Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!
Become a member today!
Members-only pricing and offers, personalized care notifications, Vital Care points back on every purchase and more!
Already a member? Sign in
Become a credit card member today!
Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
when you use Petco Pay!
APPLY NOW
Learn More About Petco Pay Benefits

How long until my dog lays down after neuter? E-collar or pain?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed | Male | neutered | 50 lbs

Hello, how long after a neutering surgery will it take for a dog to be comfortable laying down? Our 5 year Aussie Shepard will only sit and only lays for minutes at a time. We have him in an E-collar, which we know is uncomfortable, but he seems to not be adjusting at all.

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Lauren Jones VMD

Veterinarian

Published on February 25th, 2018

Most dogs will lay down comfortably immediately after surgery, but certainly by the next day. Some dogs are resistant to e-collars and may experience behavioral changes and difficulty/reluctance moving as a result. Groot may also be experiencing pain that is not controlled with his current pain medication. Try taking the e-collar off while you are directly supervising Groot to see if he is willing to comfortably sit or lay down. If he is, you could consider looking for alternative collars to prevent licking of the incision, such as Bite-Not collars or inflatable "donut" collars. If he is still reluctant to move without the e-collar in place, I would strongly recommend calling Groot's vet first thing in the morning to discuss additional pain medications or adjust doses of his current medication. Be sure to keep Groot's e-collar on him for the time being unless you are directly watching his every move. I hope this helps and that Groot is feeling better soon!

2Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Related Questions

How can I ensure my dog's neuter recovery is quick and easy?

Give pain medication as prescribed by your veterinarian. It is important to make sure that you restrict his activity to short leash walks only (for the purpose of going to the bathroom) for the first week after surgery. Excessive activity such as running jumping or playing will increase the likelihood of complications. Lastly, but most importantly, he must wear an E collar (cone of shame) to prevent him from looking at or biting at the incision. Licking or biting the incision could lead to the incision coming apart and a need for further surgery. It could also lead to the incision becoming infected which could even make him systemically ill. He will need to wear the color for about 7 to 10 days. Thanks for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach !

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My dog is acting strange after neuter surgery. Is he still in pain?

He may still be experiencing some pain and probably does not like the E-collar. You could call your vet and see if he/she could add an additional pain medication or change medications to see if it helps at all. Hopefully, he will be back to normal within a few days.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Is it normal for a dog not to lie down after spay with an e-collar?

It could very well be a combination of both. However most dogs get over the e-collar after the first 1-2 days. If you are concerned about her pain level then I would ask her vet if they can prescribe additional pain medication for her. Also depending on what pain medicaitons she is on it may be making her drowsy. Take care and I hope Pepper is able to make a fully recovery from her surgery soon.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My dog was neutered. How can I help him sleep with his cone?

Please do not take Reddington's cone off at all. He likely will lick the stitches with it off when you are asleep, and that can cause serious post operative complications. It only has to be on for 10-14 days until he is fully healed, which is a relatively short amount of time. He will learn to live with it. I understand being concerned about him being in pain, but he will find his own position that is comfortable for him to sleep. I would leave it to him to decide which position feels the best since he can't tell you a specific position hurts or not.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My neutered dog hates his e-collar. Can clothing be an alternative?

E-collars are not always necessary post-neuter, but if the vets put it on him, then they may have been particularly worried about him bothering the incision. You can always take the e-collar off and observe him for a while. If he's really attacking the incision, then the e-collar may be best, but you can also try your ideas of keeping it covered. You can also try to spray some anti-licking solution (can find this at the pet store) over the cover for the incision if he is still trying to lick that. Essentially, the point is to keep him from breaking open the incision, so whatever works for preventing this should be fine. I hope that helps and all is well with Rexxy.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Training & Behavior

My dog's neuter stitches came out after grooming. What to do tonight?

He should have been healed after about 2 weeks. If he never had an e-collar (cone) on, he was likely licking the area when you weren't around or during the night. This could have caused the delay in healing. Ideally, he should be seen by a veterinarian as soon as you can. An e-collar should be obtained and placed as soon as possible to prevent further licking. A small tee shirt or onesie may prevent licking until you get a proper e-collar. Antibiotics may be indicated to treat infection. A veterinarian can dispense them, if indicated, after an exam.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My dog was neutered a week ago. Can I take his e-collar off?

I would recommend you check the scrotal area first and make sure it is dry with no discharge or swelling. If none are seen then you can remove it. A week's time should be plenty. If you look at the scrotum and are unsure, feel free to post a photo here and we can try to help you assess it. Hope this helps. Best wishes!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Share