Spay Recover

My puppy got spayed yesterday, she has an e-collar and pain meds but those were the only things they mentioned at the vet's office (and having to go back to get the stitches removed), so I was just wondering what things should be and shouldn't be done during the recovery of getting spayed?

[Jaybay]

Mostly just keep her quiet.  If she's used to sleeping in a crate, that's where she needs to be for the most part.  Trips outside for the next couple of days should be done only for elimination purposes, and she should be kept on the leash at those times.  You don't want her to get running after a bird or a squirrel and risk popping the stitches and spilling her intestines out of the incision.  I know that sounds dramatic, but it's been known to happen.

Hyradration is very important to healing, so she needs to have easy access to water day and night.  She may not feel like eating much for the first 48 hours after surgery due to the anesthesia and pain.  Plain white rice and canned white chicken usually go down pretty easily in the beginning.

Just keep an eye on the incision for any swelling or redness that goes beyond the actual incision.  A tiny bit of draining between stitches is OK, but a lot of thick, smelly drainage isn't.  Incision problems or an obvious fever need to be reported to your veterinarian.  Of course, you should call your vet with any and all questions about your pup's post-op care, so don't feel foolish for making the call for more information.

[shaelyn_marie]

My dog (bichon frise / maltese) was spayed on Thursday.  She has not been feeling well since .. eating a little bit here or there and not drinking too much.  She will be laying there and all of a suden JUMP as if something is really bothering her.  She will then try to lick the incision area.  She is going to the bathroom okay for the amount she is intaking.  The procedure was performed at the Humane Society and I called and they didn't seem to be too concerned.  The only thing I am concerned with is that she has jumed up and down off the couch a few times ... any sugguestions ... we are very concerned.  Thank you.

[Ghilly]

Everything she is doing is normal.  Remember, when an incision is made, nerves are cut as well as skin and muscle.  Some nerves start to regenerate almost immediately as the incision starts to heal, and there could be sudden itching sensations or pinching sensations.  I had the same thing when I had my abdominal surgery, so I know what she's feeling.  :)

As Jaybay suggested to xDeadxStarx, if you have a crate, now would be a good time to keep her in it for four or five days while the stitches do their job and the incision knits together.  After four or five days the incision has healed sufficiently that it will not pull open.  You said that she has jumped up and down off the couch a time or two already, PLEASE prevent her from doing that.  If she has not hurt her incision yet, great.  But take pains to make sure she doesn't jump up and down any more for three or four more days.  I can recall a couple of instances where newly spayed females were brought back into the hospital with open incisions, and it's not a fun thing to go through, so keep her as quiet as possible.  If you don't have a crate, see if you can borrow one from someone for a couple of days.  She's a tiny dog, even a cat crate will work.

Ghilly