Neutering surgery is when the testicles of an animal are removed in order to make them infertile. Spaying surgery is when a female animal’s reproductive organs are removed to make them infertile as well. These procedures are done worldwide and recommended by almost all vets because they have a lot of benefits for both the pet and the owner. 

If your dog just had a neutering or spaying surgery or will have it soon and you need to know what to expect post-surgery, then this article is for you. You might wonder why my dog keeps jumping after being neutered, why their appetite is reduced, or why they are having behavioral changes. This article will explain these points in addition to some advice that will make the postoperative period easier for you and your dog.

Following the Safety Protocols 

First of all, you need to understand the surgery’s safety. A neutering procedure is not considered complicated, but just like any other surgery, it might have some complications. 

Spaying surgery is more complex than neutering. Some of these complications cannot be anticipated or avoided, but they are not very common, and your vet can be prepared to deal with them on the spot. These complications are rare and can sometimes be avoided if the surgery is done properly and the postoperative period is properly observed. 

Complications that Might Happen

We will list the complications that might happen during or after post-operation with your dog and the warning signs after spaying your dog.

1. Infection 

An infection can occur if the dog keeps licking their surgical wound or if they were in an unclean environment. It can as well occur because of a nonclean and sterile surgery material and environment. 

Depending on the severity, these infections are caused by bacterial growth and can be resolved with antibiotics and wound cleaning. If the wound is extremely infected and the bacterial growth is spreading, your dog needs emergency hospitalization. 

2. Anesthetic complications 

Anesthetic complications can happen depending on many things, including breed, age, species, and medical history.

• Very young dogs and very old dogs are at a higher risk of anesthetic complications.
• Brachycephalic dogs like pugs are at a higher risk as well. They may develop dyspnea that might be deadly if a wrong anesthesia protocol was used and the dog was not monitored right. 
• Dogs with liver diseases or respiratory diseases are at risk as well. This is why it is preferable to perform blood tests before surgery.

3. Surgical error’s consequences

A surgical error can be either removing an organ or part of it that shouldn’t be removed or a bad suturing technique that can lead to complications. Some of the common consequences you can find:

• Internal bleeding
• Seroma
• Hernia
• Ovarian remnant 

Does Your Dog Feel Pain After Surgery?

The worst fear for dog owners when a vet suggests neutering or spaying is pain. 

Why does my dog keep jumping after being neutered? Why is my dog barely eating after being spayed? How do I know if my dog is in pain? How long will my dog be in pain after neutering? These questions are very common, and don’t worry; your dog is not the only one that goes through pain after surgery.

During the surgery, your dog is given pain medications and antibiotics. Is it normal if they still feel pain after the surgery? It is normal if your dog feels uncomfortable for the first couple of days after being spayed or neutered. What is not normal is that your dog still experiences discomfort and pain after 4-5 days. Your vet will prescribe some pain medications to give at home as well. 

It is normal for dogs not to eat immediately after the surgery. It is, in fact, necessary to wait a while before offering them food. But if your dog doesn’t start eating the next day, then it’s preferable to contact your vet.

How do I know if my dog is in pain?

• Your dog might become aggressive when you try to touch its surgical sight.
• Your dog might suddenly jump 
• They will stop eating 
• They will stay alone and barely move

Behavioral Changes After Spaying/Neutering Surgery

A dog’s genetic makeup, along with his social learning and training, are the best indicators of his temperament. Although the reproductive state affects behavior, it does not have a disproportionately large impact on animal behavior.

The role of testosterone is to increase sexual drives and sexual acts. The dog will start marking his territory by urinating and will become aggressive with other males. If these acts happen at your house, it’s time to neuter or spay your dog.

These behaviors are eliminated by neutering, but other behaviors that are not influenced by testosterone will probably not be affected. For example, if your dog pees from excitement, this won’t be changed by neutering. 

So yes, your dog will become calmer after neutering and won’t chase other dogs and go into fights that might harm them, but it won’t stop other behaviors that are related to hormones. In this case, you need a professional trainer to help you. 

The real question is will a dog become aggressive after neutering? 

It is not very common for dogs to become aggressive after neutering. But what might happen is that the dog will become more fearful because there’s not a lot of testosterone left in his body to drive to be more confident and attack other dogs. This fear will let them try to defend themselves from strangers or any danger. 

It is not considered aggression since they will not attack, but they would become more aware. Remember, all dogs are different, and their behavior cannot be determined depending on the surgery. You have to take into consideration their breed, age, environment, training, and gender.

How Do I Comfort My Dog After Neutering/Spaying 

You can help prevent post-surgical complications if you take good care of your dog. You can take a few steps to ensure that the surgical site doesn’t get infected and ensure that the dog is comfortable and not in pain.

The following steps are recommended post-spaying/castration :

• Keep your dog indoors, away from other animals that might bother him, and ensure that the area he’s in is quiet and doesn’t cause him any stress.
• Try to spend time with your dog and pet them slowly to make them feel safe and comfortable.
• Do not remove your dog’s cone (Elizabeth collar) if your veterinarian doesn’t tell you to do so. This cone helps prevent them from licking the incision site or biting their sutures, which might cause an infection or bleeding.
• Keep checking the incision site for any abnormalities, such as blood or puss coming out of the wound.
• Give all the medications prescribed by your vet on time.
• If you notice any abnormalities, do not be late to contact your vet.
• Make sure that the environment is clean.
• Do not play roughly with your dog; do not let them jump and run around for at least a week or two.
• Your veterinarian might have more advice depending on your dog’s state, so make sure to ask them.

Conclusion 

A dog’s spaying or castration surgery is not considered very complicated and scary. Its benefits are worth it, and the complications are not very common, and you might even prevent some. 

If you’re considering why my dog is jumping after being neutered, it is probably caused by a little discomfort. Still, if this behavior continues for a long time, it is preferable to contact your vet. You can also follow some steps for post-neutering care that will keep your dog happy and comfortable such as providing them with a clean and comfortable environment and not letting them be too active for a while.