After you’ve had your precious pooch castrated, it’s easy for your mind to run away with you about problems that could happen. You may be wondering, ‘is he too quiet?’, ‘why isn’t he eating much?’ or ‘he’s far too energetic, can I take him for a walk?’. So, let’s have a look at the care you can give your dog after castration and what is to be expected during their recovery.
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The first night at home
You may be wondering what to expect the first night that they are home following their castration; and they usually act one of two ways. Either they’ll come flying out of the vets like nothing has happened, raring to go back to normal; or they’ll get home and just want to sleep. The main thing to remember is that they need as much rest as possible. Don’t worry if your dog is sleeping a lot, he will have received different drugs throughout the day, including a sedative, that may still be active in their body. Let them sleep as much as they need so that their body can recover.
If they are crate trained, then definitely place them into their crate at night. This is so that they have restricted access to the house. If they sleep on a sofa or upstairs on the bed, then place a blanket on the floor or move them to a different room. Place bedding on the floor so that this is the only option to sleep on. This will reduce movement around the surgical site with them not having to jump on and off a bed. Restrict their access so they’re not using the stairs throughout the night; as this can also put tension on the wound.
Can I feed him normally?
Your veterinary practice may advise you on what to feed your dog when you pick him up post surgery. Following a general anaesthetic, animals can often feel nauseous and suffer from vomiting. It may be beneficial to feed your dog a bland diet, such as chicken and rice, for the first couple of days. Chicken and rice is often thought to lie easier on the stomach and won’t be as heavy as normal dog food. If your dog is a fussy eater, then just stick to their normal diet. Follow your veterinary practices advice on what they recommend.
Stay cool, calm and collected
Your dog needs to be kept as calm as possible. Especially for the first couple of days whilst the wound is healing. I’m talking as much cool, zen vibes as you can. You don’t want your pooch to over-exercise and cause damage to the wound. Because of its location, every stride he takes will put a bit of tension on the stitches. So the more he rests the faster it will heal. The last thing you want is an inflamed wound or a stitch to come loose and require further veterinary attention.
Try not to overexcite them too much as this will cause a lot of energy that they will be unable to burn. Try playing some calming music, give your dog a brush and enjoy some cuddles together.
Can we go for a walk?
Ideally, for the first couple of days you want to keep your dog as well rested as possible. Understandably, this is easier with some breeds more than others. You will likely re-visit your veterinary practice within the first couple of days post castration so the wound can be checked. Depending on how well the wound is healing, you may be able to take your pooch out on some short lead walks. Avoid off lead running and intense exercise though. Your veterinary practice will be able to advise you on walking information at the time of the post operative check.
If you find that your dog is getting agitated without walks, then you could look at stimulating them in other ways. You could try puzzle toys, fill a kong with food, hide treats around the house or teach them a new trick. You could also pop a lead on him and take him out to the garden and let him have a sniff around so at least his senses are being stimulated.
Monitor the poos
It’s definitely good practice to be checking your dog’s poo anyway, but even more so following an anaesthetic procedure. Whilst your dog is being treated at the veterinary practice, their bodies are receiving a variety of different drugs which are all processed by the body in different ways. Some of these drugs you will be sent home with, to continue with their administration, which usually consists of pain relief and anti inflammatory medication.
On some occasions, these drugs can cause gastro-intestinal upset, resulting in vomiting and diarrhoea. If these symptoms occur, stop giving the drugs and contact your veterinary practice for further advice.
Protect the wound at all costs
It is imperative that the wound is kept as clean as possible, especially for the first couple of days post surgery. Your veterinary practice should’ve provided you with either a plastic cone or a t-shirt that kind of looks like a doggy onesie. Either one of these are fine to use; as long as your dog cannot reach the wound to lick or interfere with it whilst it is healing. Remember, licking will transfer bacteria from his mouth to the surgical site, increasing the risk of a wound infection.
It may be beneficial to take a photo of the wound when you get your dog home. That way, you have something to compare the wound to. It would be good to check the wound twice a day to make sure there is no substantial redness, bruising, swelling or discharge. If you are concerned about the wound in any way, always contact your veterinary practice for advice.
Your veterinary practice are always there to help
Always remember that your veterinary practice are there to help and advise you. If you are worried about your dog in any way, then do get in contact. Veterinary staff have an abundance of knowledge that they are willing to share with you and will always want to help you as much as possible.
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