Canine Neuter Aftercare

The surgery to neuter your dog involves a superficial incision to remove both testicles. Your dog will be given a general anesthetic for the procedure. The night after the surgery, your dog may be sleepy and may not want to eat or drink. You can offer small amounts of food and water after 6 PM this evening - large amounts of either, on an empty stomach, may induce vomiting. If your dog vomits, take away all food and water and try again in the morning. Your dog should be able to return to his normal feeding schedule in 1-2 days. You may notice some redness, a small amount of swelling, even some moisture along the incision line in the first few days. This is normal and should resolve without treatment, though you can gently cleanse the area with water or hydrogen peroxide to keep it clean and dry. Keep your dog from licking the incision line. If necessary, you can purchase an Elizabethan Collar to insure that he won't bother his incision when you are not at home to monitor him. The scrotum (the sac that held the testicles) will sometimes swell with fluid and appear just as though the testicles were still there. This swelling should disappear in about 10 days. Your dog may have external sutures. External skin sutures need to be removed in 10-14 days. If your dog coughs a little during the first 24 hours, this is probably due to irritation from the tube that was placed in his throat to maintain the gas anesthesia. If coughing persists, or you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to call your veterinarian. We recommend that you restrict your dog's activity (leash walk) for at least 5 days. It is also possible that your dog may still be able to impregnate a female for the next 30 days. If you have an unaltered female near or in heat, it would be advisable to keep the dogs apart. The above is general veterinary information. Do not begin any course of treatment without consulting your regular veterinarian. All animals should be examined at least once every 12 months.