Spaying and neutering your pets is incredibly important. There are so
many dogs out there that don't have homes and who end up in kill
shelters because people don't spay or neuter their dogs and can't handle
the puppies that inevitably result. Therefore, if you have a dog, you
should definitely consider getting him or her neutered or spayed. If
you've never done this before, it can be a daunting task to take care of
a dog that has undergone a major surgery. However, don't fret too much.
Your dog will be back to normal in no time.
Hospital Time
Most animal hospitals will want you to drop your furry friend at the
hospital in the morning on the day of the operation, and they will
probably tell you not to feed or give water to your dog for 24 hours
before the operation. They may also want you to leave the dog overnight.
This is because they can get started on the surgery early in the day
and then monitor your dog throughout the day to be sure he or she wakes
up from the anesthesia and doesn't react poorly to it. However, it's a
good idea to make sure that there will be someone there with your dog
overnight; if not, it may be better just to bring your pet home before
the hospital closes for the evening. Either way, you'll probably be
without your dog for about a day. When you pick your pet from the
hospital, you'll notice that he or she is going to be really groggy and
tired. He or she may not be able to walk properly and will most likely
not want to eat anything for a while when you get him or her home. Be
sure to not let your dog have any water for a few hours, either, because
this could cause his stomach to become upset as a side effect of the
anesthesia. You should also be sure that your dog doesn't jump on
anything or lick the operation site, as this could cause the stitches to
rip out.
Recovery Time
It will probably take about one week before your pet is back to a normal
energy level, especially if you are giving him or her pain medicine.
The pain medicine makes the dog groggy, tired, and can cause a lack of
appetite. This is totally normal, but not all dogs need the pain
medication. You and your vet will have to assess how your puppy is
feeling post-operation and see where to go from there. However, if your
vet recommends pain medication, you should definitely consider it. You
don't want your friend to be in pain! After about two weeks, you should
be able to take your furry friend back to the vet to get the stitches
taken out, and that will mean your dog is back to normal and can do all
the things he or she could do before the surgery.
The Collar of Shame
Along with the pain medication, you may want to invest in an E-collar or
an Elizabethan collar. This is a type of plastic collar that you can
fasten around your dog's neck and is at least as long as the dog's nose.
It prevents dogs from curling up and licking their stitches, which can
also help your dog recover faster. If your dog happens to lick the
stitches, this can cause infection or tearing, and if the stitches are
torn out, the only way to get them back is to put the dog under the
recovery process over again.
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