Tips for Caring for a Spayed Dog

When a female dog is spayed, her uterus and ovaries are removed so she is no longer capable of having puppies. She is also freed from the incredible hormone shifts that occur around the time of her season. Caring for a spayed dog is not too different from caring for any other dog, but you should keep some things in mind.

  1. Post-Op Care

    • Supervise your dog closely after bringing her home from her spaying operation. She will be very groggy and uncoordinated. Leave her to recuperate in a dark, quiet room. She should return to normal behavior in 24 hours. Check the stitches every day for swellings, bleeding and any pus-like discharge. If you notice your dog licking or chewing at the stitches, she will need to wear a stiff-necked collar such as a cone (Elizabethan) collar or a BiteNot collar. Contact the vet immediately if the dog gets a fever, begins vomiting, is uncharacteristically listless or is panting for no reason. These could be signs of infection. Do not give your dog a bath for at least 10 days.

    Incontinence

    • Very rarely, within one year of being spayed, a dog will become incontinent. She will urinate when she falls asleep and her muscles completely relax; otherwise, she does not have any other accidents. This can be treated with inexpensive synthetic hormones available form a vet to help tone the bladder muscles. It is also helpful to let the dog outside late at night for a bathroom break. When the dog becomes old, it is normal to become incontinent. This is because the bladder has lost its muscle tone. Washable dog diapers work for cases such as this. But if the dog suddenly has accidents in the house after weeks or months of no accidents, then this could be a sign of illness. Take the dog to the vet with a urine sample for analysis.

    Misconception

    • It is a common misconception that spayed dogs put on weight very quickly. They will put on weight if you are overfeeding them and under-exercising them. Since many female dogs are spayed while they are still growing puppies, some people mistakenly keep feeding the same calorie, protein and fat amounts when the dog is an adult. The adult spayed dog, unless she is very active, will need a drop in calorie, fat and protein intake once she has finished growing. Many diet and senior dog foods are on the market. Or you can reduce the amount of regular food you are giving your dog. Gradually introduce any new foods into your spayed dog's diet, or she may get digestive troubles. Carrots, apples, fresh broccoli and fresh green beans make good low-calorie treats.