to heal as well.
When Can My Dog Play After Being Spayed
Veterinarians typically recommend at least 10 days of rest for your dog after spaying. Therefore, you should avoid playing with your dog during her recuperation period.
In fact, there should be absolutely NO physical activity with your dog at all till the day 3 checkup is being carried out by your vet.
Once this checkup is over, you can take your dog for a daily short leisurely leash walk but keep the walk under 15 minutes. You will be asked to return for a follow-up examination on day 10 by your vet.
During this time, avoid all vigorous activities that could make your dog jump and run, such as playing fetch, flirt poles, chasing bubbles or running off-leash, as these activities can disrupt the healing process and result in a swollen scrotum or fluid accumulation.
After the day 10 review by your vet, he will check the area again, evaluate the healing process and make the necessary recommendation.
If your veterinarian finds that the healing process is going smoothly, you can resume full activity with your dog.
Below are the general guidelines for spay and neuter recovery time for a dog:
Size and age tend to influence recovery time more than other factors.
- Spaying is a much more complicated abdominal procedure than neutering. Thus, male dogs tend to heal more quickly than females. There are some neutered males who may seem as though nothing has changed.
- A longer recovery period is usually associated with larger, older dogs. Usually, dogs return to their usual self in two to three days following spaying and one to two days following neutering.
- A dog over the age of three may take one or two extra days to recover from surgery.
- It is not uncommon for older dogs (over six) to take as long as a week after the spay or neuter procedure to resume their normal behavior.
- Generally, smaller dogs recover faster and there is also a lower risk of bleeding following surgery in smaller dogs.
How Far Can My Dog Run After She’s Spayed
Every dog is different, and each needs different levels of exercise. Therefore, there is no right answer.
When your dog has healed after 10 days, she will be able to run as far as she is normally able to before she had been spayed.
Occasionally, it might be the emotional side of your dog that makes her inclined toward laziness and unwilling to take longer walks than she usually would.
It could be some physical discomfort such as joint pain or paw injuries that hinder her movement and make her less willing to run.
Changes in Behavior After Spaying and Neutering
Spaying or neutering a dog will not change a dog’s fundamental personality, but there will be changes such as:
- Neutered males exhibit more behavioral changes. There is less tendency for them to jump on people, other dogs, and inanimate objects after being neutered.
- It’s likely that male dogs will wander less and mark less urination, and their aggression will also diminish.
- The behavior of females rarely changes, though some may become lazier.
- Spaying and neutering can reduce activeness in dogs of both sexes, but this is not necessarily true in all cases.
- While male dogs’ sex hormone levels will diminish after surgery, it’s still important to remember that some males may still exhibit full-testosterone male behaviors, and they can still get their female pets pregnant during this period (This may take up to six weeks).
- Following spaying and neutering, some dogs’ appetites become more excessive, and this can also lead to their weight gain. You need to plan for this change and adjust their feeding regimen accordingly.
What Can You Do for Your Dog During Her Recuperation Period
During your pet’s recovery stage, it is extremely important to make sure she gets adequate rest to ensure a quick recovery. What can you do to make your pup slow down?
Here are some tips:
Keep your dog’s activity to a minimum, and you do the work.
In light of that, you should avoid making your dog move around the house. Hand carry her whenever she needs to climb up and down the stairs or go through any obstacles.
If your dog is a big size, you will just have to fence off certain areas that you want her to stay away from.
Limit her activity areas.
When you are not around to keep an eye on your dog, you don’t want her wandering about the house. You should confine your dog to a small area.
A playpen, small room, or baby gate can be used as alternatives to the crate.
You should keep your dog on a short leash at all times when she is out of the house.
There is no way to avoid potty breaks during her recovery stage, and you can’t just leave the door open and let your pet run around outside.
You should not only use a leash to keep your dog in check during her potty, but also make sure it’s short enough to prevent her from wandering off.
A room with outside views to ease her anxiety.
While it may not be possible for your dog to run around during her recovery phase, placing her in a small room that comes with a clear view of the outdoors will help to alleviate her loneliness.
Mental simulation exercise to keep her entertained.
Engage your dog in mentally stimulating activities instead of running around. This will keep her mind in shape.
In addition to food dispensing toys, you can also consider interactive toys for your pup or anything that helps her learn problem-solving skills while working for her food or treats.
Alternatively, you can devote some time to teaching your dog some simple obedience commands that don’t need much movement.
Taking Care of Your Dog’s Post-Surgery Incision (What to Lookout For)
Vets have a wide range of options when it comes to placing “skin glue” on your dog’s stitches.
The most common types are silk, nylon, or metal, and they typically need to be removed by a veterinarian after fourteen days.
It is extremely important not to let your dog’s stitches get wet. There should be no baths or playing in the rain or water, and no lying down on wet grass.
You should also make your dog wear a protective cone around his neck to prevent him from biting and licking on the stitches.
As the wound heals, swelling, redness, or hard tissue may appear. While you shouldn’t be worried about these signs, if you notice any bleeding or discharge, see your veterinarian immediately.
You should restrict your dog from all activities after she has had this major surgery for fourteen days. Being inactive means your dog cannot run around or get into the water or be left unattended.
If you are unable to watch your pet, you should place her in a crate or in a small room.
Always provide your dog with mental stimulation to prevent her from feeling bored or hyperactive during her 14 days of recovery journey.