First of all, congratulations for understanding that it’s important to have your pet spayed or neutered. If you aren’t planning on breeding your pet, you’ll want to have them spayed or neutered in order to help cut down on the canine overpopulation population. If you’ve decided to have this procedure done, follow the steps below in caring for your dog afterwards.  

Step 1: Prepare your home for your dog’s arrival. Clean his bedding and disinfect his or her food bowls and the areas that he or she frequents. Your goal is to reduce the risk of infection by creating a sanitary environment. If there are other dogs in the home, isolate them to a yard or room so that the dog doesn’t jump on the spayed or neutered dog upon the return home. (You will have to facilitate their meeting when the time is right.) 

Step 2: Bring comfort items to the veterinarian’s office. Your dog will be lethargic and might need cheering up. If he or she can lie on their familiar bed on the drive home, or cuddle with their favorite toy that might help with the healing process. 

Step 3: Follow the vet’s instructions exactly. If she says no activity for 10 days, she means it. If the vet doesn’t automatically provide you with a cone for your dog, ask for one. This will keep your pet from trying to get at his or her stitches and wound.  

Step 4: Expect your dog to sleep for the rest of the day, if not for the next few days. He or she has undergone a significant procedure and should be made to feel calm and comforted for the period of recovery.  

Step 5: Pay extra special attention to him or her. While you shouldn’t touch the incision area, you can offer comfort to your pet by lying down beside him or her, talking in soothing tones and gently caressing your pet.  

Step 6: Actively monitor your dog’s activity level and behavior with other pets. Your other pets might have to remain isolated as they will not understand why your dog is so lethargic. (Another reason to keep other animals isolated: Our retriever was able to pull the cone off of our lab so they could get back to playing!) 

Step 7: Check the incision several times a day for redness or other signs of infection. If something doesn’t seem right, contact your vet immediately.

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