Rio Rancho Veterinarians Tell You What to Expect After a Spay or Neuter Procedure

Spaying or neutering your pet can be a stressful experience. For most, this will be our fur baby’s first surgery. As new pet parents, we may not know what to expect from this procedure and how to take the best care of our pets afterward.

At Coronado Pet Hospital in Rio Rancho, we understand how stressful spaying or neutering your pet can be. That’s why we want to offer insights into what to expect after spay and neuter procedures.

What to Expect After a Spay or Neuter Procedure

Feeling Tired

Most cats and dogs will feel tired after you take them home. This is quite normal. Some anesthetic drugs can have a 12 to 24 hour effect. Plus, a pet used to sleeping a lot during the day may not have gotten their normal amount of rest in the busy hospital setting.

If your cat or dog can’t be woken easily with gentle petting or continues to be very sleepy after 24 hours, contact your vet or the nearest pet emergency hospital.

Monitoring Urination and Defecation

Many pets won’t defecate for 24 to 48 hours after surgery. The GI tract slows during anesthesia and will take some time to return to normal. Plus, your pet will probably not have eaten since the day prior to surgery, so their stomach may be empty.

Urination is usually not affected.

Contact your veterinarian if your pet has not defecated in more than 48 hours post-surgery.

Observing Eating and Drinking

Your veterinarian will usually have you limit the amount of food and water given to your pet the first 12 to 24 hours after they are home. Since spay and neuter surgeries use anesthesia, your vet wants to ensure they can digest the food and water without vomiting or having other digestive issues.

Usually, if your pet doesn’t have issues processing the smaller amounts of food and water the night after surgery, then your pet can go back to eating and drinking average amounts the next day.

If your dog or cat vomits, has other digestive issues, or does not want to eat or drink at all by the following morning, contact your veterinarian.

Taking Medications

After a spay or neuter procedure, your veterinarian may prescribe your cat or dog medications. These help manage your pet’s post-operative pain.

Do not give your pet human medications or medications not prescribed for this procedure. Using medications not recommended by your veterinarian can cause severe reactions or possible organ damage.

If you’re unfamiliar with giving your cat or dog oral medications, ask your veterinarian for safe and low-stress ways to administer medications to your pet.

Aftercare Recommendations

Aftercare for dogs and cats after spaying and neutering procedures are similar.

Restricting Exercise

Running, jumping, and playing can cause stitches to rip and surgical sites to open. Limit your pet’s exercise for at least 10 to 14 days.

Preventing Licking or Scratching

If a cat or dog scratches or licks the incision site, infections and other issues can occur. This is why your dog or cat is usually sent home with an Elizabethan collar (E-collar). Your dog or cat should wear this E-collar for 10 to 14 days or longer, depending on the healing process.

Some pet parents call it a cone.

It’s best to keep the E-collar on them at all times. This ensures your pet doesn’t get the opportunity to scratch or lick their incision.

Sometimes, pets don’t like to eat or drink while wearing the cone. You may remove it for short periods to allow your pet to eat or drink, but replace it immediately afterward. Basically, if you’re not actively watching them, the cone must be on.

Examining the Surgical Area

It’s crucial to monitor the surgery site to make sure it’s healing properly. Watch for signs that indicate that infection or other issues may be occurring:

• Swelling
• Discharge
• Redness
• Bleeding

Contact your veterinarian immediately if these symptoms appear or if you’re concerned about any post-surgery conditions.

Avoiding Baths and Swimming

It’s important to keep the surgical site dry. Don’t bathe or allow your cat or dog to enter the water until the site has healed. This usually takes 10 to 14 days.

In Need of a Spay and Neuter Clinic in Rio Rancho?

At Coronado Pet Hospital in Rio Rancho, we understand how stressful spay and neuter procedures can be for you and your pet. That’s why our veterinarians take the greatest care before and after surgery to ensure your pet heals properly and quickly.

We’re always here to answer any questions or concerns you have about spaying and neutering your pets. Contact us today to schedule your pet’s spay or neuter procedure.