Treatment of dog sutures after sterilization

Spaying is a common procedure that many pet owners resort to if they don't plan to breed. It involves completely removing the uterus and ovaries to eliminate the chance of pregnancy. One of the key steps in post-spay care is cleaning the dog's incisions. sterilizationThe speed of the recovery process largely depends on how well it is carried out.

The dog on the first day after surgery

A major surgical procedure, such as castration, performed under deep anesthesia is a serious challenge for any living organism. The drugs that inhibit the central nervous system and block pain are eliminated from the body within 24 days. There's no need to treat the dog's incisions during the first 24 hours after surgery. All efforts should be directed toward recuperating the animal.

To avoid compromising your pet's health, it is important to closely monitor its condition and strictly follow the doctor's basic recommendations:

• Choose a flat surface for your pet to rest on, free of any steepness or elevation. During the first few hours, your pet's body coordination is impaired and they simply lack the strength to overcome obstacles.
• Ensure a stable, optimally controlled, draft-free microclimate in the room where the dog is resting. During the postoperative period, the dog's thermoregulation will be temporarily impaired, and its metabolism will be slowed. Avoid using a heating pad to warm a cold and weakened animal, as this can cause internal bleeding.
• Keep your pet on a starvation diet. Even a small amount of food can trigger vomiting, which can easily cause the dog to choke due to its weakened state.

While your dog is semi-asleep, move it from side to side at least once an hour. This will prevent limb numbness and reduce the risk of pulmonary edema. If your dog urinates on its own, use absorbent pads.

The following signs will indicate that complications have arisen after sterilization:

• no urination or blood in the urine;
• uneven, intermittent breathing with an open mouth;
• rapid or irregular heartbeat;
• regular vomiting;
• increase in body temperature.

Over the next 2-3 days, the dog will gradually recover from the anesthesia. Motor functions will be fully restored, and behavior will return to normal.

How to properly treat stitches after castration

After spaying or neutering, the incision on a female dog runs from the navel to the tail. Its length, depending on the dog's body size, can vary from 3 to 15 cm. The need for suture removal depends on the type of suture material used. Some sutures dissolve on their own, while others are removed 10 to 14 days after surgery.

Before this point, it's important to take care of the dog's incision after surgery. To protect the treated abdominal area from being licked, a sling is placed on the still-sleepy dog ​​immediately after the surgery. blanket, made of thin breathable material.

Tip: Since the healing seam may bleed slightly during the first few days, staining the blanket, it is worth taking care to have a spare set of cloths on hand in advance.

There's no need to remove the blanket when treating the sutures. Simply untie the bands around the abdomen and move the material. The procedure itself is painless for the animal.

The treatment should be performed using gauze pads or sterile bandages folded in several layers. To loosen the bloody crusts, soak the material generously in a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution.

The procedure includes a number of basic stages:

1. The napkins soaked in the solution are applied one by one along the entire length of the seam.
2. The exfoliated bloody crusts are carefully removed from the treated area.
3. Using a new batch of wipes soaked in the solution, remove any remaining dirt.
4. Wipe the treated area dry with dry, clean gauze.
5. The cleaned suture is covered with a thin layer of levomecol ointment or treated with terramycin spray.
6. A sterile piece of gauze is placed on top, a blanket is lowered and fixing straps are tied.

Important: Before treating your dog's surgical incisions with medication, it's important to assess the condition of the area. If healing is good, the skin will be dry and free of redness, and the changes will improve with each passing day. How long does it take for a dog's incision to heal after spaying? It will look completely healed within 7-10 days.

If the suture area is hot or swollen, the wound edges are separating, or oozing fluid—any of these signs indicate poor healing. This may be due to infection or suture failure.

In this situation, it's best to take the animal to a veterinarian. In severe cases, a procedure to excise the wound edges and re-suture the wound may be necessary. This type of procedure is performed under light anesthesia.

As the surgical incision heals, it will become itchy. Your dog will try to remove the blanket to relieve its discomfort. During this time, try to distract it with latex chew toys. To avoid accidentally stretching the incision, limit your dog's activity during the healing process. Focus on quiet play and leisurely walks outdoors, away from playful companions.

Don't worry if your pet is unable to defecate within the first three days after surgery. This is because the administered medications inhibit metabolic and excretory processes, including intestinal peristalsis. If constipation persists for more than three days, help alleviate the condition by feeding your pet Vaseline oil. The amount of fluid should be calculated based on the dog's weight and ranges from 5 to 30 ml.

After sterilization: what to be prepared for

Sterilization, like any surgical procedure, can have its consequences. These most often become apparent when the animal reaches seven years of age, regardless of the stage of its life when the sterilization was performed.

1. Weight gain. Metabolic changes trigger the development of hormone-dependent obesity. Following a diet tailored to the animal's breed, weight, and age will help prevent this.
2. Urinary incontinenceA lack of estrogen in the body causes the bladder to relax. A course of medications like Propolin can help normalize sphincter tone.
3. Hair loss. Hormonal changes can also trigger alopecia. A course of female sex hormones can help correct the situation.

In general, the sterilization procedure doesn't change the animal's personality. Although it stops the reproductive cycle, it doesn't deprive the pet of her feminine traits.

Read also:

• Dog recovery after sterilization
• Petkam for dogs
• Endometritis in dogs: symptoms and treatment