If your dog has just had her spay surgery. In that case, you’re most likely wondering when you can allow her to get back to her normal daily activities, including jumping up on the couch or your bed. Here’s what you need to know!
After your dog has had her spay surgery, you’ll need to keep her from jumping for approximately 10-14 days. This is the time that the incision needs to heal properly. Jumping can cause the stitches to rip open early, and they will need to be re-done at the vet, not to mention causing more healing problems. As well, the initial 2 weeks after the surgery can leave your dog a little unsteady on her feet, so jumping can put her at risk of losing her balance and possibly falling and hurting herself.
How soon can my dog play after being spayed?
Most of us want to ease our dog’s pain or discomfort from the surgery through play. This is especially so if they are wearing the cone of shame! Play is safe for your dog, but you will want to limit it to very gentle play. She needs to keep herself calm and as still as possible in the days following the surgery.
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Can a dog jump on the bed after her spay?
You should not let your dog jump on the bed after her spay, no. She will put herself at risk of pulling her stitches (more on that next), which will also cause her more pain! No matter how low your bed is, she shouldn’t jump onto it at all.
What happens if a dog jumps after being spayed?
The most likely scenario with your dog jumping after her spay surgery is that she will rip her stitches out. It could be as simple as tearing a little bit of incision, or it could be drastic and pull the whole incision apart. It depends mostly on the jump and your dog’s movements in the jump itself.
As well, you can expect your dog to be feeling a lot more pain from the jump since the spay itself is a pretty traumatic surgery, though it is considered routine!
What happens if my dog is too active after a spay surgery?
As briefly mentioned above, she’ll have a rip in her incision that can be small or large. Whether it’s from jumping, playing, walking, or running, physical activity is going to put more stress on the incision and her body, so a tear is more than possible.
In a broad sense, a dog who is too active initially after her spay surgery is going to put herself at risk of a longer and more intense healing period.
My dog jumped after being spayed. Should I be worried?
If you’re here because your dog jumped up on the couch while you turned your back, it’s okay! Dogs are certainly sneaky creatures, and it happens. If your dog has jumped in the days after her surgery, it’s not an immediate disaster. That being said, you will need to keep an eye out for signs that she has ripped her incision or that it will impact the healing process. These include:
- An increase in blood or discharge from the wound site
- Swelling or a lump forming around her incision
- A noticeable gap in her stitches
- Obvious discomfort
These symptoms may or may not be accompanied by your dog paying more attention to the wound site. It really depends on your dog’s pain level before the jump and even whether or not she notices the incision (some don’t, after all).
The main thing after a jump is to watch her carefully for any signs of complications. If any do arise, or you just aren’t sure, call your vet and ask about what to look for, or consider bringing her in for a follow-up.
Do dogs get more hyper after spay surgery?
The answer to this depends on just what you notice changing as far as your dog’s behavior! There are two main features that many owners notice:
- Hyperactivity
- Jumpiness and confusion
Hyperactivity
If your dog seems unlikely to settle after her spay surgery and is almost frantic with her need to move and shift around. In that case, it’s likely a reaction to the surgery itself! For a surgery like this, she is anesthetized and then lightly sedated in the hours following her surgery to help her stay still. When she comes home, she’ll come out of her groggy state and will have all of this pent-up energy that she hasn’t been able to use all day!
You’ll find this hyperactivity especially likely if she usually is a very active and energetic dog. You’ll need to limit her movement, however, so make sure that you follow the advice (below) on how to keep her safe but also help with that pent-up energy.
Jumpiness and confusion
Another version of seeming hyper is that she seems unsettled and jumpy, and generally confused. This is mainly because she is, well, confused! Dogs don’t understand why they went to the vet, why they suddenly have a sore stomach, why they’re wearing a frustrating cone of shame, and why they aren’t allowed to go for a walk. That’s a whole lot of confusion for your sweet dog, right?
She’ll most likely be jumpy, too, from the stress of the vet procedure and the pain. In simple terms: your poor dog has had a tough day!
The best thing you can do in this area (we’ll get into more detail later) is to offer her reassurance, comfort, and sympathy for how she is probably feeling. This will help her settle down faster.
How to stop a dog from jumping after being spayed?
This is one of those age-old questions for the concerned pet parent that wants to protect their dog’s health after surgery. It’s a great one, though, and there are tonnes of suggestions and advice waiting for you about how to keep your dog from jumping after her spay surgery, in particular.
- Create a healing space for her
- Dismantle your bed and put your mattress on the floor
- Dissuade her from the common jumping surfaces
- Be attentive
- Distract her with mental stimulation and toys
Create a healing space for her
For those first-time parents that are really concerned, create a designated healing space for her. This should be big enough so that she will have room to move around and shift positions, but not so big that she goes for a run or a play session. Fill it with soft blankets and her bed so that she can feel at ease and will be surrounded by her favorite things.
When you need to leave her alone for a bit of time, confine her to that space so she is secure and has no opportunity to jump.
Dismantle your bed and put your mattress on the floor
If you know she’ll be happiest snuggled up to you at night, then you can solve the jumping problem by dismantling your bedframe and putting your mattress right on the floor! For best results, do it a few days before the surgery, so she’s used to it.
Dissuade her from the common jumping surfaces
You will need to keep her from jumping up on the couch or going up the stairs, etc. Install baby gates (high ones) at the stairs, and then make sure that you’re actively recommending her against not jumping.
To do this properly, most recommend that you put comfortable beds everywhere nearby those locations. Direct her to those surfaces and sit next to her on them so that she still gets snuggle time.
Be attentive
Your dog is healing from surgery, so she’s probably feeling unsettled. Be attentive to her needs. Stay calm and in charge of your own uncertainties and give her the TLC she is looking for. This is one of the best things that you can do to help the healing process. Stay home with her as much as possible in the first 72 hours, too. Those are the most critical ones for her healing process, and this is often when she will feel at her most uncertain and confused.
Distract her with mental stimulation and toys
Since she will be bored and physically restless with her need for movement and playtime, distract her with mental stimulation and low-effort toys. Treat mats are great ones, for example, and you can play tug of war with her, as long as she stays lying down and stays calm, too. It’s also a great way to keep her mind off the pain and any confusion she is feeling.
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In conclusion
After a spay, your dog should not jump for 10-14 days unless otherwise recommended by your vet.
You can prevent her from jumping by keeping her in a confined space or adjusting your furniture so that she can get comfortable without jumping. This 10-14-day period is essential for safe and stress-free healing.
If you know someone whose dog will be spayed, this might be a helpful article to share with them! The good news is that healing doesn’t have to mean an end to the fun! It’s just about adjusting the definition of fun so that her incision stays safe!
