Spay/Neuter
Part of what rescues and shelters do to help with the dog overpopulation issue is ensure that all dogs being adopted out by them are spayed or neutered, thus preventing unwanted litters in the future. Depending on how old your foster is he or she may need to go in for their "big girl/big boy" surgery during their stay with you. Female dogs are typically spayed around 6 months old, and male dogs are neutered between 6-7 months of age.
WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER Your dog will have undergone general anaesthesia, which can have some lingering effects. When getting your dog in and out of the car you will want to lift them up as if you were lifting a sheep or a goat in order to prevent tearing of the stitches. • Your dog will probably sleep more than usual • Your dog won’t be too hungry, so just offer them some water and give them a meal the next day • Because of the fluids given your dog will probably have to pee more often! Make sure that you are taking the dog out frequently, but be sure they aren’t running up and down the stairs GIRLS Once the procedure is complete your vet should call you to let you know that your dog is in recovery. They like to keep the dogs in recovery for several hours to overnight to ensure that all the anaesthetic has worn off and your dog is on her way to being her normal self. When you come to pick up your dog the vet will provide you will some after-care instructions, and depending on the type of stitch used, you may have to book a follow up appointment for removal of staples or stitches. Most vets will advise you to keep your dog from running around/jumping/playing too much after surgery to ensure that no stitches are popped. You will also be sent home with a cone to prevent your dog from licking at the incision site, which can lead to infection. As your dog heals you might notice fluid-filled bubbles forming around the incision site. This is simply a fluid build up coupled with swelling and can be reduced with a warm compress. If the incision site becomes red and warm to the touch, or starts to leak contact your vet immediately. During her recovery time you can still exercise your dog mentally through teaching fun tricks such as high five, speak, shake, etc. GUYS The male neuter surgery is far less invasive than a spay, so your dog will be able to come home the day of the procedure. Since there will be stitches the vet will probably recommend a cone to prevent him from licking at the incision and causing infection. You may notice that the area is swollen causing you to wonder “did the vet actually do anything?!”, but yes, rest assured they did! The area will probably be swollen for a couple of days post-surgery, and you will want to make sure he isn’t playing too hard to prevent further issues. |