Thinking about spaying your dog? Spaying your dog is an important step in ensuring their health and well being. It can help prevent certain health issues and behavioral problems. We and our peer veterinarians recommend this common surgical procedure for dogs under our care. This procedure is the most common one successfully performed. While rare, the procedure can come with complications. This includes the risk of infection. Knowing the warning signs can help you identify and treat any issues quickly, ensuring your dog has a smooth recovery.
In this article, you’ll learn the various warning signs after spaying dog there is a problem and tips to prevent them.
Table of Contents
- What is spaying?
- Reasons for spaying a dog
- Complications Spaying Your Dog
- Signs of Infection After Surgery
- Warning Signs After Spaying Your Pet
- Preventing Infection After Spaying Your Dog
- Summary
- FAQ
What is spaying?
Spaying, also known as ovariohysterectomy, is a surgical procedure that involves removing a female dog’s reproductive organs, including the ovaries and uterus. The procedure is typically done under general anesthesia and involves making a small incision in the abdomen to access the reproductive organs.
During the surgery, your veterinarian will carefully remove the ovaries and uterus. Then they’ll close the incision with sutures or surgical staples. After the surgery, your dog will need to be closely monitored to ensure that she is recovering well and to watch for any signs of complications.
Reasons for spaying a dog
Spaying a dog has several benefits, including reducing the risk of certain types of cancer, preventing unwanted litters, and helping to reduce certain behavioral issues. It is typically recommended that female dogs be spayed between the ages of 6-15 months depending on your dogs breed per the American Animal Hospital Association Canine Life Stage Guidelines, although the procedure can be performed at any age.
There are several reasons why you may choose to have your female dog spayed. Some of the most common reasons include:
- Preventing unwanted litters: Spaying your dog eliminates the risk of unwanted pregnancies.
- Reducing the risk of certain types of cancer: Spaying your dog before her first heat cycle significantly reduces the risk of mammary cancer while also eliminating the risk of ovarian and uterine cancer.
- Preventing certain behavioral issues: Spaying can reduce or eliminate certain behaviors associated with the dog heat cycle, such as roaming, aggression, and excessive vocalization. For more information on the symptoms of the dog heat cycle, please refer to our article Do dogs have periods? Dog heat cycle symptoms.
- Avoiding medical complications: Some female dogs can experience medical complications such as pyometra (an infection of the uterus) if they are not spayed.
- Improving overall health: Spayed female dogs tend to live longer and have fewer health issues than unspayed dogs.
It’s important to note that spaying your dog is a personal decision that should be made in consultation with your veterinarian. They can help you determine the best time to spay your dog and discuss any potential risks or complications associated with the procedure. Spaying or neutering (for males) is the first discussion we have with every new pet parent. For an indepth look at spaying and neutering, please read our article Does Fixing a Dog Calm Them Down?
Complications Spaying Your Dog:
Complications from spaying your dog can occur during or days after surgery. One of the most common complications during the surgery is excessive bleeding. This can be caused by a number of factors such as improper incision technique or clotting disorders. Excessive bleeding can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. Another complication during the surgery is the opening of the incision. This self-inflicted complication can happen due to the dog’s movement or they licked the incision. This can lead to infection and delayed healing. Behavioral changes can also occur after the surgery. These can be lethargy, loss of appetite, or aggression. These changes may be temporary or long lasting depending on your dog’s temperament and their specific responses to the surgery.
Signs of Infection After Surgery
Infection is a potential complication after spaying your dog.
Signs of infection can include:
1. Redness of the tissues around the incision
2. Swelling of the tissues around the incision
3. Discharge from the incision
4. A fever
5. The incision has a bad smell
In severe cases, the infection can spread to other parts of the body. This can lead to more serious health problems. It’s important to monitor the incision site and look for any signs of infection. The earlier you detect an infection, the sooner your veterinarian can help prevent the infection from spreading and promote a quicker recovery.
Warning Signs After Spaying Your Pet
There are several warning signs to watch for after spaying your dog. These include bleeding that doesn’t stop, swelling or discharge from the incision site, vomiting, and signs of pain such as whimpering or crying. Another common side effect is your dog shaking after surgery. Your dog shakes because of the effects of the general anesthesia. This is normal. That said, it’s important to contact your veterinarian immediately if you notice any of these symptoms as they can indicate a more serious problem that requires prompt veterinarian care.
Preventing Infection After Spaying Your Dog
While infection can be a potential complication after spaying your dog, there are several post-operative care steps you can take to help prevent it. One of the most important things is to keep the incision site dry and clean. Avoid bathing your dog or letting them swim for at least ten days after the surgery. Also, discourage your dog from licking the incision site. This can introduce bacteria and delay healing. To do this, you can use an Elizabethan collar (also known as a cone) or t-shirt to prevent your dog from reaching the incision site with their mouth. You’ll also want to make sure your dog has access to clean water and a balanced diet. This will help them rebuild their strength and immune system which helps reduce the chance of infection. For a detailed aftercare plan, here’s the Animal Humane Societies post operative care guidelines.
Summary
Spaying is a very common, routine operation we and other veterinarians perform regularly with little or no problems. Spaying your dog can help prevent certain health issues, behavior problems, and dealing with a female dog in heat, it’s important to remember that it’s still surgery and your dog will be put under general anesthesia. The most common issue is the risk of infection. Knowing the warning signs of infection and taking steps to prevent it can help ensure a smooth recovery for your four legged furry friend. Remember to monitor the incision site and contact your veterinarian if you notice any signs of infection or other complications.
It’s also important to follow your veterinarian’s post-operative instructions to ensure a smooth recovery. This may include limiting your dog’s physical activity during the recovery period. Your care should include providing them with pain medication as prescribed and monitoring their health and behavior. Be sure to go to any follow-up appointments with your veterinarian to ensure that your dog is healing properly.
In addition to monitoring your dog’s physical health, it is also important to pay attention to their emotional well being. Dogs can experience anxiety and stress after surgery which can manifest in various ways. Signs of stress such as excessive licking, panting, or pacing are clues. Make sure to provide your dog with a comfortable and quiet space to rest, offer them treats, toys, and give them plenty of affection. This can help alleviate their stress and promote a quicker recovery.
Lastly, it’s important to discuss the potential complications and risks associated with spaying your dog with your veterinarian before the procedure. They can help you weigh the benefits and risks and determine the best course of action for your dog’s individual needs. If your dog is older or has underlying health issues, the risks associated with surgery may be higher, and alternative options may need to be considered.
In this article you’ve learned the various warning signs after spaying dog there is a problem and tips to prevent them. This will go a long way towards a healthy and happy life together with your pet dog. And keeping your Pet Happy is what we all want.
FAQ
Question: What is spaying?
Answer: Spaying is a surgical procedure that involves removing a female dog’s reproductive organs. The procedure is done under general anesthesia and involves making a small incision in the abdomen.
Question: Why should you spay your dog?
Answer: Spaying a dog has several benefits. This includes reducing the risk of certain types of cancer, preventing unwanted litters, and helping to reduce certain behavioral issues.
Question: What are the reasons for spaying a dog?
Answer: Some of the most common reasons for spaying a dog include preventing unwanted litters, reducing the risk of certain types of cancer, preventing certain behavioral issues, avoiding medical complications such as pyometra, and improving overall health.
Question: What are the potential complications of spaying a dog?
Answer: One of the most common complications during the surgery is excessive bleeding. Another complication is infection and delayed healing. Behavioral changes can also occur after the surgery.
Question: What are the signs of infection after spaying a dog?
Answer: Signs of infection can include redness and swelling of the tissues around the incision, discharge from the incision, a fever, and a bad smell coming from the incision.
Question: What are the warning signs after spaying a dog?
Answer: Warning signs to watch for after spaying your dog include bleeding that doesn’t stop, swelling or discharge from the incision site, vomiting, and signs of pain such as whimpering or crying.