How far can my dog walk after being neutered? Here’s What to Expect

48 hours after neutering: light exercise can be ok in your yard or garden

Some light exercise is ok if you want to let them explore out the back but keep an eye on them and discourage any over-hectic behavior.

All dogs are different so you will need to make a call on this depending on how they appear to be recovering.

Recommended Timeline for Dog Walking After Neutering

Dogs that recover immediately can do light walks indoors within the first week. Even so, there’s still a chance for pets to cause self-inflicted trauma to the surgical site by licking or scratching the sutures. Sometimes, even low-impact movements may cause stitches to open.

This timeline shows how we can slowly walk our dogs within the first weeks after the neutering surgery. It offers a better understanding of what the dog is going through so that we can take good care of our pets until they regain strength for routine walks.

First 24 Hours: The dog will be most uncomfortable during the first day after the surgery. It may feel drowsy due to the anesthesia and stitches, so it would be unwise to force the dog to take walks at this stage. Besides, the dog won’t have the energy to move, as it most likely would want to rest.

Two Days After: I generally recommend that dogs take complete rest up to 48 hours after the surgery. While some dogs may regain strength at this point, there’s still a risk of infection due to the fresh stretches. If your pet exerts too much effort in walking, you also risk the chance of the incision to open and cause bleeding.

Day 3: I usually schedule a post-surgery checkup 3 days after neutering. While the incision may be healing nicely at this stage, we still have to monitor your pet’s health and stitches. Depending on your dog’s energy, we may try reintroducing short walks inside your home.

Day 10: During the 10-day period, make sure to avoid leaving your dogs alone and put them on light exercises in a controlled area. You can also start walking for short distances, although you have to be careful about over-exertion. Depending on your neutered dog’s recovery, we can give the all-clear to continue routine walks.

How to Help Your Dog Regain Strength for Walking

Neutering is an invasive surgical procedure for dogs, so we need to provide the best care for your pet so it can go back to normal. Take note of these tips to ensure you can take your dog on short walks right away.

How soon can I walk my dog after neutering?

If you’re not sure how to care for your dog after they’ve been neutered or spayed, you’re not alone! Most importantly, the best thing to do is follow your vets advice. While it is important for dogs to have rest during this time, it’s also important for pups to get back into their routine and get some light exercise in. Vets advise you to let your dog rest for up to 48 hours after neutering. Light short and slow walks just for them to do their business is fine until you bring your dog in for their 3-day check-up. Once the vet tells you your dog is recovering ok you can take them on short leash walks until they go back in for their 10-day check-up. Your vet may give your pup a cone to prevent him from irritating the surgical site, which can generally be removed for the walk and then reattached afterwards. It’s always best to follow your vets advice on when to remove the cone, and when the cone is removed it’s extremely important to watch your dog carefully so they don’t irritate the wound. There are also some alternatives to the cones the vet supplies which can be much more comfortable for your pup. Check some out here!

After 48 hours, if you think your dog is feeling well enough, some light exercise is ok if you want to let them explore, but it’s important to keep an eye on them and discourage any over-hectic behavior. All dogs are different so you will need to make a call on this depending on how they appear to be recovering. After your pups surgery, you should schedule two check-ups with your vet so they can observe and monitor their recovery. The first will be three days after surgery and the second 10 days after. Rest is crucial during this time, so do your best to avoid any strenuous activity with your pup. The more time your pup has to heal, the better! Here is some advice from Dr. Michael Lund, veterinary staff manager at ASPCA Community Medicine, “If you are going to leave your dog alone after being neutered then keep him crated. If you don’t have a crate, a small room will do as the key here is to restrict their movement as much as possible in order to let the cut heal. I also recommend keeping your neutered or spayed dog away from any other pets in the house to reduce excitement, possible aggression and movement which could aggravate the wound.”

The most activity your pup should get in in the first 10 days after surgery is very light supervised exercise around the block. Try to keep your walks short and sweet! By the time you and your dog return to the vet for their 10-day check-up, your vet will likely give the all-clear for your furry friend to return to their normal activity levels if they’ve healed properly. On the off-chance your dog is having complications with the healing process, your vet may prescribe antibiotics or schedule further treatment if necessary. It’s important to keep in mind that if your dog moves around too much after their neutering procedure, the tissue which was cut may not heal properly. This has the potential to lead to the wounds recovering very slowly, so if you have a wiggly pup, try your best to keep an eye on them. The more your pup moves around, the harder it becomes for the affected tissue to heal. If this happens, it can also increase the risk of infection.

The best thing you can do when taking care of your dog at home is to be present. Recovering pets need more attention from their owners. Spend as much time as you can with them, and let them know they’re loved by giving them a lot of cuddles and their favorite treats. If you aren’t able to take too much time off of work, you can instead schedule long visits with your pups favorite Swifto walker!, This can go a long way towards keeping your dog calm while recovering. The bottom line is; your dog is more than a pet, he’s a member of your family. When he comes out of surgery, he wants his best pal to be there for him as he recovers. Make sure to follow your vet’s instructions on limiting activity, even though it’s not always easy as most dogs will want to walk after neutering (just like any other day!). Give your puppy pal extra love and affection and make sure to follow up with your vet about any concerns you may have.This will ensure your dog recovers and returns to their happy and healthy self before long.