Your dog went through surgery and you are curious to know how long will it take to heal now?
Do dogs heal faster than humans after surgery? Or do they take a bit longer or shorter than that?
We get such questions from dog owners across the world – and that is why we are writing this article to clear all the questions present in your mind.
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How fast does a dog heal
It depends upon the type of surgery your dog undergoes.
If the surgery was a small and normal one then your dog will take a shorter time to heal because the wounds will recover faster.
But if the surgery was a bigger one then your dog will take much longer to heal because the wounds will recover slowly.
Generally, experts say that dogs can take somewhere between 6 weeks to 4 months to completely recover from surgery.
If your dog is an athlete or working dog then it might take up to 12 months until it reaches the same competitive level before surgery.
Do dogs heal faster than humans after surgery
The answer is yes! Dogs do heal faster than humans after surgery.
If you will follow the post-surgery care guidelines provided by the vet and take good care of your dog then your dog will be able to recover much faster from the surgery.
However, if you will be negligent and do not follow the post-surgery care guidelines provided by the vet then your dog will not recover fast and its health will further deteriorate due to lack of care.
Therefore, the key is to follow the vet’s instructions very carefully and take extreme care of your dog after the surgery to help it recover faster.
Why do dogs heal faster than humans?
There are different opinions on that.
Some say that dogs heal faster than humans because their immune system is naturally built to work faster – so they heal quickly.
The main reason is that dogs live at a higher and faster rate than humans. They are closer to nature as compared to us, their sense of smell is exponentially better than us, – so that’s why their immune system also works faster than humans and they recover faster from surgery.
Do dogs have healing powers
Yes, dogs have incredible healing powers that very few other animals possess.
For example, it is said that the saliva of dogs is very effective for healing wounds. The movement of the dog’s tongue helps the wounds because the saliva loosens any debris present on the surface of the wound and boosts its recovery.
Scientists say that the saliva of dogs contains a special protein called NGF (Nerve Growth Factor). It doubles the healing speed of wounds.
This is one more reason why dogs possess extraordinary healing powers and recover faster than humans.
Can you speed up the healing of a dog after surgery
Can you speed up the healing process of your dog after surgery? The answer is yes, you can,
Wondering how?
Well, here are the things you need to keep in mind for boosting the recovery of your dog after surgery.
1. Strictly follow the medication schedule of your dog
If your dog has undergone surgery, then the vet has probably provided you with the necessary post-surgery medicines that you should give to your dog.
So, do not forget to give the medicines to your dog at the exact time as recommended by the vet. Please do not delay it as it’s crucial for your dog’s recovery and health.
2. Get E-collar for your dog
Your dog does not know what’s good or bad for its health.
After surgery, the dog will probably start licking its incision. It can increase the risk of infection and put your dog at risk of further health deterioration.
Therefore, you should get an E-collar for your dog as it will prevent the dog from licking the incision.
3. Restrict the activity of your dog
After going through surgery, your dog needs complete rest. The more rest it gets, the faster the recovery will be.
Therefore, you need to restrict the activity of your dog. It’ll make sure that it gets the maximum amount of rest.
You do not have to confine the dog in a cage.
Just keep it away from children and other pets. Also, don’t let it go outdoors so that the dog can relax alone for some time without any disturbance.
4. Carefully observe the health of the dog
You should not leave your dog alone in this difficult time.
Make sure to carefully observe its health and find out if anything is going wrong. Keep a check on the incision and watch out for symptoms like bleeding, inflammation, heat, redness, swelling, etc.
If you feel something is wrong then call the vet immediately, explain the situation, and ask for help and guidance.
Can dogs heal human wounds
Since the saliva of dogs has healing powers, a lot of people imply that it can also heal human wounds by licking them.
But, you should never allow the dog to lick your wound. The reason is that the dog’s mouth has been to a lot of dirty places and it contains harmful bacteria and germs.
If the dog will lick your wound, then your wound can get infected and lead to serious problems.
Therefore, you should avoid it.
How long does a dog take to recover from surgery
If your dog has gone through surgery, then you shouldn’t expect it to recover immediately in just a few days.
No, that won’t happen because recovery takes time.
Your dog can take from 6 weeks to 4 months to completely recover from the surgery.
Right after the surgery, your dog will show certain side effects like dizziness, shakiness, soreness, swelling, and loss of appetite for some time.
If you see these side effects, then don’t worry because they are normal. Most of the time, they automatically go away after some time. However, if it’s been a while and the side effects are still there, then you should contact the vet immediately for more support. It can help diagnose any underlying problem and treat it on time.
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