Warning Signs After Spaying Dog

Spaying your dog is a routine procedure that can help prevent unwanted pregnancies and avoid certain reproductive cancers. Spaying your pet before she has her first litter of puppies can greatly reduce their risk of breast cancer and ovarian cysts later in life.

While it’s rare for complications to occur during or after spay surgery, there are warning signs you should be on the lookout for so that you can act quickly if something goes wrong.

Excessive swelling.

Excessive swelling, or edema, can be a sign of infection. Swelling is one of the most common side effects after spaying and is due to fluid retention in the body. However, if your dog’s swelling is persistent or gets worse over time, it could be an indicator that she has an underlying medical condition such as heart disease or hypothyroidism.

If you notice your dog’s abdomen seems swollen after she’s been spayed, take her to the vet right away so they can determine what is causing it—and how to treat it quickly.

Heavy bleeding.

If your dog is bleeding, it’s important to know the source of the blood. If it’s external bleeding, you can help alleviate some of the irritation by applying pressure with a clean cloth and taking your dog to a vet.

Internal bleeding should be treated immediately by a vet or at an emergency animal hospital. It can be caused by an infection in the uterus, so it’s important to call your vet right away if this happens after spaying surgery.

Dull, glassy-eyed appearance.

A dull, glassy-eyed appearance is a symptom of pain. The pain may be due to a number of causes:

• Anesthetic reaction
• Infection

Coughing and gagging.

If your dog starts coughing and gagging, it could be a sign of aspiration pneumonia. Signs of this condition include cough, fever, and difficulty breathing. If you suspect that your dog has aspirated food or liquid into his lungs, take him to the vet immediately for treatment with antibiotics and oxygen therapy.

Pale gums and tongue.

A pale gums and tongue is one of the most early signs of shock, a condition that can be caused by a low blood pressure, blood sugar or calcium level.

• Low blood sugar – If your dog has been missing for several hours before you found him and he hasn’t eaten anything in the meantime, then it’s possible that his blood sugar level dropped too low due to hypoglycemia (low blood glucose). This can lead to symptoms like shivering, panting, stumbling and an increased heart rate.
• Low calcium levels – Hypocalcemia (low calcium) is another common symptom of shock as a result of excessive bleeding. It can also show up as muscle twitching or convulsions in cats and dogs especially if they’re suffering from severe dehydration.

Inability to urinate or defecate.

If your dog isn’t urinating or defecating after spaying, take her to the vet immediately. If your dog is not urinating and defecating, there may be a blockage. Without treatment for this condition, your pet will die from dehydration.

Temperature lower than 100 F.

The normal body temperature of a dog is between 101 and 102 degrees Fahrenheit. If your pooch’s temperature drops to 99 F, it may be a sign of hypothermia (low body heat). The symptoms of hypothermia in dogs include shivering, lethargy, and a low heart rate. If you notice any of these signs, call a vet immediately so they can take steps to warm the animal up.

Know that your dog is fine after being spayed, but know the warning signs in case something goes wrong and you need to act quickly.

When you bring your dog in for spaying, it’s a routine procedure. Spaying is a safe procedure that is performed on millions of female dogs around the world each year. It’s also one of the most common surgeries performed on female dogs, and when done correctly, it can prevent unwanted puppies and breast cancer.

Spaying at an early age (before 21 days old) can reduce your pet’s risk of developing cancer by more than 90 percent compared to spayed at an older age, according to Animal Planet. If you’re thinking about getting your pooch spayed soon but want more information before making a commitment, here are some signs after being spayed that tell you everything is okay!

If your dog is acting strange after being spayed, especially if she seems to be in pain, don’t hesitate to take her to the veterinarian. Remember that you can always call a vet to get advice or help with any other issues.