How will my dog feel after being neutered?

If you have a male dog or intend to get one in the near future, you’ve probably considered whether you should have him neutered. Even though your dog is adorable, unless you have done extensive research into ethical breeding practices, the many disadvantages of keeping your dog intact frequently outweigh the single benefit of being able to sire puppies. As a rule, veterinarians recommend neutering. This is for a number of good reasons, including health, behavior, and the number of dogs.

Castration, another name for neutering, is a surgical procedure carried out by a vet to remove the testicles. Almost always, neutering is a less invasive procedure than spaying, which is the canine equivalent of “fixing.” The testicles in male dogs are outside, in the scrotum, as opposed to the ovarian and uterine structures, which are found in the abdomen.

The testicles are removed from your dog’s scrotum via a single incision after general anesthesia has been administered. However, occasionally one or both testicles will remain in the abdomen and not descend. As testicles that are left in the abdomen can develop into cancer, in these situations, an exploratory abdominal surgery will be required.

How Dogs Recover After Being Neutered

Most dogs are released within a day of surgery. After being neutered, your dog may feel tired or groggy. For the first one or two days, they might want to sleep more. Some canines may experience nausea, not eat their full meals, or even vomit. Young dogs typically start acting normally within 24 to 48 hours.

Additional recommendations for post-surgical care include:

Post-operative medication should be given to relieve pain, which is judged in most cases to be mild to moderate.

Keep your dog quiet for approximately two weeks after they return home from the hospital to allow them to heal. Some dogs may be prescribed sedative medications to help keep them calm.

Two commonly prescribed medications include Acepromazine and Trazodone.

Do not allow your dog to be excessively active and prevent them from roughhousing.

Skin sutures, if present, will be removed in 10 to 14 days. Most often the sutures are absorbable. Many veterinarians will want to check the incision one-week after surgery to ensure that it is healing normally.

If the castration was performed for reasons other than to prevent reproduction, further treatment and/or monitoring may be necessary.

You should inspect the incision line daily for signs of redness, discharge, swelling, or pain.

Do not allow your dog to lick or chew at the incision. If your pet licks the incision line, prevent them from doing so by putting them in an e-collar.

What to Expect the First Night After a Spay or Neuter

Most veterinarians prefer to send animals home for direct human observation unless they have 24-hour care available at their facilities. Here’s what you need to know:

Pay close attention to veterinary recommendations when you pick up your dog after surgery. Take notes or ask for written instructions, and make sure you observe the incision so you know what the staff considers normal.

Owners should plan on staying with their pet overnight. This is not the night to go out for dinner or plan to attend a concert.

Vomiting, extreme lethargy (beyond what your veterinarian explained you should expect to see), and signs of internal bleeding (see below) are the most immediate issues.

Don’t worry if he or she skips that evening’s meal or fails to drink as much water as usual. A small meal is typically recommended anyway.

Pain can be difficult to assess, but shaking, drooling, and hiding may be cause for concern. Dogs rarely whine or otherwise vocalize when they’re in pain.

Keep an eye out for bleeding or excessive weeping from the incision site. A small amount may be expected, but little beyond that. An unusually-distended abdomen or pale mucous membranes are also cause for immediate concern, as this may be evidence of internal bleeding (uncommon but possible).

Call your veterinarian’s professional answering service or the ER if you have any doubts. You may be asked to assess his or her gum color.

Approximately 3 million dogs enter US shelters every year! Having your dog neutered is the best way for you to help reduce the overall number of unwanted pets in your neighborhood.

Most veterinarians have a lot of experience performing neuter surgeries because they are a common veterinary medical procedure.

In general, both dogs and cats are thought to be very safe during these procedures. Having said that, there is some risk involved whenever an animal is put to sleep for a procedure. Your veterinarian and the surgical team will keep a close eye on your dog throughout the procedure and watch for any early warning signs of illness or potential complications.

FAQ

How will my dog act after being neutered?

After being neutered, your dog may feel tired or groggy. For the first one or two days, they might want to sleep more. Some canines may experience nausea, not eat their full meals, or even vomit. Young dogs typically start acting normally within 24 to 48 hours.

Do male dogs change after being neutered?

The largest source of testosterone in the body, the testicles, are removed during neutering, which results in behavioral changes in the dog. This causes your dog’s sexually motivated behaviors, such as urine marking, running away to find female dogs, and aggression toward other male dogs, to decrease.

How long will my dog be in pain after being neutered?

Spay or neuter surgery discomfort typically only lasts a few days and should subside after a week. You should consult your veterinarian for more information if your pet is in pain or uncomfortable for more than a few days.