How long until my dog is fully back to normal after spay surgery?

A spay typically does not take longer than 20-30 minutes, but sometimes it can be shorter or longer depending on the dog. For example overweight dogs or dogs in heat can and do take longer. Removing the bump should not take long either, and it could be that whole procedure can be done in an hour to 90 minutes. I would ask your vet for a time estimate. As for the fine needle aspirate (FNA) of her bump, not all types of malignant tumors can be diagnosed with an FNA, so it doesn't mean that her bump is benign if nothing was seen with that test. There are many different types of malignant tumors besides mast cell tumors. While you can see if a bump is a mast cell tumor with an FNA, sometimes it's not always possible so an excision biopsy is needed to get the exact diagnosis. There is a chance the bump could be benign, and your vet is doing the right thing by removed the bump to get a diagnosis on it. I certainly understand being worried about Precious, and I hope that everything does ok with her. Best of luck!

Hello. Your veterinarian has taken an abundance of precautions for your pet. For most routine surgeries, even in an older girl like yours, restricting activity for 7-10 days is fine. This usually means curtailing running up & down stairs, jumping on furniture & leaving a pet unattended outdoors for hours on end. If Precious is primarily a house dog, then just try & slow her down a bit & either walk her on a leash outdoors or supervise her activity. I think at this point in time you can let Precious play with her toys. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Great question! Absorbable sutures vary widely in both strength and how long they take to dissolve, but some will dissolve within two weeks. In terms of a spay, it is recommended that activity is restricted for two weeks, so yes that is enough time for Precious to not be active. I hope this helps!

Most dogs are in heat for an average of 2-3 weeks. Keep her away from any intact males during this time. The surgery itself will likely take 20-30 minutes (o complete. She isn't too small or too old. Your veterinarian may recommend pre-anesthetic blood work and a pre-anesthetic exam to confirm good health. Recovery will take about 2 weeks. Try to limit excessive running, jumping or rough play. These activities could place undue stress on the incision and prolong recovery. A crate can be used if necessary. She will probably have an e-collar (cone) on when she is discharged to prevent licking or chewing of the incision. You should get complete discharge instructions from your veterinarian when you pick up Precious.

She is still recovering from her spay only 2 days out from surgery. She really shouldn't be doing strenuous play activity until after she has completely healed from her surgery, which is around 10 days post surgery. So take it easy and allow her to heal for now, she will be back to her normal self in no time.

Incision lengths vary from surgeon to surgeon. Since incisions heal from side to side and not from end to end, it takes a short incision the same time to heal as a long incision. Your vet will give you written instructions on how to treat your dog after surgery. Here is a sample: http://files.dvm360.com/alfresco_images/DVM360//2014/09/26/ca50e33b-4a98-4584-bf15-dbf0f2a912c7/handout_afterspay_neuter.pdf Healing times will vary but the incision should be healed after 10 to 14 days. All will be well.

Good on you for getting Precious spayed! As with any surgery, of course there will be risks, but it is a routine surgery and it's not often that things go wrong. It's good that she handled the anesthesia well in 2015, and your vet will check to make sure that her organs are functioning well so that the anesthesia and surgery will go as smoothly as possible. In addition, there will be someone monitor her anesthesia at all times during the surgery to make sure it goes as well as possible. It won't change her personality, but she will likely be a little sleepy and painful the first couple of days after surgery. Your vet will send home pain medications for her to help her be more comfortable. Typically we see dogs bounce back pretty quickly from a spay, and it's extremely important you keep her as quiet as possible while she is recovering. No running, jumping, or playing at all under her sutures are removed. Too much exercise and movement post surgery can lead to complications, which is why it's so important to keep Precious quiet. You also need to make sure she doesn't lick her incision site and sutures, and she will likely be sent home with an Ecollar. Dogs typically don't like them, but she has to wear it all the time to make sure she doesn't mess with her incision. As hard as it is, try not to worry, she will be in good hands with your vet. I hope this helps!