How soon can I walk my dog after neutering?

Having your dog neutered is a routine procedure, but making sure your dog has enough time to recover before you take them out walking again is crucial.

Neutering is a reasonably straightforward procedure for male dogs to remove their reproductive organs.

While simple, it is still conducted under a general anaesthetic, and your dog will be left with a stitched wound afterwards.

When a female dog’s reproductive organs are removed, the procedure is known as spaying. It is more intrusive than castrating a male dog, and your female dog may be quite sore for a few days afterwards.

It’s worth noting that neutering isn’t usually covered by your dog insurance. Complications resulting from surgery might be covered by your plan, however.

When to walk male dogs after castration

Your vet will probably recommend that your dog gets plenty of rest for the first 48 hours following surgery and avoids strenuous activity. No walking, no playing, and no running around!

You should also keep them from activities involving jumping, such as up or down from your sofa or bed. You may find it best to keep them in the crate if they’re crate trained, or lift them up carefully.

This is because stitches can be pulled apart easily, leaving a painful open wound. This also brings with it a risk of infection.

If they seem pretty bright and bursting with energy after that time, you can take them out for a short walk on the lead.

At your dog’s 3-day post-operation check-up, your vet will check the wound and advise you whether you can start taking longer walks or start letting them off the lead.

And generally, you should keep a watchful eye for signs of discomfort or pain. If they show any signs of distress while out walking, stop the walk, bring them home and contact your vet

When to walk female dogs after spaying

The advice for post-op walking is similar. However, due to the more invasive nature of the procedure, you will need to take things a little easier than you would for a male. No walks for 48 hours and short, gentle walks on the lead after that.

When you’ve taken your dog back for her post-op check-up, ask your vet when they think it’s safe for your dog to go for longer walks.

Don't take risks with post-op dogs

The main point here is: listen to your vet and follow their advice. You don’t want to be responsible for taking your dog back to the vet with a gaping wound that requires another surgery and round of anaesthetic.

And don’t give in to your dog! Please wait until the wound is sufficiently healed and your vet is happy for your dog to go back to their regular walking routine.

In summary, your vet is the expert. They’ll be able to give you the correct information tailored to your dog’s recovery.

Should I neuter my dog?

If you’re wondering whether you should get your male dog castrated, or your female dog spayed, read our guide on whether you should neuter your pet. There are, of course, pros and cons to each approach - so it’s worthy of careful consideration.

You can also find out more about chemical castration for your dog, including the pros and cons, and potential side effects.

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