Is it normal for dogs to sleep a lot after being spayed?
It’s common for pets to be a little tired the evening after their spay or neuter surgery. But if your pet is super sleepy, not responsive to your touch or voice, or otherwise acting in a concerning manner, it’s time to call your veterinarian (or an animal ER if your veterinarian’s office is closed for the night).
You should only need to do this for the first 2 or 3 days after her surgery. Some redness, swelling and a small amount of red-tingled discharge is normal. If you notice any of the following, you should seek the advice of your vet: a gap between the edges of the dog’s spay incision.
First things first, what happens in a bitch spay?
A bitch spay is where the female reproductive organs (the uterus and ovaries) are removed through an incision into the abdomen. The dog is first given some medication to get them to relax and provide pain relief, and then a general anaesthetic is given. Under anaesthetic, they are completely unconscious and relaxed. A tube is placed to control the airway and they are connected to oxygen, anaesthetic gases and monitoring equipment.
Some clinics can offer a less invasive procedure called a laparoscopic or keyhole spay. Here, a camera and fine instruments are used to remove the ovaries through two or three tiny incisions into the abdomen, again under a general anaesthetic. The advantage of laparoscopic procedure is that the dogs tend to recover faster, the wounds are smaller and the operation itself can be quicker.
Depending on your clinic, your dog may have absorbable stitches in the skin that you can’t see, or perhaps stitches (or staples) that will need to be removed around 14 days after the surgery.
What to Expect After Spaying a Dog
Did you just get your dog spayed? Great job! Spaying (and neutering) is key to controlling the pet population.
Recovery from spaying surgery takes approximately 10 to 14 days. Many pet owners are unprepared for their dogs post-operative symptoms, and theyre left wondering “Is this normal?”
How To Care For Dogs After Spay Neuter
Many pet owners are unprepared for their dogs post-operative symptoms, and theyre left wondering “Is this normal?”