Getting your dog spayed or neutered is something that is very important if you don't plan on breeding them. This stops your animals from mating and creating more puppies than there are enough homes for. The process of getting your dog spayed and/or neutered is a very routine one, and you can simply schedule the appointment with a veterinarian at a place like Caring Hands Animal Hospital. The surgery is a day surgery, so you will be able to drop your pet off in the morning and pick them up later that same day. When you pick up your pet after the procedure, it is going to be your job as the pet owner is to make sure that you take proper care of your dog for the duration of their recovery. Since it is all going to be up to you, it is very important that you know what you are doing. This article will discuss two important tips for caring for your dog after they have been spayed or neutered.
Do Not Let Them Lick Their Incision
In order for the incision site to heal, it must be left alone. However, your dog does not realize this, and will simply feel an area that is irritable and painful. Because of this, they will want to lick and scratch at it to try and make it feel better. Since licking, chewing, and scratching at the site is only going to make it worse and elongate the healing process, it is crucial that this area is blocked off from your animal's reach. The most effective way to do this is going to be to have a cone placed around your dog's neck. While this may not be the most enjoyable thing in the world for your dog, it will not cause them any pain at all and will stop them from licking their incision site. This cone is only going to need to be worn until the incision site has been able to heal a bit and the stitches are removed.
Avoid Bathing
Because the area where the incision is located has stitches in it, it is important that you avoid bathing your dog until these stitches have either dissolved, or have been removed by you or the veterinarian. Doing this ensures that the stitches aren't going to come out before the are ready, and it will also stop you from accidentally getting soaps or other unwanted liquids inside of the incision that could cause inflammation and infection. If you find that your dog does smell and you would like to clean them, you can simply get a wash cloth and wash the areas of your dog's body that have a bad odor, while avoiding the area where the stitches are located.
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