Having to go through any surgical procedures is generally tricky for both dogs and their pet owners. Not only is it constantly putting you in that agony of not being able to do anything but you also have to have complete trust to know that it will be fine.
Suppose your dog has recently gone through the process of neutering. In that case, you might be wondering what precautions you can take to improve the circumstances for your dogs so that they can feel more comfortable in their current environment after having to go through any surgical treatments.
Keep reading the article to understand the different ways through which you can make the atmosphere easy and convenient for your dog.
SPAYING VS NEUTERING
Before we begin, I believe it is highly crucial first to clear the air regarding the misconceptions many people have created in terms of spaying and neutering.
The fundamental difference between the two is simple; neutering is a procedure most likely performed on male dogs, while spaying is performed on female dogs.
Neutering is performed on male dogs when the removal of testicles is involved so that they cannot reproduce. While spaying is when female dogs undergo anesthesia in order to remove their uterus and ovaries so that the chance of reproduction is wholly eliminated.
While we have understood the difference between the two, we need to be aware of the fact that regardless of what name the procedure is given, it essentially adheres to the same purpose, which is to remove the reproductive organs within the dog’s body so that they cannot reproduce.
In simpler terms, the purpose of conducting this procedure on our dogs is one, and that is to reduce their signs of aggression, reduce any unwanted behavior that you might dislike, and, most importantly, control the birth rate of puppies being born.
While this may seem like a complicated procedure, the long-term and societal benefits of performing this surgery are tremendous.
How so? Around about, 3.3 million dogs are brought into shelters every year, and most of these dogs are abandoned puppies that the owner did not feel like keeping because they already had enough animals to take care of.
There are other reasons behind the increase in our puppy population, which is why getting your dogs neutered or spayed is actually beneficial not just to you but to your dog and the general society.
BENEFITS OF NEUTERING
There are many benefits to neutering and spaying. Even though the general benefits have been listed but I believe that oftentimes, the true purpose is overlooked; hence we have listed down a few benefits why we believe that going for these procedures might be an ideal fit for you.
Keep reading to see further points on the benefits of such surgical procedures.
Reduction in animal population
Many people say that ‘having more animals is good, but the problem is the cost that many pet owners incur. While many decide to adopt, not all families are able to take care of multiple animals, which is why if their dog happens to give birth or happens to impregnate other dogs.
Then the problem with this situation is that the animal population is increasing. We want to reduce this population so that there are enough families to adopt the animals available and not leave the rest to die.
Many pet owners give away their dog’s babies because they simply cannot handle the cost, and this doesn’t sound completely wrong because it is true. An average of 3000 dollars are spent on puppies and dogs in the first month of adopting them.
Hence, people resort to giving those puppies away for shelter. Now imagine that what if those puppies don’t find good families or worse, what if they don’t find any family at all?
In that instance, would it not have been better had you decided to go for spaying so that you wouldn’t have to become the perpetrator of such a harmful act?
Reduction in signs of aggressiveness
Many animals, including dogs, start experiencing issues with their mood swings if the process of neutering is not done.
Many dogs, in order to compensate for what they are going through, will eventually start destroying different items around the house, and you might constantly find yourself in a circumstance where your dog is always growling at you.
It’s not a pleasant feeling which is why pet parents go through the process of neutering since, by doing so, the hormonal imbalances within the dogs are stabilized, in turn reducing signs of aggressiveness and other moody behaviors.
Longer and healthier life
Keeping in mind the last point, with a reduction in hormonal issues, dogs are less likely to go through severe health concerns like prostate cancer or uterus, ovarian, and testicular cancer.
Through the process of neutering or spaying, the chances of harboring cancer cells are reduced, and your dog gets to have a good and long life ahead.
Additionally, it promises a healthier life because, through this process, it is estimated that dogs can increase their lifespan by 1 to 3 years, while feline dogs can experience an increase of 3 to 5 years.
Beneficial for the dog community
To be precise, dogs reproduce more frequently and in a larger bunch, which is why many dogs happen to become homeless since pet owners give away puppy dogs because they cannot afford to keep another loving dog, no matter the cuteness of our small furry friends because of the rising costs.
Now the problem that occurs is that not all families are accepting of new dogs, and if in case they are not able to handle the pressure of a new dog, they end up placing the dog in a shelter.
As of right now, there are more than 70% of dogs in the shelter as opposed to the people who want to adopt them, so imagine how many puppies are homeless right now.
It is because of this precise reason that vets advise different pet owners to undergo a process of neutering if they don’t have any intention of adopting another dog.
HOW CAN I COMFORT MY DOG AFTER NEUTER OR SPAY?
The surgical procedure of neutering or spaying is no minor surgery, and especially for our cute little doggos, this procedure can be pretty painful, and our dogs might end up showcasing anxious behavior for weeks after neutering.
Before we give any recommendations in terms of how to create a comfortable and peaceful environment, we would like to point out that the main battle-fighting item would be the medications that your VET must provide.
Just like any other creature on this planet, infections are equally found in dogs and if medications do not cater to them, then not only will the pain worsen, but also the surgical sight might become inflamed.
Medications are vital; however, besides medication; there are some other methods that pet owners can adhere to, for example:
• Keep a comfortable and peaceful environment around the house. For example, some dogs become agitated when they see certain things or people, so keep them at a distance. My dog personally becomes all jumpy when he sees a cat, so whenever he goes through any surgery, I would make his resting spot away from the cat so that he doesn’t get hyper.
• Create a good resting spot. Maybe adding a new pillow or a few extra soft sheets to make the resting process a bit easier, which in turn can actually reduce the whimpering noises because it helps them recover faster once they are at ease.
• Place food and water bowls near his mouth so your dogs don’t have to constantly move to drink some water. Some dogs don’t drink water for the first few days after getting neutered, so don’t worry since it’s a normal reaction. I recommend mixing in some water with his food can help him stay hydrated, but even if your dog happens to be avoiding water, not to worry because, after a week, he will probably be reaching out for it himself. If the days increase beyond 5 days, then I advise contacting a VET immediately.
• Some people don’t find it essential that small bonding activities are necessary for the health of your dog as well, for example, playing your favorite Netflix movie while preparing for your dog’s favorite treats. If you don’t have time, then freeze tiny drops of peanut butter and use that as treats. Just make sure your dog is not allergic to peanut butter.
• Lastly, keep checking the surgical sign consistently to ensure that there is no discharge of anything and the sight is not inflamed. If you have doubts about whether or not the surgical sight is looking right, then get in touch with your VET immediately as to avoid any long-term issues. Remember, it is better to source the problem at its initial stage.
HOW TO MAKE YOUR DOG FEEL COMFORTABLE IN AN E COLLAR?
If your dog has undergone surgery, including neutering and spaying, then there is a high probability that your dog will be given an E collar to wear as well or, in other words, known as a dog cone. Surgery is complex, but in my opinion, the post-surgery essentials also come with their own fair share of concerns.
Dogs who have undergone neutering or spaying will be given an Elizabethan collar (a lamp-like cone) that dogs need to wear so that they are not able to:
- Scratch open their stitches
- Bite of their surgical site
- Remove the bandage
- Worsen the inflammation
- Lick their wound
All these things are significant to be catered to because if your dog happens to lick the infected area constantly, then there is a high probability that your dog might get a fungal infection on top of the surgical sight.
Remember, the rule is that moisture attracts bacteria which is why an E collar is crucial to the post-surgery recovery of our dogs, but the problem that arises is how can make them comfortable wearing it beforehand because some dogs tend to get fussy with new changes.
The first advice I will give is to go for a transparent cone. Why am I saying this? Imagine if I cover the side of your eyes; even though you will be able to see what’s in front of you straight ahead but you will not be able to see anything towards your right and left.
Which is why dogs tend to break a lot of things while wearing cones because they cannot see and it’s not their fault. I recommend investing in a transparent cone so that their vision is perfectly fine.
The second thing that paw-rents (pet parents) can do is make the dog comfortable beforehand. For example, if you are aware that your dog’s neuter surgery is scheduled after 10 days, then maybe try bringing in a cone beforehand and learn to make them love it.
Personally, I placed the cone next to my dog’s toys so that he would want to play with it. I kept setting the cone in different sites until he decided he wanted to put it on. Now he loves it even though he does not need it anymore.
The last thing I advise about cones is the size. Many pet parents purchase wrong post-surgery items, which can make the process of recovery all the more difficult.
My wisdom to you all pet parents out there is to acquire a cone that is about 3 inches long from the tip of your dog’s nose so that they do not have any issues while eating or drinking water.
Secondly, make sure that the circumference of the cone is about two fingers extra in length so that your dogs do not feel suffocated all the time. The key is creating comfort.
Side note: My dog was unable to eat food and drink water properly after his neuter surgery, so I would place his food slightly at a higher level so that he did not have the cone coming in his way while he tried to eat.
WHEN WILL THE PAIN GO AWAY?
It is alright for your dog to be in pain. We cannot deny the fact that the surgery of neutering or spaying is a rather intensive surgery that should not be taken lightly. Many owners complain that their dogs feel more pain after 24 to 36 hours of the surgery because their dogs tend to whimper a whole lot more.
The ultimate reason behind this is that vets inject ample amounts of painkillers so that the surgery goes smoothly and the dog doesn’t feel any pain. However, dogs tend to start whimpering in pain after 24 hours of the surgery because the medicine’s effect is wearing off.
From then, you will need to start administering the painkillers that your VET has prescribed because, without those, your dog will feel highly uncomfortable.
According to my experience and based on information gathered from professional VETs, the pain will take about 7 to 9 days to go away entirely and about 14 days for the surgical sight to be healed.
This may vary depending on your dog’s size and weight because some dogs tend to heal quickly, while bigger dogs might take more time. We do recommend that owners get their dogs checked as soon as 14 days have passed to see whether it’s time to remove the stitches or not.
ARE MEDICATIONS IMPORTANT?
Medications are vital for the overall healing process of our dogs. This is because even though dogs do not feel pain immediately after the surgery but once the effect of pain killers starts wearing off then, the pain intensity begins to increase, and you might find your dog more lazy and sick than usual.
Under this circumstance, we highly recommend giving painkillers immediately but make sure that they are based on the prescription your VET has provided you because VETs prescribe medicines based on your dog’s specific needs and other relevant specifications.
However, Rimadyl and Torbugesic are two medicines that are used quite often but do make sure to consult with a VET before administering these medications.
HOW TO LIFT YOUR DOG AFTER ITS SURGERY?
This is an important question that many owners ask because since dogs are too lethargic to move for themselves, it falls onto us to make sure that they are being appropriately lifted and placed on their beds for comfortable sleep.
The way to do this is to gently place one hand on their stomach and the other around their legs. Just make sure not to put any pressure on the incision, as that might cause more damage than comfort. The general rule is:
- Don’t lift the dogs by the collar as this might choke them
- Don’t lift them by their scruff since it might cause tracheal injury
- Don’t lift a dog by its tail since this makes them annoyed and agitated
- Don’t lift a dog only by their arms or legs separately as this might cause a joint injury
Neutering is a tricky process mentally and emotionally because we don’t want our dogs to go through any difficult process, but think of the long-term benefits you are providing your dog and the overall community.
We hope you found this article helpful, and remember that even though this process is complicated and mentally exhausting for you and your dog, remember that it will all be fine.
Happy pet parenting.
