The incision size is usually around one inch in length but will depend on your dog's size, age, and breed. Like with a spay, the suture material is usually buried within the skin, where it will dissolve over time. The scrotum is not removed, but the saggy skin will usually shrink over time.
What should the incision look like? The incision should be clean and the edges should be touching each other. The skin should be a normal or slightly reddish-pink color. It is not unusual for the incision to be slightly redder during the first few days while healing begins.
After neutering your male dog, there should be no drainage and some slight pinkness or swelling at the incision site (the incision site is located just above the scrotum).
Neutering is considered a major operation and requires general anesthesia. With any anesthetic the risk of serious complications, including death, is always present. However, with modern anesthetics and monitoring equipment, the risk of a complication is very low.
Approximately 10 days after surgery, most incisions will have healed enough to allow for removal of external staples or sutures by your veterinarian. The incision edges should be fully sealed and swelling should be significantly decreased, if not gone completely.
If your pet is going to lick or begins to lick their incision, they need to wear an E-Collar (plastic cone) for 7-10 days after surgery. A pet can pull out stitches easily which can lead much more damage.
After the first few days, the redness and bruising associated with an incision will diminish. Scabs may form over the incision site and around the sutures (stitches), but the incision should not be painful to the touch. Active dogs may develop a large, firm swelling around the incision.
After neutering, your dog will be healthier, easier to train, and more affectionate. You won't have to chase after your dog as he chases a dog in heat. You won't have to clean up the pee that your dog used to mark his territory on your futon. Your dog will be less stubborn and easier to train.
According to several studies, the main behaviors that are affected consistently in male dogs following neutering (I guess I am being politically correct now) include: decreased sexual behavior (primarily, mounting behavior), urine marking (depositing urine on objects), and roaming.
Excessive licking can irritate the incision site causing inflammation, leading to further infection, and will even cause it to reopen. Licking and chewing on the wound will also tear the sutures and require you to visit the vet again to close it properly.
The scrotum is often swollen in the first few days after surgery, leading some people to wonder if the procedure was really performed. If the dog is immature at the time of neutering, the empty scrotum will flatten out as he grows. If he is mature at the time of neuter, the empty scrotum will remain as a flap of skin.
Normal post-operative swelling typically makes the scrotum appear full, perhaps even normal size, for about 24-48 hours after surgery. This is normal and the swelling typically subsides in due course and the scrotum begins to appear less full. In time the scrotum will contract (shrink up) and become less noticeable.
An average incision typically takes 10-14 days to fully heal. This means remaining disciplined as a pet owner and keeping your pet's e-collar on while limiting her activity levels for at least 2 weeks following the surgery is a must.
Male dogs have an incision just above the scrotum and male cats have two incisions, one in each side of the scrotum. The healing period for the incision is 7-10 days. Check the incision site at least twice daily for 10 days. What you see at discharge is what we consider normal.
As the incision heals, you will want to check the area for redness, swelling or discharge. There may be a bit of pinkness, slight swelling and bruising as your pet heals, but if the wound is exerting heat, excessive swelling is visible, pus is present or there's oozing discharge you should contact your vet immediately.
Activity levels may be reduced in both males and females after spaying and neutering, but this is by no means certain in all dogs. It's important to note that males may still engage in full-testosterone male behaviors while their male sex hormone levels diminish after surgery. This can take up to six weeks.
Myth 1: neutering makes dogs calmer
It is widely believed that neutering will help calm boisterous, over-excitable adolescent dogs down. However this is often not the case.
Your pup should begin behaving more like themselves the next day and show little sign of pain or discomfort the next day. Most discomfort caused by neuter or spay surgeries only lasts for a few days and should dissipate after a week.
Benefits of Neutering (males):
Reduces or eliminates risk of spraying and marking. Less desire to roam, therefore less likely to be injured in fights or auto accidents. Risk of testicular cancer is eliminated, and decreases incidence of prostate disease.
Dogs neutered before puberty don't experience this rise in hormones and their long bones particularly continue to grow for a longer time resulting in greater height when growth does cease than their un-neutered counterparts.
Keep him as quiet as possible for one week. Too much activity too soon will disrupt the healing process and may result in a painfully swollen scrotum or fluid build-up (seroma). Short on-leash walks are okay. Running or off-leash yard play should not be allowed.
Cut the shirt in half, then cut out four holes for your dog's legs. Create ties on either side of the shirt so you can put it on your dog and then tie it closed. You can use any shirt that will cover the wound and prevent your dog from licking at it. You can make your own dog cone, too.
Vets advise you to let your dog rest for up to 48 hours after neutering. Light exercise in a garden or yard is fine until you bring your dog in for their 3-day check-up. Once the vet tells you your dog is recovering ok you can take them on short leash walks until they go back in for their 10-day check-up.
It is not necessary to stay up, or sleep next to your pet and you can leave your dog alone after surgery for short periods as long as they aren't likely to lick their stitches. In fact, many dogs will appreciate some quiet time and the opportunity to sleep after the anaesthetic.