How to Care for a Dog After Spaying - Caring for Your Dog Immediately After the Surgery

1. Keep your dog’s environment calm and quiet. Once you get your dog home, she will need some peace and quiet so that she can rest and recover. Do not arrange surgery the same day as a big dinner party in the evening, as having a large group of people around will not be relaxing for your dog.
- You should also resist inviting people over to come and visit your dog. While she will of course be pleased to see these people, having them there will also make her want to get up and move around while she should be resting.

2. Stay at home for 24 hours after your dog’s surgery. Many people wonder if they should stay home with their dog for days after surgery. This is not necessary. It is, however, a good idea to be home for the first 24 hours after surgery so that you can make sure that your dog is eating, alert, going to the toilet, and not in too much pain.[1]
- If anything happens that concerns you during this first 24 hour period then always phone your vet for advice.
- If you have no choice but to leave the house, consider getting a trusted pet sitter and walking her through this information.

3. Feed your dog a light diet after the surgery. During the evening, after your dog’s anesthetic has begun to wear off, you will be able to feed her. However, give her a light meal, rather than her regular portions. The anesthetic can make some dogs feel nauseous, and eating a full meal may cause your dog to vomit.
- Consider a small portion of cooked chicken breast, rabbit, cod, or turkey along with a little white rice or pasta.
- Alternatively, you could get food that is designed for a dog experiencing nausea. These foods include brands like Hills ID or Purina EN.

4. Switch your dog back to a normal diet the day after surgery. It is fine to return your dog to a normal diet the following day. Keep in mind that it is normal for a dog who has had surgery to not defecate for two to three days.

5. Try to only leave your dog for four hours at a time in the days after her surgery. During the first three to four days after her surgery, you can leave your dog alone for four hours at a time. These four hours will allow her time to sleep and rest, but will also help you to be around enough that you can spot problems she may have.
- Refer to the section on helping a dog in pain to find out what signs to look for.

6. Relax your watch after four or five days. Assuming there have been no serious complications by this point, your dog should do fine when left at home alone. After this point, it's mostly a matter of giving her time to heal until the sutures are removed, 10-14 days after the surgery.