Deciding to neuter your pet can be one of the best decisions you make for your pet's long-term health and happiness. Neutering is the process of removing a male animal's testicles to prevent breeding, thus preventing unwanted litters of kittens or puppies. By neutering your pet you can help alleviate the problem of animal overpopulation, thereby reducing the number of unwanted and/or abandoned cats and dogs in the U.S today. Unfortunately, animal shelters are full of unwanted pets stuck in small cages waiting for adoption --- or euthanasia. Not only does neutering help control pet population, but it also helps calm animal behavior associated with mating urges. Neutering is a major surgical procedure, but it is also a common practice in veterinarian medicine. Care should be observed after this type of surgery, to prevent complications.
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Licking and Chewing
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Try to keep your pet from licking or chewing the incision area. Some animals may want to lick or chew the incision area after neutering. This can cause rupturing of the stitches, leading to infection. Tearing of the stitches in this manner will require that a vet re-close the incision. This will normally result in additional veterinarian fees. To help keep your pet from chewing and licking, you can try hot sauce or other distasteful substance around (NOT on) the surgical area. If this doesn't help, you can purchase an inexpensive surgical cone (available at most pet supply stores) to go around your pet's head, so he can't reach the incision area.
Swelling and Bruising
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A warm wash cloth placed on the swollen area will help reduce pain. Your pet may experience swelling and bruising of the incision area. In fully grown male dogs, the swelling can sometimes be severe. This is quite normal and should reside a few days. To help alleviate some of the swelling and pain, a warm compress can be applied to the area. Soak a washcloth with very warm water, then wring out the excess. Place the warm cloth on the swollen area for five or ten minutes several times a day, until the swelling goes down. If swelling persists after several days, seek your veterinarian's advice.
Intra-Scrotal Bleeding
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A few dogs may experience intra-scrotal bleeding after neutering. Intra-scrotal bleeding is caused by the capillaries inside the scrotum releasing blood and fluids. It's appearance may be disarming, but it is not life-threatening to the animal, according to the veterinary website Spay/Neuter Inc. This type of complication occurs in only a small number of male dogs and should disappear within three to ten days. It is merely blood exuded from the arteries cut during the neuter process, and will be reabsorbed back into the body.
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