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

It may be a combination of factors. Certainly as you mentioned the e collar may be bothering her, and she may just be recovering. I’m not that concerned about pain as it’s been several days since the surgery and she should no longer be in acute pain. I would take off the e collar when you are watching her, then play with her, brush her or interact with her with playing with toys etc. If she becomes more active she’ll get hungrier and will start back eating. As long as she’s drinking and eating treats you’re fine to give her another day or so to see if she returns to normal. If she still isn’t eating and is lethargic then please take her back for a recheck. She may have an infection from the surgery but that is unlikely. Be patient and I expect her to be better in a day or so. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Dewey.

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!

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.

Yes, absolutely normal ! We all would want some pain relief if we had a similar surgery. I am happy to hear that Ella has improved and is better in herself .The most painful days are the first 3-4 after surgery, remember to try to keep her rested until you have your final post op check up and any skin sutures, if present, are removed.

Good question. Typically pets are pain free after day 3 or 4, which is why we don’t give medication past that. Signs of pain are constant fidgeting when trying lay down, abnormal panting, decreased appetite and unwillingness to move around and whining. Cuddles is likely past the painful stage and well into the healing phase of post surgery. Best wishes with your pet Cuddles and I hope things continue to go well. Take care!

She will lay in the way that is most comfortable for her. Provide a clean, dry area for her to lay down. Make sure she has an e-collar (cone) in place to prevent licking. Monitor the site daily for excessive swelling, bruising, redness, discharge, bleeding and to make sure it is closed.

Some dogs do get lethargic after surgery but some do not and in fact have to take sedatives to keep them still. Monitor Bella closely for vomiting, diarrhea or acting like she doesn’t feel good. Otherwise, try to keep her from running, jumping, playing and make sure she cannot lick at the incision. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.