Spay-Neuter Post-Surgical Care & Recovery

Following spay/neuter surgery, your pet will require time and a little extra attention to ensure their body properly heals. The following aftercare instructions provide guidelines for the next several days of your pet's recovery, as well as what to expect and potential red flags.

Cat recovering after surgery

The First 24 Hours Post-Surgery

  • Allow your pet to recover in a quiet, safe place indoors.
  • Your pet's behavior may be slightly altered — they may be glassy-eyed, sleepy, nauseous, wobbly, vocal, shivering, or irritable.
  • Encourage frequent, gentle movement indoors to help your pet recover from the anesthesia. Allowing them to rest uninterrupted, rather than encouraging movement, can result in a longer recovery and potential complications.
  • Offer small amounts of the food they eat regularly, and water later in the evening. Your pet may feel nauseous, and it can take up to 48 hours for their appetite to return to normal.
  • You may notice your pet received a small green tattoo, indicating they've been sterilized. This is not an extra incision and does not require cleaning.

The 10–14 Days Following Surgery

  • Your pet should be closely supervised and on an exercise restriction for the next 10–14 days. Keep your pet as quiet as possible during the first two weeks — avoid running, jumping, and excessive playing. Strenuous activity increases your pet's risk of swelling around the incision site, premature dissolving of sutures, opening of the incision, and costly medical care that would be your responsibility.
  • Keep the incision dry — no bathing, swimming, or playing in deep snow.
  • Check the incision twice daily until healed.
  • A small amount of blood, along with some redness and swelling, is normal immediately after surgery.
  • If you have questions or concerns, consult the detailed information packet sent home with your pet after surgery, or call us at 563-277-7117.
  • Do not allow your pet to lick, scratch, or chew the incision. If this occurs, an Elizabethan collar (E-collar) must be used to help prevent potentially serious postoperative complications.
  • Male dogs and cats can still impregnate an unsterilized female up to one month after surgery — please keep a close eye on your pet.

Protecting Your Pet's Incision

Do not allow your pet to lick or chew their incision. Licking can lead to serious complications like the incision opening or becoming infected — which can be painful and may require follow-up visits and unexpected costs.

Recommended: Elizabethan Collar (E-collar or Cone). To prevent irritating the incision, we recommend an E-collar to keep your pet from reaching the area with their mouth. Cone collars are the most effective protection and should be worn for 10–14 days following surgery. E-collars can be purchased from HSNEI or at most pet stores — they're only effective if fitted properly. The cone should extend past your pet's nose by two inches; if it's any shorter, they're likely still able to reach their incision.

Alternatives to E-Collars. If your pet won't tolerate an E-collar, consider one of the following:

  • Onesies for female dogs & cats — infant bodysuits that button in the pelvis area. Small kittens (4–5 lbs) need a newborn size; adult cats or puppies under 8 lbs usually wear 0–3 months; larger cats or small dogs usually need 3–6 months. To fit: put the onesie over your pet's head and front legs through the arm holes, button it closed, and cut a hole for their tail. If the neck is loose, use a rubber band to bunch the material together.
  • Boxer shorts for male dogs — put your pet's back legs through the leg holes, with their tail through the fly. Rubber band the extra material on top of their back to keep the shorts from coming off. You'll need to cut a hole, or remove the shorts, when they go outside to defecate.

What to Expect After Surgery

These guidelines will help you determine if your pet's recovery is normal, requires attention, or is an emergency. They don't cover every potential issue — if you have concerns not addressed here, please call us at 563-277-7117.

Normal Issues After Surgery

These issues should resolve on their own over a few days. Contact us if you see no improvement or things worsen over time.

  • Small amount of bloody discharge from the surgical incision
  • Redness or a small amount of swelling or bruising at the incision site
  • Whining or crying the first night after surgery
  • Decreased energy during the 24 hours following surgery
  • Not urinating or defecating on their normal schedule
  • Open neuter incision (males only) with minor discharge
Issues That Require Attention, But Are Not an Emergency

Please call 563-277-7117 if your pet experiences the following:

  • Significant swelling at the surgical incision
  • Colored discharge from the incision
  • Pale gums
  • Not returning to eating or drinking days after surgery
  • Intermittent vomiting for days after surgery
  • Slight gaps at the spay incision (females only)
  • Swollen, painful scrotum (males only) days after surgery
Emergency Issues After Surgery

Please take your pet to a local, 24-hour emergency clinic if you see any of the following:

  • Consistent flow of blood from the surgical incision
  • Consistent vomiting that won't stop
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Not waking up, or inability to stand
  • The spay incision is completely open (females only)

Questions or Concerns?

Contact us at 563-277-7117. We will make every reasonable effort to treat complications resulting from your pet's surgery, and we offer post-op exams at no cost (though some fees may apply if medications are needed).