How to keep your dog calm, happy and entertained after surgery

Most dogs will have an operation at some point in their lives. Whether that’s being neutered, recovering from an accident or being treated for an illness or joint issue. And you’ll usually have to restrict your dog’s exercise after the surgery to allow them to heal properly. How long that will last and how much you’ll have to restrict their exercise will depend on the operation. Small operations like neutering are usually on-lead walks for 1-2 weeks but if your dog’s broken a bone or needs orthopedic surgery they might be confined to a crate for months.

This recovery period can be pretty stressful for you and your dog. Some dogs go stir crazy very quickly without their normal walks, especially puppies, teen dogs and working breeds. And without careful management and appropriate entertainment these dogs can end up bouncing off the walls full of energy - not great for their recovery. But if your dog’s due an operation soon (or is recovering from one), don’t worry. There are plenty of easy ways to keep your dog calm, happy and entertained while they heal. And soon you’ll both be back out enjoying those long walks together…

Post-surgery behaviour changes

It’s normal for your dog’s behaviour to change while they’re recovering. They’re likely to be in pain and so they could be more sensitive to being touched and to loud noises. This might mean they’re barking a lot more and possibly even growling or snapping at you if you try to touch them. Or your dog might be much more clingy, wanting more cuddles and needing to be as close to you as possible for reassurance. Being in pain can make it harder for your dog to lie down comfortably and get enough sleep and this could make them very tired and very grumpy.

As well as being bored from the lack of walks and play, your dog may become very frustrated. If they’re used to having free roam of the house and being let into your garden off-lead whenever they want, suddenly being restricted can be incredibly frustrating. They don’t understand why they’re not allowed upstairs, on the sofa and to run free in the garden. Dogs usually need to wear a cone to prevent them licking their wounds. And this can be very frustrating too - there’s a weird thing around their head which bashes on furniture and makes it hard to eat and drink. Most dogs tolerate a soft cone or a recovery suit better so ask your vet if these would be suitable for your dog.

Keeping your dog calm and relaxed

Restricted exercise usually means you’ll need to be limiting your dog’s activity around the house too. Some dogs will be naturally quieter while they recover but others will do zoomies around the house as soon as you’re home from the vets if you let them. If you’ve got a hyper dog you’ll have to focus on helping them feel calm and relaxed throughout their recovery period to keep them still so they can heal.

Chewing, licking and sniffing are all great for helping dogs feel calmer and chill out while keeping them in one place. There are lots of chews you can buy, try to get some long lasting ones like yaks milk chews, coffee word chews and antlers as well as some edible chews. You can freeze a banana or boil carrots or broccoli stalks and then freeze them for cheap chews. Smear yoghurt, peanut butter or wet dog food on a lick mat, baking tray or muffin tin for your dog to lick off - again you can freeze this to make it last longer. A snuffle mat is great to hide treats or kibble in for your dog to sniff out and eat.

Occupying your dog’s brain

Without walks most dogs get very bored very quickly. And then they take all that excess energy they’d usually burn off on their walks and find their own entertainment. Which often means zoomies around the house or destroying your stuff. But luckily there are ways you can entertain your dog at home by stimulating them mentally.

If your dog wants to destroy stuff then give them things they’re allowed to destroy. The easiest (and cheapest) way to do this is to get all your clean cardboard and paper recycling and hide their food in it. Then they can tear it apart to get their snacks. Yes, they’ll make a mess but they’ll also get to use their brain and all that extra energy without doing any exercise. If your dog is allowed to move freely around your house, try hiding treats for them to sniff and find. Hunting for treats can be very exciting and some dogs zoom around the house sniffing for them. If you need to slow your dog down, put more treats closer together so they’re only taking a few steps between them.

Middle is a really cute (and useful) trick you could teach your dog while they’re on restricted exercise

Training new behaviours and practising ones your dog already knows is also a great way to tire out their brain. But you do need to be careful to choose behaviours that won’t hurt your dog and affect their recovery. Luckily there are so many tricks that you can probably find something your dog can do safely. Teaching your dog to touch their nose to your hand, put their nose through a circle made by your fingers or put their chin on your hand or leg are great easy tricks that require very little movement. If your dog would prefer a more difficult challenge, you could teach them to pick up their toys and bring them to you or tidy them away in a box.

Making short walks entertaining

You’ll probably still be taking your dog out for toilet trips while they recover. And depending on what operation your dog has had you might be able to take them on short on-lead walks. Just because your dog can’t walk far and can’t go off-lead doesn’t mean they won’t benefit from a bit of fresh air.

For dogs walks are as much about having a chance to sniff as they are about exercise. Your dog can learn so much from scent - which dogs and people and what types of wildlife were in the area recently. Taking in all this information is really enjoyable for your dog and super tiring. So if your dog wants to stop and sniff everything when you take them out to the toilet, let them. They’ll be happier and much more likely to relax when they get home. If your dog doesn’t choose to sniff on their toilet trips you can encourage them by scattering treats on the ground. And if you can’t take your dog outside much or at all you can bring all those outside smells in. Just collect twigs, grass and leaves from near your house and put them in a box for your dog to sniff.