After surgery, all dogs need basic care when they return home. In this Animal Expert article, we will focus on caring for a newly sterilized or sterilized dog.
If you want to know the difference between sterilization and sterilization and the care that newly operated dogs need, read on!
- Castration involves the removal of male (testicle) or female gonads (ovaries and uterus.
- Or simply the ovaries).
- Surgery in which the testicles are removed is called an orchidectomy or an orchidectomy.
- Ovarian removal is called an “ovariectomy” and.
- If the uterus is also removed.
- It’s called an ovariehothectomy.
We usually talk about castration and sterilization in an undifferentiated way, but it’s not the same. Sterilization involves leaving the animal in a non-reproductive reproductive state. To do this, techniques such as those used in human medicine, called “tubal ligation” or “vasectomy” could be used in men.
As gônadas continuam no mesmo lugar e, se forem aplicadas estas técnicas nos cachorros, eles continuam produzindo hormonas, mantendo o instinto de reprodução. Este é o instinto que queremos evitar, assim como a ação das hormonas sexuais que ao fim de algum tempo provocam muitas doenças nas cadelas (tumores de mama, infeções de útero…) e nos cachorros macho (hiperplasia da próstata). Para além disso, queremos evitar a marcação de território, agressividade ou tendência para fugir.
Therefore, although we are talking about taking care of newly sterilized dogs and using this definition as synonymous with sterilized dogs in the usual way, we must remember that they are not the same and that in this case what brings the most benefits is sterilization.
To remove the ovaries and uterus, access to the abdominal cavity is required. That’s why the dog returns home with one or more incisions in the abdomen. Surgery may be performed:
In any case, regardless of the technique, the veterinarian will ask you to prevent the dog from accessing the points on the days of surgery. You may be advised to wear an Elizabethan neck or T-shirt to prevent you from licking this area. Postoperative analgesics (such as meloxicam or carprofen) will also be prescribed and, at the discretion of the veterinarian, an antibiotic may also be prescribed for the following days.
Dogs should recover in a quiet, warm and comfortable place for a few days. You should check your incisions every day to confirm that there are no signs of inflammation or infection in the area. This ensures that you detect in a timely manner any abnormalities resulting from the surgery. If a dog sleeps on the street, the veterinarian will ask you to sleep inside your home for at least a week.
If the incision is too wide, even if you take painkillers, the dog may have difficulty defecating. For this reason, some veterinarians recommend a wet diet and/or oral lubricant, such as olive oil in food. The veterinarian will surely warn you to be very attentive to the side effects of the prescribed medications (vomiting, diarrhoea …). You will also be asked to avoid playing too abruptly, involving jumping or running, for at least a week, because no matter the size of the incision, there is always a risk of hernia.
Very careful in the first few days. If the dog was near the next heat or in the following days, it will continue to emit odors of “available females” for some time and the males will continue to approach. It is best to give it 7 to 10 days before accompanying her with the rest of the canine friends in the park or in the recreation areas.
Sometimes the special hormonal cycle makes them difficult. Milk can appear on your nipples after surgery and trigger maternal behavior, called a psychological pregnancy. The veterinarian will tell you what to do in both cases, as although they are rare, they can be very uncomfortable for the dog.
For men, the testicles are removed through an incision in the scrotum (a bag of skin that covers them). Some veterinarians choose to perform surgery on the scrotum, although this is not such a popular technique. As a general rule, no access to the abdominal cavity is necessary. It should provide a warm and calm environment for your puppy to recover. You should limit physical activity for a few days, as in women.
The veterinarian usually prescribes a post-surgical pain reliever for a few days, such as meloxicam (usually for fewer days than for women). You should also monitor the incision for a week. It is not common for oral antibiotics to be prescribed, but it depends on each case. Points usually withdraw at 7 to 9 days and if they are reabsorbable they disappear after an approximate time.
In all sexes of dogs, it is necessary to make sure that there are no signs such as vomiting and diarrhoea. For men, surgery is faster and there are generally fewer postoperative medications associated with it.
You should control the presence of bruising in the scrotum, the pressure exerted on the scrotum to remove the testicles, as well as rashes or irritations in and around the scrotum area (this skin is one of the most sensitive parts of the dog’s body and it is necessary to shave to perform the surgery).
Of course, it is necessary for the dog to wear an Elizabethan collar in the days after surgery to prevent the dog from ingmmaing this area and breaking the dots. The hairs at birth cause a lot of itching and it is natural that the dog wants to lick this area at all costs to relieve the uncomfortable sensation. Also, when the spots “dry” can tear the skin a little, which is also very uncomfortable.
Irritating creams, similar to those of infants, can help with irritation in the scrotum area. However, they can never be applied at points or near the incision area. Some bruising ointments contain compounds that prevent clots from forming and may be recommended for scrotal hematoma.
In the days after surgery, male dogs remain fertile. Therefore, you should be very careful during the week following the operation and avoid areas with dogs that are not sterilized. It will be a few weeks before all hormones are removed from the blood and it is not recommended that the dog shake too much when it feels that a female is in heat.
As always, every case is different. These basic cares we suggest at Animal Expert can complement those recommended by your trusted veterinarian. Do not hesitate to consult a specialist in any abnormal situation that occurs after the sterilization of your dog.
This article is for informational purposes only, in Animal Expert.com.br we cannot prescribe veterinary treatments or make any kind of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case of any type of condition or discomfort.
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