Last Updated on June 28, 2021 by Marco
If you have made the choice to add a Husky to your household, then inevitably you will be faced with making a decision about neutering your dog. Other terms for this procedure include desexing or spaying/speying, depending on where you live.
If you DO choose to have your Husky neutered, you must be informed about post-operative care for your beloved pooch and you may wonder how long to keep cone on dog after neuter?
One of the most obvious physical aspects of the post-operative procedure is the dreaded cone.
How Long Does The Cone Stay On After Neutering?
The cone needs to stay on your dog for 7 to 10 days after the operation.
So why does a dog need to wear a cone after surgery? Keep reading to find out.
A Word On Neutering
In case you were unaware, neutering involves the removal of some of the dog’s reproductive organs so that it cannot breed.
In the case of a female dog, she is given a general anesthetic and then an incision is made in her abdomen. The vet and their team will then tie her fallopian tubes to obstruct eggs, or ova, from leaving her ovaries and reaching her uterus, and preventing fertilization by the male’s spermatozoa. In some cases, if there is another medical need to do so, the vet may remove her ovaries and/or uterus.
When it comes to the male dog, the procedure is a little quicker and easier because the sex organs are external. The dog is given a general anesthetic. The scrotum is cut open and the testes removed, so that sperm production can no longer take place.
In the cases of both dogs, pain relief will be given via injection whilst they are at the clinic, and then you are likely to be given oral pain killers for the recovery time spent at home.
The vet may also give you some oral antibiotics to keep infection at bay.
Your vet will keep your Husky in for observation and recovery post-surgery. Once they are satisfied that all has gone well, you can take your dog home.
You must keep your dog in a quiet and calm place so that it can rest. Do not encourage the dog to be active, and do not exercise the dog, in case it ruptures its stitches.
Do not be surprised if your Husky is woozy and sleepy after the surgery for a day. Their appetite may be diminished too. Ensure that your dog has access to drinking water though.
Read more about: How Long is a Husky Pregnant?
Why Does My Husky Need To Wear A Cone?
After neutering surgery (or any other surgery requiring stitches, for that matter), your veterinarian will place a fitted plastic cone around your dog’s neck. You may or may not be able to keep the cone; this depends on the vet clinic.
This cone comes with adjustable fittings so that it is neither too tight nor too loose.
The reason why their use is standard procedure is to prevent your dog from:
- Licking the wound site, which can cause irritation and possible infection, and
- Using its teeth to pull out the stitches.
If you have ever had stitches, you will know that they can pull on the skin and be quite irritating! You will also know that once a wound starts to heal, it will begin to itch. Humans understand to leave well enough alone, but try telling that to your dog! They will want those stitches out, pronto. They do not understand that they are for their wellbeing; all they sense is the irritation of having them.
How Long Should Dogs Wear a Cone After Surgery?
Given that wearing a cone is frustrating for your dog, and therefore for you, you will want to take it off as soon as possible.
The cone needs to stay on your Husky for at least 7 days after neutering. If you can keep it on for 10 days, even better.
This gives the wound site the best possible chance to heal properly.
Cone Tips For Your Husky
It is important that you have the correct-sized cone for your dog. You do not need to worry too much about this, as any good vet will provide one as part of the neutering process, and they will make sure it fits correctly.
Some cones are designed to have the dog’s collar looped through slits at its base, to keep it in place.
As a good rule of thumb, the cone should extend about 3 to 4 inches beyond the tip of your Husky’s nose.
This may mean that you need to put your Husky’s food and water bowls on a raised stand so that they can eat and drink unhindered.
It also means that you do not have to manually remove and replace the cone before and after meals, as this can be difficult and frustrating for you both.
Happily, the cone should not bother your Husky when they go to the toilet, regardless of their gender.
Nor will the cone hinder your Husky from sleeping. They can still lay their head flat on the ground when they are wearing it. The only real issue that arises from this is the sound it makes if the cone scrapes on a hard surface. This may bother you more than it bothers your dog!
Cone Care
The cone will get mucky during meal times, so you may need to use a damp cloth to remove any food debris and slobber.
Otherwise, muck will accumulate around the dog’s neck and start to smell, which will make things even more unpleasant for you and your Husky.
Cone Alternatives
If your Husky is really not coping with wearing a cone after it has been neutered, there are other alternatives on the market that you may like to consider.
- An inflatable neck ring;
- A full bodysuit that covers the wound site on the abdomen for your female Husky, where the incision will be. For males, the wound site is at the rear, underneath his tail. Many of these suits have a flap that does up over this part of the dog’s anatomy.
If you feel that your Husky is not coping with the cone after its neuter surgery, seek advice from your vet. They may be able to prescribe a mild tranquilizer to keep your dog calm so that they can rest and heal.
After 7 to 10 days, the cone can be removed, and you and your Husky can start to engage in some gentle exercise again. Your vet may want the dog returned to have the stitches removed, or they may have used dissolvable stitches, in which case you are both free to get back to your normal lives, cone-free!
