You just got your furry friend spayed and can’t wait to get back to your normal routine. But once you bring her home, she’s suddenly leaping on furniture and acting like she wasn’t just under the knife. What gives? Turns out, this wild behavior is pretty common as pups recover from being fixed. Though you may worry she’s going to bust her stitches, there are ways to curb the crazy without hurting her healing. In this post, we’ll talk about why Fluffy is flinging herself around after her spay and how you can gently get her to chill until she’s fully recovered. With some TLC and training, you’ll have your polite pup back before you know it.
My Dog Jumped After Her Spay Surgery – What Happened
After your dog’s spay surgery, the last thing you expect is for her to be jumping around. But some dogs do become more active sooner than expected. This can be alarming, but as long as she’s not showing signs of complications, it should be fine. However, you still need to limit activity to allow proper healing.
Why is My Dog So Active?
Some dogs have a lot of excess energy built up after surgery and during recovery. As soon as they start to feel a bit better, they want to release that pent-up energy. Your dog may also be experiencing a burst of relief and excitement now that the surgery is over. It’s also possible that the medication has made her feel more energetic or restless. Limiting food and water before surgery, as well as medications given during the procedure, can also lead to increased activity and temporary changes in behavior.
What You Should Do?
Even though your dog seems ready to run and play, she needs to limit activity for 10 to 14 days after surgery. Walks should be short and leisurely. Don’t let her jump, run or play. Provide mental stimulation with interactive dog toys to keep her occupied.
Check the incision site daily. Look for any swelling, bleeding, or discharge which could indicate an infection or other complication. Call your vet if you notice any concerning symptoms or if she is showing signs of pain or discomfort.
With rest and time, your dog’s energy level and behavior should return to normal. It can be difficult to keep an energetic dog confined, but it’s very important for her recovery. Short-term limitations now will help ensure she heals properly and stays healthy for the long run. If you have any concerns about her recovery or activity level, don’t hesitate to call your vet.
The Healing Process After a Spay Surgery
The days following your dog’s spay surgery are critical for proper healing. Keeping her comfortable and preventing complications is key.
Rest and recovery
For the first few days after surgery, restrict your dog’s activity to leash walks only for potty breaks. Jumping, running, and rough play could damage internal stitches before they have time to heal. Instead, keep her confined to a small room during recovery and limit access to furniture she may try to jump on. Providing puzzle toys or chew toys can help relieve boredom during this time.
Monitoring the incision
Check your dog’s incision site daily for signs of infection like swelling, redness, or discharge. While slight redness around the edges of the incision is normal initially, if you notice pus, bleeding or the incision site is very painful to the touch, contact your vet.
Pain management
Your vet will send your dog home with pain medication to keep her comfortable during recovery. Be sure to give all medication as directed. Even after finishing the medication, continue to monitor your dog for signs of discomfort which could indicate an issue with healing. Lack of appetite, restlessness, aggression, or other behavior changes warrant a call to your vet.
Follow-up appointment
Around 10 to 14 days after surgery, your vet will want to examine the incision site to ensure proper healing and remove any external stitches. Be sure to keep this follow-up appointment, as it allows your vet to check that your dog is recovering well and address any concerns you may have about the healing process.
With proper rest, care, and vet follow-up, most dogs recover well from a spay procedure. However, if at any time you notice signs of complications or have concerns about your dog’s recovery, don’t hesitate to contact your vet. It’s always better to err on the side of caution to ensure your dog’s health and well-being after surgery.
Tips to Keep Your Dog Calm After Being Spayed
Now that your dog has been spayed, it’s important to keep her as calm and relaxed as possible during recovery. The incision needs time to heal, and too much activity could cause swelling, bleeding, or even rupture the stitches. Follow these tips to ensure your dog has a smooth recovery after her surgery.
Limit activity for 10-14 days
Your dog should avoid walks, running, jumping, and rough play during recovery. Only take her out on a leash to go to the bathroom, and avoid stairs when possible. Confine her to a small room away from other pets when you’re not home to supervise. This will restrict her movement and prevent her from licking or chewing at the incision site.
Provide pain medication as prescribed
Your vet will send your dog home with pain medication to keep her comfortable during recovery. Be sure to give the medication as directed to control pain and make the recovery process easier on your pup. Call your vet if you notice signs of discomfort or if the incision looks swollen or red.
Use an Elizabethan collar if necessary
Some dogs may try to lick or chew at the incision, which can lead to infection or damage the stitches. An Elizabethan collar, or E-collar, can prevent this behavior and should be used if you notice your dog bothering the incision. Though the collar may seem uncomfortable, it’s important for proper healing.
Offer extra attention and rewards
Your dog may feel confused or annoyed after surgery, not understanding why her activity is restricted. Give your dog extra attention, affection, and rewards like treats or chew toys to help keep her occupied during recovery. Puzzle toys that dispense treats can also help stimulate your dog both physically and mentally.
Keeping your dog’s activity restricted and following vet recommendations carefully during recovery is the key to a quick healing process. Be patient through the recovery period, and know that your dog’s activity levels can gradually return to normal once the stitches have been removed and the incision has fully healed in about 10-14 days.
Long-Term Care Following Spay Surgery
Even though the incision from your dog’s spay surgery may have healed, she still needs special care during recovery. It can take several weeks for her to return to normal activity levels and up to three months for her hormones to regulate. Be patient through this process and continue restricting activity, even if she seems to feel back to her usual self.
Diet and Exercise
For the first week, keep your dog on a bland diet of rice, boiled chicken, and canned pumpkin to avoid gastrointestinal upset as her system recovers. Gradually reintroduce her regular dog food throughout 7 to 10 days. Limit walks to 10-15 minutes a couple of times per day during the first week. After her stitches have been removed, slowly increase the length and frequency of walks. Avoid rough play, jumping, and swimming for at least 2 weeks.
Incision Care
Check your innocent dog’s incision daily for signs of infection like redness, swelling, or discharge. Keep the area clean and dry. Don’t allow your dog to lick the incision, or she may need to wear an Elizabethan collar. If you notice any concerning symptoms or if the incision isn’t healing well, contact your vet.
Hormonal Changes
It can take weeks or months for your dog’s hormone levels to decrease following spay surgery. You may notice temporary behavior changes as her body adjusts, such as increased appetite, restlessness, or aggression. Be patient and continue to give your dog extra love and attention during this transition. If problematic behaviors develop, talk to your vet about medication or behavioral techniques to help address them.
With time and proper aftercare, your dog should recover well from her spay surgery. Paying close attention to her needs during the recovery process will help ensure she remains happy and healthy for years to come. If you have any concerns about her incision, activity level, or behavior, don’t hesitate to consult your vet.
FAQs: My Dog Jumped After Spay – Now What?
What should I do if my dog jumped or was active after her spay surgery?
Don’t panic! It’s normal for dogs to not realize they need to rest after surgery. Gently confine your dog to a small room like the laundry room, bathroom, or crate to limit activity. You want to avoid rough play, jumping, and running for at least 10-14 days as the internal stitches heal. Call your vet if you notice any swelling, or bleeding or if your dog seems painful. They can prescribe anti-anxiety or pain medication to keep your dog calm during recovery.
How long before normal activity can resume?
Your dog needs 2 weeks of limited activity for the incision to heal. After that, short leash walks are ok but avoid strenuous exercise like running, jumping, or playing for a full month. The internal stitches need time to dissolve and her abdomen will still be tender. It’s best to slowly ease back into your normal routine and activity level. Be very careful with rambunctious dogs so they don’t tear their stitches.
What should the incision look like as it’s healing?
For the first week, the incision will look slightly swollen and red. You may see small amounts of clear or blood-tinged fluid. After 7-10 days, the swelling should go down and the incision will look less irritated. Watch for any pus, foul odor, or the edges of the incision pulling apart which can indicate infection. The stitches or staples will be removed 10-14 days after surgery. The incision may look lumpy for a few weeks as it continues to heal.
What if my dog licks or chews at the incision?
It’s important to prevent your dog from licking, chewing, or scratching at the incision site. Not only can this introduce infection, but it can damage the healing incision. You may need to use an Elizabethan collar, sock, onesie, or bandage to protect the area. Distract your dog or redirect this behavior and avoid leaving them alone unsupervised. Excessive licking can delay healing and require additional vet care. Call your vet for advice on the best way to deter this behavior in your dog.
Conclusion
So there you have it. Getting your furry friend spayed is a big decision, but it’s worth it for their health and to prevent accidental litter. The recovery may seem daunting, but take it one day at a time. With patience, love, and following the vet’s orders, you’ll both get through it. And just think – soon you can enjoy all your usual activities again, like long walks, playing fetch, and snuggling on the couch. For now, keep that cone on tight and resist those puppy dog eyes begging to jump up. Stay strong and rest up, and you’ll both be back to your fun selves before you know it!