recovery time

When i got my jrt/chi mix neutered I got him done at the HS and they said 7 days.  I still kept in eye on him till there was no sign of surgery though. 

I'll agree with Puggylover!
Sutures may come out around day 10, but don't let him push his limits, his poor little body is still trying to heal. My little guy was feeling so good 2 days after his surgery (even without the Rimadyl, which I stopped giving after the first day) I had to crate him because he was bouncing off the walls and furniture as usual. Just keep an eye on him... some dogs (like mine) don't know when to just rest!!!

sorry, i dont know medications, whats rimadyl for?

Rimadyl's just a pain reliever. Vet offices around here seem to dispense it like candy.

Yea sounds like where my grandmother took her dog.  Wish they would be more careful with it because it is so dangerous.  Dogs usually don't need pain meds after spay/neuter.  None of my dogs have had them, and i think the slight pain keeps them calmer so they can heal.  I also had to crate my dog because he was crazy the moment he got home.  I'm really afraid to see how crazy Athena will be when i get her spayed this month.  I'm going to have to watch her like a hawk because she is never calm.

When I got Shadow neutered, I had to leave him overnight (vet's policy). I brought him home the next morning and he slept most of the day and was morose. I think he thought we were going to leave him there. I cooked a steak for him that evening and he knew then he was back home and back to himself. The next day, we were back to walking but I made sure it wasn't too far, to avoid pulling out sutures. The following day we were walking and playing. By 7 days, you wouldn't know he had been neutered except for the shaved off fur, as he had as much energy as he ever had. Plus, I was out of work for a while, staying home and we had plenty of time to play. Yes, the neuter is less invasive than the spay and, IMHO, that can play a role in how quick your dog can get back to his normal life. Shadow would lick some but if it went on for what I thought was too long, I would say "no" and he would leave it alone. I know he was going to lick some and that's normal.

Yeah you just don't want them to exert themselves while they are healing.  But keeping them crated isn't necessary unless, like others have said, they are "bouncing off the walls".    Mostly you don't want them to open the sutures and begin bleeding.  But walks (not runs) and short games of play inside won't hurt them.

Our rule of thumb was the dogs were not allowed to run around while they still had sutures.  Either for infection from the environment (rolling in mud), or risk of ripping them.  So, if your sutures are the disolvable kind, that should be maybe a week??

Yea with the disolvable sutures they last about 7 days.  That's what my dog had when I had him neutered.  He healed up great even though he was upset he couldn't go run outside with the other dogs until he was healed.  He just took short walks to get rid of that extra energy so he didn't go crazy running and jumping and then have to be crated. 

havn't read all the posts but  I would send both spays and neuters home the same day and advise owners to keep pup on leash at all times when walking and let the walk be self limiting...no jumping up and down, no running up and down steps, etc,etc...theoretically after three days the incision is as tight as it  will abe....but don;t use this as a guide line...every dog is different...No chasing balls of romping for about a week

This post has been helpful.  Here are some questions/comments.
 
We had Bella, 5 month puppy, spayed Monday.  She was slow moving Monday and parts of Tuesday.  However, this morning she seemed to feel much better.  We went on a regular "WALK".  She was rather excited inside the house, wanting to play.  I had to calm her down a little to not over do it.  I've checked her scar/wound a few times and it looks good.
 
Here's the problem.  Bella has grown accustomed to liking the outdoors most of the time.  Some neighbor dogs are back there that she'll play with thru the fence.  She has her doghouse mansion and most of her toys out there too.  With her being confined to indoors after the spaying, it feels like we're grounding her.  She will wimper sometimes, wanting to go out and play.  But the vet told us 10-14 days before things can be back to normal.  That sounds overly conservative and protective, doesn't it?  My wife and I thought 7 days would be plenty.  For her age and health, shouldn't she recover quicker than a dog that might be older?  Any information or advice would be appreciated.  Thanks. 

I let my Great Dane play outside after a week.  Same with my Jack Russel mix when he got neutered.  I've always heard 7 days because i got the Humane Society to get the fixed.  I still kept my eye on them and checked the incision often to make sure nothing torn.  So i think 7 days should be fine. 

i agree that 7 days should be fine for letting her go outside and play. 

7 days is a pretty good rule but don;t  use that as your only guide line because i had a dane one time open up after a week but the owners left her outside in a pen and apparantly several animals came by for a visit and she jumped up and down and did ruptur a small amount...tacked her up  again and she was fine but as with everything else all dogs are difrferent and Danes are so big and heavy that  they need a little extra supervision