Spaying is important after your dog reaches a certain age. Smaller dog breeds may be fit for spaying after they reach six months of age. If you have a large dog, she may become eligible for spaying after she reaches the 16-month mark.
Your pet will benefit immensely from spaying, but she may also experience some troubling symptoms right after the procedure. Shaking is one of those symptoms that you may observe. Find out what it means and what you can do about it by continuing with the rest of this article.
Why Is My Dog Shaking after Getting Spayed?
Changes in behavior are normal for dogs that were recently spayed. Examples of the changes you may notice include a drop in energy levels. Your dog may sit or lie around more in the hours following spaying.
It’s also normal for dogs to lose their appetite after going through that kind of procedure. Vomiting is another thing you have to watch out for in post-op dogs.
If you’ve cared for female dogs before, you are likely aware that those issues could emerge after spaying. However, you may not be aware that shaking is another side effect of that procedure.
The sight of your pet shaking can be very concerning. A symptom like that is commonly associated with serious illnesses so seeing your dog exhibit it now may cause you to panic.
But is there reason to panic? You can answer that question by learning more about the reasons why your dog is shaking after spaying.
Your Dog Is Shaking Due to the After Effects of Her Medication
Anesthesia is administered before a pet dog is spayed. Administering that drug allows your pet to remain pain-free during the procedure. The effects of anesthesia also tend to linger so your pet should be able to avoid pain for a while.
When the anesthesia finally wears off, it can still cause some symptoms to emerge. One of those symptoms is shaking.
You can tell that the shaking is caused by anesthesia if it is accompanied by other symptoms such as disorientation and vomiting.
Other pain meds may also cause shaking when they finally wear off. Be prepared for shaking if your dog was on those meds.
Your Dog Is in Pain
Shaking is usually an indicator of pain in pets. That could very well be the case yet again for your pet dog.
Now that the anesthesia has worn off, your dog may be feeling the effects of the surgery for the first time. The pain may be intense enough to cause a bit of shaking in your pet.
If pain is the primary reason why your recently spayed dog is shaking, it should stop after a while.
Your Dog Is Feeling Anxious
As pet owners, we only have the best intentions for the animals in our care. Unfortunately, your dog may not understand that.
Your dog may understand that visiting the vet is a must if they are sick, but that may just be a source of added confusion. She was likely feeling fine prior to spaying so she may not understand why undergoing surgery was necessary.
Even though the procedure is finished, your dog may still be unsure of what happened. That may cause her to feel anxious about the whole thing.
Anxiety can bring about numerous changes in dogs. Outside of shaking, your pet may also become more restless. She may also start displaying some forms of destructive behavior.
The onset of anxiety can be troublesome for your precious pet. Make sure you’re there for her so she can deal with it better.
Your Dog Is Affected by a Different Illness
Finally, the shaking your dog is exhibiting post-spaying may have nothing to do with that procedure. Instead, it could be a symptom of a different disease that is just rearing its ugly head now.
The emergence of the disease after spaying may just be a coincidence. Shaking that is caused by a different illness will likely present itself along with some unexpected symptoms.
What to Do if My Dog Is Shaking after Getting Spayed?
Visible shaking makes such a strong impression that it causes many pet owners to immediately panic. You cannot give in to that instinct. If there is something going on with your pet, you must be ready to help her out.
Follow the tips we’ve listed below so you can help your beloved pet dog more effectively.
Keep Monitoring Your Dog
Monitoring is a must if you notice your dog shaking. If her shaking is caused by the anesthesia or her pain meds wearing off, there is nothing you can immediately do to make that symptom disappear. For now, you can sit back and watch how your pet’s condition develops.
The shaking should subside as more time passes. It should disappear completely a day after the surgery if the shaking was caused by either the anesthesia or other forms of pain medication.
Your dog should also stop shaking after the pain from the surgery subsides.
Comfort Your Dog
Your dog’s shaking may be caused by pain or the onset of anxiety. If that’s the case, it is your duty as a pet owner to comfort your dog.
Grab some of your pet’s favorite treats and start offering her some. Let her eat out of your hand if that helps her calm down.
During this time, you can also give your dog some loving pets. Keep running your hand through her coat until she starts to feel better.
Dogs turn to us whenever they experience pain and discomfort. Given everything they do for us, the least we can do is to comfort them during that trying time.
Take Your Dog to the Veterinarian
Hopefully, your dog’s shaking will subside after enough time has passed. If not that, the hope is that comforting your dog will do the trick.
Unfortunately, there’s still a chance that your dog will continue to shake after all that. That kind of thing can happen if the shaking is caused by a different illness. Bring your dog to the veterinarian as soon as possible so she can be diagnosed.