Having your dog sterilized is a socially responsible action. Removing the uterus means that it will not be able to contract a bacterial infection called pyometra, and if sterilization is carried out before its second heat, it has a protective effect against the development of breast cancer at an older age. However, having any animal undergo surgery can be nerve-wracking. The care you give your dog after the operation can reduce the risk of postoperative complications and facilitate healing.
Steps
Part 1 of 6: Going to Get the Dog after the Surgery
Step 1. Arrange for the transportation of the dog
Your dog will not be able to go home until he stands on his own paws and is unable to walk. This does not mean, however, that he has to walk home. If the dog is small, carry it in your arms, if it is large, organize to carry it.
The vet may observe the dog all night if she still appears out of phase due to the sedatives she has been given or is unable to walk on her own
Step 2. Ask a friend to accompany you
Bring a friend with you when you go to the clinic to pick up the dog. It is often difficult to remember the instructions when you are anxious to see your furry companion again. Your friend can offer you extra support to listen to instructions you may forget in the rush of the moment.
A friend can also hold doors open for you and assist you when you put the dog in the car and get him out
Step 3. Make a note of any questions that come to mind so that you can ask the vet when you arrive at the clinic
Most clinics offer comprehensive verbal and written instructions that describe what to do after your dog has had surgery. Before arriving at the clinic, it is also a good idea to write down any questions you can think of about post-operative care.
Writing down the questions and discussing each of them with your vet could help you feel more prepared to care for your dog
Part 2 of 6: Taking Care of the Dog Immediately after the Surgery
Step 1. Keep the dog's environment calm and peaceful
When you bring your dog home, she will need peace and quiet to rest and heal. Do not schedule the surgery the same day you organized a big party complete with dinner at home, as having a large number of people around will not be relaxing for your dog.
You should also avoid inviting people over to visit your dog. While she will surely be happy to see these people, their presence will also arouse in her the desire to get up and move when she should be resting
Step 2. Stay at home for 24 hours after the dog's surgery
Many wonder if they should stay at home with the dog for days after the surgery. It is not needed; however, it is a good idea to stay home for the first 24 hours after the surgery to make sure that the dog is eating, alert, relieving himself and not suffering too much.
- If anything happens that worries you during these first 24 hours, always call your vet for advice.
- If you have no choice but to leave the house, consider calling a trusted person to take care of the dog during your absence, explaining in detail what to do.
Step 3. Prepare your dog a light meal after the surgery
In the evening, after the effect of the anesthetic has gradually started to wear off, you can feed her. However, make her a light meal instead of her normal food ration. The anesthetic can cause nausea in some dogs, and eating a full meal could make the animal vomit.
- Consider a small portion of chicken breast, rabbit, turkey or cod cooked with a little white rice or pasta.
- Alternatively, you could purchase food that is suitable for dogs with nausea problems. These specific foods include brands like Hills ID or Purina EN.
Step 4. Return to your normal diet the day after the surgery
It is a good idea to get your dog used to normal food again the following day. Keep in mind that it is normal for a dog who has undergone surgery not to defecate for 2-3 days.
Step 5. In the days following the surgery, try to leave the dog alone for only four hours at a time
During the first 3-4 days after surgery, you can leave the dog alone for four hours at a time. This time will allow your dog to sleep and rest, but will also help you be close enough to spot any problems that may arise.
Consult the section dedicated to helping a dog in pain to find out the signs to look for
Step 6. Reduce checks after 4-5 days
Assuming there have been no serious complications up to this point, your dog should be fine when you leave her home alone. After that, it's just a matter of giving her time to heal until the stitches are removed, 10-14 days after the surgery.
Part 3 of 6: Prevent the Dog Licking the Wound
Step 1. Keep the bandage in place for 24 hours
Some clinics send the patient home with a patch that covers the incision. Leaving the patch in place for 24 hours promotes healing to protect the wound from bacterial infections.
Some clinics no longer use these types of patches because removing them can irritate the dog's skin
Step 2. Get an "Elizabethan collar" to prevent the dog from licking his wound
Do not let your dog or other animals lick the incision, as this carries a high risk of infection and breaking the sutures. To prevent your dog from licking himself, there are various cone-shaped collars, which take various names as they resemble an Elizabethan ruff, lampshade or bottomless bucket. Most of them are made of clear plastic.
- Choose a collar of the right size. The narrow end of the collar is positioned around the dog's neck and is held in place by the normal collar. The wider end of the cone-shaped collar should protrude 5-7 cm beyond the dog's nose, so that it stands between the dog and the wound.
- Alternatively, you can get an inflatable cervical collar to keep the dog from turning his head. This type of collar looks a lot like an inflatable life buoy and adheres to the dog's neck.
Step 3. If you have other dogs, have your dog wear an old t-shirt
If you have several dogs, anyone could try to lick your recovering dog's wound. To prevent this from happening, find a large enough t-shirt that covers the entire body of the dog up to where the incision was made, and leave it on for 10-14 days. Cotton t-shirts are fine because they are very breathable.:
- Pull the shirt over your dog's head and insert the front paws into each sleeve. Lower the shirt to cover the incision and tie it to allow her to walk. If the shirt is long enough, you could also make two holes in the bottom for the hind legs to pass.
- If the shirt gets dirty, replace it with a clean one.
Part 4 of 6: Caring for the Dog's Wound
Step 1. Check the incision in the morning and in the evening
Look at the engraving but don't touch it. A healing wound should be dry, with no fluid leaking. As part of the healing process, the wound edges may swell slightly, which helps keep them together.
Step 2. Look out for signs of infection
Watch for signs of heat, swelling, or discharge from the wound. Contact the veterinarian immediately in case of blood or pus leaking from the incision. Most of the time, the blood comes from a small blood vessel that filters into the subcutaneous layer of adipose tissue and does not imply the presence of significant internal bleeding, but in any case call the veterinarian to make sure it is not serious.
Similarly, pus is usually a sign of a superficial infection in the skin or just below it instead of an infection coming from the abdomen. However, the dog may need to take antibiotics to treat the infection so as not to delay the healing of the wound
Step 3. Wash the incision only if it gets dirty
Do not touch the incision unless your veterinarian advises you. However, if the dog goes out and gets his belly dirty with mud, it is possible to gently wash off the dirt from the incision. To do it:
Prepare a salt water solution (a teaspoon of salt, corresponding to 5 ml, mixed with about half a liter of previously boiled water and then left to cool until it reaches an acceptable temperature in contact with the skin). Dip cotton balls in the solution thus obtained, then gently pat the wound to remove dirt from the incision
Step 4. Make sure the dog bed is clean
If the wound is uncovered and exposed to the air, make sure the dog sleeps in a clean and dry bed, so that the wound does not become infected.
Part 5 of 6: Helping the Dog Rest As It Should
Step 1. Understand why rest is important
The principle of rest is to avoid anything that could strain the incision, increase blood pressure or detach the stitches. In an ideal world, rest means just that, rest. Lazing in bed, without climbing stairs, jumping or walking.
Step 2. Do not allow the dog to strain
This means no racing, Frisbee or ball games. It also means not running up and down stairs and not jumping up and down furniture. Consider getting a safety gate for the stairs (those used for children) for the entire period of the dog's convalescence, so that you can block access to the stairs.
If you have a large female dog who likes to sleep with you, don't let her go up the stairs to get to your bed. If you are concerned about her health, you can sleep downstairs on the sofa next to her
Step 3. Monitor your dog when he needs to do his business
Bring your dog into the yard with a collar and leash instead of letting him run around freely. Keeping him on a leash can help you control him and prevent him from getting hurt if he sees something he wants to fetch.
Step 4. Help the dog get in and out of the car
Do not let the dog jump in and out of the car. If necessary, when you go to pick up your dog at the veterinary clinic or take him somewhere else, have a friend accompany you to help you lift him, if he is a large breed, to get him in and out of the trunk.
Step 5. Keep your dog on a leash when you start walking him again
If your dog is giving the numbers and has so much energy inside of her that she is jumping from side to side, contact the clinic to find out if you can take her for a short walk. Always keep her on a leash during the walk.
Three or four days after the surgery you can consider taking the dog for a walk. Try to limit the duration of the walk to a maximum of five minutes on level ground
Step 6. Don't play violently with the dog
If you have other dogs in the house who want to fight with your convalescent dog, keep them under constant supervision so they can't jump on her. Don't play tug-of-war with your dog and don't play other games that require movement.
If you are worried about not being able to keep your other dogs in check, consider asking a friend to check on the dogs until your convalescent dog's stitches are removed
Step 7. If you have a particularly hyperactive dog, talk to your vet
If you have a hyperactive dog who absolutely refuses to stay calm despite all your best efforts, report this to the veterinary clinic. They may recommend a mild sedative to calm him down a bit.
Part 6 of 6: Helping the Dog Cope with Pain
Step 1. Give your dog the pain relievers your vet prescribes
As with any major surgical procedure, it is important to ensure that the patient is not in pain. Most clinics use a combination of pain relievers (an opioid and a non-steroidal drug) on the day of surgery, and send the dog home with an oral pain reliever that they must continue to take once at home.
- Keep in mind that some dogs are more sensitive and will feel more pain than others. On average, the length of time you need to take pain relievers is generally 4-5 days, but your dog may need more or less time.
- Do not take non-prescribed pain relievers without consulting your vet.
Step 2. Look for signs that your dog is in pain
Each dog reacts differently to pain; some make themselves heard and whine, while others retreat and try to hide. The normal symptoms of malaise are listed below:
- Restlessness: Walking with small steps, not being able to stop and sit down and then get up again can all be symptoms of a malaise.
- Emission of sounds: yelps. This is sometimes more an attempt to attract attention than a pain signal. Try to avoid paying undue attention to the dog when it whines; if he learns that he will not receive any rewards but continues to whine, he probably feels pain.
- Posture. A suffering dog often has an unhappy expression, lowered ears, sad eyes and a low head. The body is often curved and the dog may not be able to lie down in his preferred position.
- Behavior: Some dogs change their behavior when they suffer, such as becoming angry or aggressive. Other dogs, on the other hand, retreat as if trying to hide from the pain.
- Refusal of water or food: Some dogs (especially Labradors) eat anything, but others give up food if they feel uncomfortable.
Step 3. See your vet if you think your dog is in severe pain
If you feel your dog is not getting enough pain relief, contact the clinic. There are other pain relievers, such as tramadol, which can be added to prescribed NSAIDs to bring the pain to a bearable level.
Step 4. Contact your vet if you notice severe symptoms
Most veterinarians want to schedule a checkup 3-10 days after the operation. However, if you have to worry first, always contact the clinic for advice. Signals to check include:
- Refusal of water or food after 48 hours: Your dog should have started eating again by now and if he doesn't, it could be due to pain. Don't wait another day for advice.
- A discharge from the wound: Usually a wound that is healing is dry. If, on the other hand, it secretes fluid, especially blood or pus, ask for advice.
- Nausea or diarrhea: sometimes anesthetics can cause stomach embarrassment in more sensitive animals, however, if the animal has recently undergone surgery, take it to the vet if you see that it is nauseous.
- Weakness, lethargy or a bloated stomach: If your dog seems weak and is not regaining energy or if his body changes and his stomach appears bloated, seek advice from your vet right away.
