How soon can I walk my dog after neutering?

Neutering is a reasonably straightforward procedure for male dogs to remove their reproductive organs.  

While simple, it is still conducted under a general anaesthetic, and your dog will be left with a stitched wound afterwards. 

When a female dog’s reproductive organs are removed, the procedure is known as spaying. It is more intrusive than castrating a male dog, and your female dog may be quite sore for a few days afterwards. 

When to walk male dogs after castration 

Your vet will probably recommend that your dog gets plenty of rest for the first 48 hours following surgery and avoids strenuous activity. No walking, no playing, and no running around! 

Stitches can be pulled apart easily, leaving a painful open wound at risk of infection. 

If they seem pretty bright and bursting with energy after that time, you can take them out for a short walk on the lead. At your dog’s 3-day post-operation check-up, your vet will check the wound and advise you whether you can start taking longer walks or start letting them off the lead. 

When to walk female dogs after spaying 

The advice for post-op walking is similar, however, due to the more invasive nature of the procedure, you will need to take things a little easier than you would for a male. No walks for 48 hours and short, gentle walks on the lead after that. When you have taken your dog back for her post-op check-up, ask your vet when they think it is safe for your dog to go for longer walks. 

The main point here is, to listen to your vet and follow their advice. You don’t want to be responsible for taking your dog back to the vet with a gaping wound that requires another surgery and round of anaesthetic. And don’t give in to your dog! Please wait until the wound is sufficiently healed and your vet is happy for your dog to go back to his regular walking routine.   

In summary, your vet is the expert. They will be able to give you the correct information tailored to your dog’s recovery.