Why is my dog crying after getting neutered?
There are a few reasons your dog may cry after getting neutered. The good news is, this is normal, particularly in the hours after surgery. Understanding why your pooch is crying can help both of you to get through it.
It’s common for dogs to cry or whine after surgery due to anesthesia. If you’ve ever undergone anesthesia yourself, you probably remember being disoriented or confused in the hours after you woke up.
Your dog also experiences this. Unlike us, dogs don’t understand what is going on. They don’t know why they are confused or disoriented, which can make it scarier for them.
This type of crying should stop within 12 to 24 hours after surgery, as the anesthesia wears off.
If your pooch is crying due to confusion, you may notice they stop crying when you are nearby or petting them. This is because your presence them makes them feel safe.
The pain from neutering will be the worst the day after surgery. At this point, the anesthesia has worn off, and healing is in its beginning stages. Your pooch should seem a bit better the next day, or two days after surgery. The pain should be completely gone 1 week after surgery.
If your pooch is in pain, you may notice that they don’t stop crying when you are nearby.
They may also pant and shake. They may attempt to lick the incision site. On the other hand, your pooch may not groom themselves as they normally do.
They may also be lethargic or reluctant to get up and move, because it causes them more pain. It’s normal for them to have a reduced appetite and thirst when they are in pain as well.
Stress or anxiety can also cause your pooch to cry after being neutered. Surgery is a very stressful event for a dog. They go to the vet, and they are put to sleep. They wake up confused, with no idea what happened.
They may realize they are in pain, or have a wound. The anesthesia keeps them disoriented for several hours after surgery. It’s easy to see how they could be very anxious.
This can continue even after the pain has lessened and the anesthesia wears off. Unfortunately, neutering can also cause behavioral changes, including increased fear and anxiety.
Other signs of anxiety include drooling, excessive barking, pacing, and being destructive. They may also have house accidents.
Of course, after surgery, some behaviors should be expected. Your pooch may need to use the potty indoors until they are themselves again. Lethargy is normal for the first day or two after surgery. However, other signs are clues that your pooch might have anxiety after netuering.
Just like humans, dogs get bored. Have you ever found yourself in bed recovering from surgery or illness, feeling like you were losing your mind due to boredom?
This may be how your dog feels after surgery, and it can cause them to cry or whine. After all, they can’t do their normal activities in the days after surgery. This can be particularly difficult for them if they are high energy, or used to being outside daily.
If your dog is bored, they may lick excessively, chew things they aren’t supposed to, bark excessively, or pace.
Why Is My Dog Whining After Neutering?
Newly neutered dogs cry due to pain, side effects of anesthesia or pain medication, confusion, feeling cold, or anxiety.
There are many reasons why dogs whine and cry. When your dog gets neutered, they go through surgery. Pain from the surgery and anesthesia both affect their short-term well-being.
Here are common reasons why dogs cry after neutering:
There’s also a chance that the whining has nothing to do with the surgery.
Excessive crying after surgery can indicate that your dog is in pain.
Here are some other common signs your dog is in pain:
Contact the vet if you suspect your dog is in pain. If that’s the case, your vet can prescribe pain meds or increase the dosage.
Anesthesia depresses brain function. It takes control of the nervous system while other medications render dogs unconscious.
Anesthesia ensures that dogs don’t feel pain or have memories of the surgery.[1]
It is a groundbreaking medical intervention, but it is not without risks or side effects.
An estimated 1 in 100 000 animals react negatively to anesthesia. Some reactions are mild, but in rare cases, dogs have experienced a potentially fatal anaphylactic shock. [2]
One of the most common anesthesia side effects is crying. This happens within the first hours after surgery[3]. Dogs can also be sleepy for 12 -24 hours after anesthesia.[4]
Dogs can cry as a side effect of pain medication. Speak to your vet about changing medications if you suspect the medication is not working or harming your dog. Vets can change the medication or dosage.[5]
Dogs can cry when feeling confused and anxious after surgery. Some dogs experience dysphoria – temporary memory loss caused by anesthesia.[6]
Dysphoria makes dogs unable to recognize their owners until the condition has worn off. This can be distressing and cause dogs to cry.
Anesthesia can cause dogs to feel cold. Dogs have to regain temperature control after sedation.[7]
During surgery, their body temperature is maintained using heaters and blankets. Keep your dog warm in the car ride home and make sure his recovery bed is cozy.
How long will my dog whine after surgery?
If you’re still not sure what’s going on with your dog, please call your vet clinic and brainstorm with a nurse to try to figure out why it’s happening. The good news is that if you follow the rules, the whining should stop overnight or within a few days.