Dog neuter recovery: When can he play? Is licking okay? Scrotum size?

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I'm not able to see the incision, but what looks like the scrotum. When a dog, especially an older dog who's testicles have developed, is neutered, the scrotum (or the sack that the testicle is in) can have some empty space in it. This is completely normal and can get smaller with time, or stay the same. Unfortunately, Pokey absolutely must keep his collar on at all times, even when he is sleeping. The collar prevents him from biting or licking the area. Not only can he pull out his stitches and hurt himself, but he can actually cause the area to become infected. If he is not comfortable with the cone, you can get him a donut-shaped version that some dogs find more comfortable. It is very important that the collar stays on to avoid complications. I hope this helps!

Hi, to have fluid in the scrotum following neutering is very common in dogs that are neutered when a bit older. The swelling should gradually come down with antinflammatories and by preventing him to groom the area. I am not sure if your vet gave you a buster colllar to put on Pancho, but there are inflatable ones that are very well tolerated. Hope this helps !

Thank you for your question about Lucky. Yes, Lucky needs to wear the cone at all times until the incision is completely healed. If he leaves it alone, there is a high likelihood that it will heal on its own. It takes roughly 10-14 days to heal an incision and he damaged it around around day 10 so that is going to delay things a bit. Check the incision daily for redness, swelling or discharge. If you see this, he needs to go to the veterinarian for a likely infection from licking. Keep the incision clean and dry. Don’t worry about putting anything on it. It will likely form a new scab and will continue the healing process. I do recommend to have him checked by his veterinarian in about 1 week. I hope you found this helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Any post operative swelling typically resolves within 2-3 days of surgery. If the dog is able to lick or get at the area, this may prolong recovery time and cause more swelling. An Elizabethan collar (cone) will help prevent licking and aid in recovery.

It's normal for a dog to lick the scabs. After 13 days, Milo's incision should be fully healed, and if there is a small amount of blood, I would not worry. I would start worrying if the area appears infected, in which case you would see redness, swelling, the area would be warm to the touch, and you'd see pus. If he is licking the area excessively, then I would put the cone back on and have him see the vet. I hope this helps!

I advise my patients to keep the cone on and decreased activity for 10-14 days. Also, the picture looks like maybe he was a cryptochid with 2 incisions? I would recommend being on the safe side and waiting 2 weeks before play with other dogs. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

Poor guy...that does look uncomfortable. It may be infected, but I would suspect a discharge at the incision or a fever, lethargy. It is more likely that this is a scrotal hematoma. These typically do resolve in their own, but it can take weeks. Keep his activity level as low as possible to discourage more swelling, continue the anti inflammatory medication, make sure he cannot bite or lick it by using a “cone” if needed. It can provide some relief if he will allow you to do a cold compress on the area. Try wrapping an ice pack with cloth and apply to the area for 15 minutes..three times daily. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.