After spaying, your dog needs time to heal, but that won’t happen if they keep itching, licking, or chewing at their incision, hence the need for a cone. This publication, thus, discusses when to take the cone off dog after spay.
Wearing your dog a cone is ideal to prevent her from indulging in any of the above and speed up her healing process. While it could be entertaining to watch your dog wear the funny-looking plastic material around the house, it is a very uncomfortable situation for her.
The cone complicates simple activities such as eating or drinking. In addition to that, her side vision and hearing are altered. That is why you may have observed that your dog protest when you try to put the cone back on after a short cone break.
When to take cone off dog after spay
Ideally, the cone should remain around your dog’s neck until she’s fully healed or the sutures are removed. This is because some dogs take longer time to heal than others.
However, according to experts, you should keep your dog’s cone on for at least 10-14 (see North Town Veterinary Hospital for reference) days after surgery. Your dog may become very uncomfortable with the cone (otherwise known as the Elizabethan Collar) and would try to wriggle her way out of it.
This is normal because she’s not used to it. She may even bump into your furniture now and then due to the blurred side vision of the cone. Don’t worry, she’ll get used to it soon. It’ll only last for 14 days before you take it off. Although, your dog is kept on a cone for only 7-10 days for primary healing. But to ensure complete healing, it is advised to keep it on for 10-14 days.
By day 5, you can take the cone off for short breaks. However, you need to be around your dog for close supervision so that she doesn’t go back to licking her incision. As said earlier, your dog may run around to avoid wearing back the cone but she has to wear it anyway. She’s left with 9 more days before you finally take it off.
Remember that you’re doing this for the love of your dog, so stay strong and see her through this healing process. It’s okay if it pisses her off but she’ll thank you in the long run rather than holding you against it.
Should dogs sleep with cone on after spay?
Yes. Dogs can eat, drink, poop, urinate and even sleep with the cone on. It’s only a matter of time before your dog gets used to wearing the Elizabethan collar). The cone is needed to ensure quick healing, otherwise, your dog will keep itching and scratching her incision. She could rip off the stitches while doing so, thereby, interrupting the healing process.
Additionally, the opening could be infected by bacteria which could cause an infection and further complicate things.
It is advised to keep your dog’s cone on until the aforementioned duration. Although, you can opt for cone alternatives if your dog is absolutely pissed off by the cone of shame. Whatever you do, do not take the cone off too soon.
Can dogs lick after 14 days spay?
It was agony for you to watch your dog make futile attempts to lick or scratch at her wound while the cone was on. And now that it’s off after 14 days, you’re wondering if it’s okay for your dog to lick her wound, which supposedly is healed by now. The answer is no.
We understand that the incision spot can become very itchy during or after healing but you should closely monitor your dog and ensure she does not lick her healed wound yet.
While the incision may have healed, there are chances of your dog causing herself a new injury from scratching or licking her hot spot.
Can I walk my dog a week after spay?
Yes, you can. The first week after your dog is spayed is a critical time for your dog. This period will determine how well your dog will heal. This is why you need to keep her under close supervision.
You can go out for short walks or climb up and down the stairs. Slowly though, so you don’t get your friend hurt. Ensure that your dog is on a leash while you’re mildly exercising her.
Your vet will let you know when it’s okay to take your dog for longer walks. Until then, stick to short walks otherwise the stitches can come apart from running around, or during a rough play.
How do you carry a female dog after being spayed?
One common problem that dog owners have to deal with after spaying their dog is how to carry her without hurting or complicating things.
Carrying your dog for potty, peeing, or for offset purposes around the house can be challenging due to your friend’s hot spot. Let’s show you how you can carry her without hurting her.
Carefully pick your spayed dog by wrapping one arm around the hind legs and one arm around the chest (just behind the front legs). Ensure that you are not putting pressure on the incision.
- Do not lift your dog in the following ways:
- By their collar
- By their scruff
- By their tail
- By their underarms/legs
The first two may cause your dog breathing difficulty and unnecessarily stress their neck. The tail is a painful spot for dogs when tugged. You may overlook small dogs, but a larger dog could put up a fight, which is dangerous.
Carrying dogs by their underarms is uncomfortable and would stretch the incision and leave the abdomen hanging.
How important is cone after spaying?
Cone is very instrumental in your dog’s healing process after spaying. It serves as a barrier preventing your dog from causing damage to the incision by licking, itching, or even biting, in some cases.
During recovery from a spay, you should keep close tabs on your dog and make her get used to the lampshade for the time being. It’s okay for her to bump into things around the house once in a while, but she’ll get used to it soon.
Your dog will most likely not like it but she’ll owe it to you when her wound is completely healed after 14 days without any interruption from her or anyone else during the healing process.
How do I know if my dog’s spay incision is healed?
When the redness around the spot disappears, no staples or sutures are needed to hold the wound together, no tenderness around the region, and discharge has stopped then it’s healed. If there is any swelling or redness around the region, then it might be an infection that needs extra attention. You should consult your vet for solutions. Taking photos of the incision site is a good way to document the healing. Your dog may request those photos when you visit.
Do not bathe your dog for the first 3 to 4 weeks as they can soften the incision site and cause surgical glue and disintegration of sutures which can prevent proper healing.
Conclusion
The cone is an uncomfortable thing for your dog, but it is necessary to enhance her healing process. Please keep it on until the incision is completely healed.
Your dog becomes lethargic after spay. This is completely normal. However, you should be on the lookout for any strange symptoms which could be a sign of an illness or infection. If you found any, endeavor to reach out to your vet for solutions.
