Right after being neutered, our dogs may still want to walk, run, play or even try to jump. It’s not easy to tell our younger dogs to relax after a major surgery since they’re not aware of how much recovery time and rest they need. My French Bulldog, Beau, was neutered at 7 months old so he was still very young and energetic and wanted to walk, run, and play. But how soon can I walk my dog after neutering? Here’s the short answer.
How soon can I walk my dog after neutering? Your dog should rest for at least 2 days or 48 hours after being neutered and should visit the vet on the third-day post neutering for a check-up. If everything is fine per the vet, your dog can start doing short walks on the 4th or 5th day. Remember to visit the vet again for the 10-day check-up post neutering.
Right after my Frenchie’s neutering surgery, I made sure to consult with my vet, and below is her professional advice on how soon you can take your dog for a walk after neutering. I’ve also shared many more tips on what I learned throughout the years. If at any time your dog is behaving strangely after being neutered, make sure to inform your vet immediately.
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Can you walk a dog after neutering?
No, you can not walk a dog after the neutering process until after the fourth or fifth day. On the third day post neutering, you should bring your male dog to the vet for a check-up to make sure he is doing well and improving.
Some owners may choose to walk their dogs on the third day post neutering after the first checkup, which is fine if the vet agrees.
So, how long before I can walk my dog after neutering? It really depends on your male dog. It’s important to note that every dog is different so the healing time and process for each dog varies as well.
One of the best tips we can give you is to follow your vet’s advice regarding walking your dog after neutering. Your vet knows your dog the best so it’s crucial to listen to their instructions.
With my energetic Frenchie, he was trying to run and jump even though he had stitches. After just two days after the neutering, he was playing and running and we had to try to slow him down.
On the third day after visiting the vet for his post neutering checkup, the vet said he’s improving very well and that it was fine to take him on a short walk. But how far can I walk my dog after the neutering surgery? Here’s what our vet told us.
How far can my dog walk after being neutered?
After the third day post neutering checkup and upon your vet’s approval, you can take your dog on a 10 to 15 minutes walk around the block. We did as our vet suggested and ensure our little Frenchie had his dog harness on so that he was safe and we had control of him in case anything happened.
Again every dog is different so there really is no correct answer. How far you can walk your dog after the neutering surgery really depends on your dog’s size, age, health conditions, and exercise requirement. Therefore, it’s best to follow your vet’s advice.
It’s safe to say that 10 days post neutering and with proper care and rest, your dog should heal nicely be able to walk as far as you normally would prior to being neutered.
Our vet also provided some tips that we would like to share with you in detail. After, we will discuss how dangerous it can be if your dog doesn’t rest after the neutering or spaying surgery, what happens if you leave them alone, and how to care for male dogs after neutering.
Walking a dog after neutering and spaying: Here’s the recommended timeline
Within 2 days post neutering
After the neutering surgery, you’ll want your dog to relax so he can recover nicely and quickly. Keep in mind that both the spaying and neutering surgery is invasive which means it involves either cutting or puncturing the skin or even inserting medical instruments into the dog’s body.
Invasive surgery like neutering requires time to heal. This is why vets will generally recommend that your male pooch has complete and full rest for at least 48 hours post neutering surgery. This means no walking, running, playing, or exercising is allowed during these two days.
Keep a close eye on your dog so he doesn’t walk, jump, stretch, or run around the house, especially within the first two days post neutering.
Within 48 hours to 72 hours post neutering
After the first two days or 48 hours, your dog can be let out in your backyard or garden for a 5 to 10-minute exercise. This could be a walk but try to avoid running or jumping. Continue to monitor your dog closely and make sure he does not exert himself too much.
With that said, it’s important to note that some dogs may require more than 48 hours of rest to recover fully. Be mindful of the fact that no two dogs will recover at the same rate so it’s best to seek your vet’s advice.
3 to 10 days post neutering
Right after the neutering surgery, your vet will recommend two follow-up appointments which should be on day 3 and day 10 post neutering. During these two follow-up appointments, your vet will check to make sure your canine friend is recovering nicely and is healing properly.
If you allow your dogs to walk or exercise during this time frame, make sure to continue to supervise your dog closely and that he is not over-exerting himself. The exercise should be light and for a short period of time.
The environment in which your pooch is allowed to walk should not have any distractions such as other dogs or pets. Distractions such as other dogs in the backyard or dog park can cause your neutered dog to run around, play, and chase them which is what you want to avoid.
Here’s a breakdown of what your dog can do:
- 3 days post neutering: Depending on how fast and well your dog is recovering, you can walk your dog on a short leash (preferably with a dog harness) so you have full control of him during this walk in case anything happens.
- How long after neuter can dog run?Depending on your vet’s advice, you can now walk your dog as you normally would before prior to the neutering surgery.
Keep the walk simple and short when you first walk your dog after their neutering surgery. We recommend starting the walk slowly and see how your male pup reacts to this light walk and exercise.
If your dog seems comfortable and enjoying the walk without walking weirdly, then you can begin to extend how far you can walk your dog. Again, use a short leash so you have full control of him. You don’t want your male pooch to become distracted which can put pressure on their scars and stitches.
Be sure to use a dog harness so the leash doesn’t put too much stress and pressure on their neck either while they are trying to recover from the neutering surgery.
Moderation is key here so make sure your male pooch does not exert too much force and pressure.
Ten days post neutering, most male dogs are given the thumbs up to walk as they have prior to the surgery. They can exercise like before provided that they have healed nicely and there are no health complications. If the scars from the surgery are still healing, ask our vet if antibiotics may help.
Your vet may suggest that your pooch take the antibiotics for a few more weeks.
You might also like: How Long Can A Dog Go Without Eating?
How long after neuter can dog run?
To err on the side of caution, it’s best to wait until the 10th day after the neutering surgery to allow your dogs to run. Every dog is different so some male dogs may heal and recover much quicker than others.
Your vet knows your dog the best and it’s crucial to consult with them to find out exactly how long after neuter your dog can start running.
How long after neuter can dog play?
Similar to waiting until the 10th day after the neutering surgery to allow your dogs to run, you should wait until the 10th day after neutering to allow your pooch to play.
When dogs play, it can put a lot of pressure and stress on their stitches and scars and can delay the healing and recovery process.
How to keep dog from jumping after neutering?
After being neutered, you’ll want to closely monitor your dog to make sure he is not jumping. Jumping on anything, whether it is the bed, couch, or other furniture in the house can cause the stitches to pop open and this can lead to bleeding.
To keep your dog from jumping after neutering, here’s what you can do:
- Place your dog’s bed in a room with no furniture to jump on. The dog’s bed should be on the floor.
- Plenty of water and food should be provided. The water and food bowls should be near his bed for easy access.
- Keep an eye on him often. You can visit him every 30 minutes and sit with him for at least 15 to 20 minutes.
- Provide him with much-needed TLC or tender loving care! This includes cuddling with your dog.
Handy Hint: If you worry your furry friend may be uncomfortable on the dog bed or feel hot on the bed during the summer months, you can get an elevated dog bed with breathable HDPE fabric that is flea and mold resistant. The elevated design keeps your recently neutered dog cool by increasing airflow from all sides.
What if my dog won’t walk after neutering?
It’s fine if your dog won’t walk after neutering. In fact, many vets will recommend that you let your dogs rest for at least 2 days or up to 48 hours post neutering. Some dogs may even require up to 10 days post neutering to fully recover and heal enough to start walking again.
So if you’re worried and concerned about your dog not walking to walk after neutering, don’t be. It’s natural so let your dog relax and recover after being neutered.
Care for male dog after neutering
The after castration care for dogs is especially important and crucial. Here’s what you can do to help get your pup’s physical activity levels back to where they were prior to being neutered.
Below is what we did to get our Frenchie Beau to walk again after the neutering procedure.
1. Keep your dog in a confined space to help speed up the healing process
After the neutering process, dog owners should make sure to limit their pups’ daily activity. Dogs with limited activity and are allowed to rest will heal much quicker. Keeping your pooch in a small, confined, yet comfortable space or room helps to limit your dog’s ability to jump or run around.
There are plenty of dog owners who may choose to use a dog crate instead. They will have their dogs stay in a large, comfortable, and padded crate for the first two days of the healing process. The only time dogs are allowed out of the crate is for potty breaks.
2. Allow dogs to burn off energy without exerting too much pressure
Of course, both young and adult dogs alike will have too much stored energy that needs to be expended if they are just lying around all day. So having a short walk here and there is fine. Make sure to confirm with your vet first.
This short walk will allow your dog to burn off excess energy without exerting too much pressure and stress on their stitches and scar.
To ensure my dog received both his physical and mental stimulation every day, I would go on a short leash walk with him and would bring along some of his favorite treats with me. I would throw a treat at a time in front of us during our short walk.
My French Bulldog was very focused during this walk and did not get distracted. I was able to get him to walk in order to expend his excess energy while making sure it was just the right level and amount of physical activity.
3. Treat the stitches and scar
After the neutering surgery, expect stitches and scar. While your vet will check your dog’s stitches during the two follow-up appointments, you should also monitor the stitches closely daily. Look out for any signs of bacterial infection such as any oozing or crustiness.
If you do happen to see yellow oozing or crustiness, use a soft, clean, and damp towel and gently wipe the infected area. You’ll want to call your vet as well so they can take a look at it as well.
4. Let your dog rest and recover
Constant monitoring of your male dog after they’ve been neutered is crucial. Every few minutes, you should check up on him and see how he is doing.
If you need to head out for more than half an hour, we recommend keeping your dog in his crate. For those who do not use crates, you can leave your pooch in a room that does not contain furniture to jump on. Lastly, keep your other pets (dogs and cats) in the house away from your neutered dog.
Final thoughts
We hope this article gave you some clarity on when can dogs go for walks after neutering. The above guide is a combination of our vet’s professional advice along with my experiences of how soon I was able to walk my dog after neutering.
Our most important message is to always consult your dog’s vet before making any decision since no two dogs are alike and the healing process varies for each dog.
While my Frenchie was able to get back to walking normally after neutering, other dogs may not and may require more time to recover. By monitoring your dog closely and consulting with your vet, you’ll be able to know how soon after neutering you can walk your dog.
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The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional veterinary advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your veterinarian or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Resources:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11787153/
https://www.aspca.org/aspca-spay-neuter-alliance/after-surgery-instructions
With over five years of specialized experience as an animal writer, my expertise lies in dog nutrition, health, behavior, grooming, and training. I am dedicated to delivering helpful and informative content that caters to the well-being of our furry friends. My primary goal is to empower pet owners with knowledge and ensure our canine companions thrive in health and happiness. In my free time, I love volunteering at local dog rescue centers.
