Neuter surgery is common for dogs, and is performed for many reasons. Most often, it’s done to reduce aggression or prevent unwanted breeding.
In most cases, the recovery period after neutering can range from 7 to 14 days, depending on the complexity of the procedure and the speed of the healing process.
In order to prevent dogs from licking and biting their stitches, owners will make them wear a protective cone around their necks right after neutering.
Your dog’s surgical wound may not be healing fully seven days after neutering, so you may not be able to remove the cone.
Depending on your dog’s activity level and the way the incision is cared for, the recovery time will vary from as fast as 1 week to as long as 2 weeks.
Your vet will perform a review of your dog’s healing progress after a week and will determine whether your dog is fully recovered from the surgery. If all goes well, you can then remove the cone from your dog.
What to Do Within 24 Hours After Neutering?
You may find that your dog is confused, lethargic, and anxious after the procedure. Be gentle, but firm, and spend more time with him. It’s important to be patient and let your dog know that everything is okay.
Let him know that you are always there for him. Give your dog plenty of water and let him get some good rest. Keep your pet’s environment dimly lit and as quiet as possible.
Make sure you’ve got a comfortable crate at home for your dog. Your dog will need time to rest and recover.
Don’t leave your dog unattended, especially for the first 24 hours. It’s important to monitor the wound daily and keep a lookout for signs of infection such as redness, swelling, increased pain, fever, or discharge.
If your dog is showing signs of infection, contact your vet immediately.
Your dog may not want to eat anything for the first few days after surgery. There is a possibility that the medication and anesthesia will affect his appetite negatively.
Try to provide him with a mild liquid diet or a small amount of broth.
It’s important to keep your dog’s pain level as low as possible. The vet will usually prescribe a narcotic pain medication. These pills are powerful and can cause nausea and dizziness in him.
To prevent your dog from licking at the incision site, place a protective cone over his neck.
Is It Okay for My Dog to Sleep with a Cone On?
Your dog may find wearing a cone annoying at first, but after a few nights, he should adjust to it. The cones aren’t so hard that he has to strain his neck and head.
A cone is usually made from a soft plastic, which allows it to bend and fold comfortably, but doesn’t break easily. It’s also flexible enough to conform to your dog’s shape, and to allow him to walk, eat and sleep without difficulty.
Making your dog wear the cone over the night is important as you would certainly not want him to lick and bite the stitches when you are not there to supervise him.
Get an Elizabethan collar (E-collar) that fits well for your dog and make sure that it doesn’t slip off his head while he is walking or sleeping.
My Dog Won’t Wear Cones After Neutering
The following reasons may explain why your dog refuses to wear a cone after neutering.
Cone that is too tight.
The first thing you should do is to make sure the E-collar is NOT too tight. The collar should be loose enough that you can insert two fingers between it and your dog’s neck.
Choking by accident.
A dog that is uncomfortable wearing the cone may attempt to remove it, resulting in accidental choking. As a result, he may suffer distress from this.
So make sure that you keep a close watch on your dog when he starts wearing the cone for the first few hours to make sure that there is no “accident” happening.
A different cone might work for your dog.
Cones are available in a variety of materials, including plastic, soft fabric, and cervical. Consider trying a different cone with your vet’s advice if your dog does not like one specific E-collar.
How Long Will He Be in Pain After Neutering?
After a surgery, you can expect your dog to feel some degree of postoperative pain. This painful feeling can last for two to three days, and can vary from dog to dog, depending on their tolerance level towards pain.
Some dogs can handle the discomfort better than others. This is especially true with dogs that have more tolerance towards pain.
Dogo Argentino, for example, was originally bred primarily for dogfighting. They are known for their pain tolerance and willingness to fight until the end.
So, the first thing to do is to take a look at the signs that your dog is showing. A dog’s mood can change dramatically in the first 24 hours after neutering. This is particularly so if he is feeling discomfort after the operation.
Dogs with severe pain can show unusual aggression, trembling, shaking, a flattening of the ears, a slouched posture and crying.
If your dog is experiencing pain, you may want to consider a pain medication to help ease his discomfort.
Do You Need to Crate Your Neutered Dog?
The answer to this question depends entirely on how your dog behaves. Your dog may exhibit aggressive behavior once the effects of his pain medication wear off.
The pain and confusion your dog feels could cause him to lash out at you or at anyone else in the house. He may need to be crated in this situation.
In addition, your dog may accidentally harm himself as a result of aggression. It takes time for a dog’s stitches to heal and if these stitches are damaged by sudden movements, this can lead to infection.
Make sure a comfortable bed is lined inside the crate if you plan on using one. Don’t let your dog feel like the crate is a prison. Make it seem like a place where he can recuperate by making it cozy.