Why is my dog itchy after being shaved for surgery? Find out why and how to deal with it in this educational article!
Surgery can be a stressful time for both you and your pet. Recovery becomes even more complicated when you have a dog with skin allergies or sensitivities, and you may find yourself asking, “why is my dog itchy after being shaved for surgery?”
Well, surgical necessities such as shaving fur, IV placement, and sutures can bother them to no end!
Itching after surgery can be dealt with in a few ways:
- Keep an e-collar (or cone) on your dog to prevent licking and chewing
- Giving your dog socks or shirts to wear to prevent access to the shaved area or surgical site and protect against scratching
- Using medications to reduce itchiness and prevent infections from licking
After your dog has been discharged from the veterinary clinic, your veterinarian will give you instructions on how to protect your dog’s surgical site from licking, chewing, and scratching that likely involves some combination of the above methods. If you’d like to learn more about keeping your dog comfortable after surgery, keep reading!
How to stop a dog from scratching stitches
If you’ve ever gotten stitches, you know how bothersome and itchy they can be! Despite that, it’s essential for proper wound healing to keep the sutures clean and secure. Since you can’t simply explain everything to your dog, what else can you do?
To stop a dog from scratching at its stitches, it’s essential to prevent access to the sutures – this means you’ll have to protect the surgical site from any licking, chewing, or scratching, as detailed above.
Why?
Once dogs begin to lick or scratch, they want to keep doing it. Excessive bothering at their skin can lead to abrasions and infection, further complicating the already complicated process of surgery – this is why breaking the cycle before it begins is so important!
Use a cone or e-collar to prevent licking
Ah yes, the cone of shame! Even though it’s the butt of many jokes, a cone is an essential tool for protecting dogs after surgery, as it prevents them from licking or chewing at their sutures by blocking access.
Some owners opt to use a “soft” cone instead of the plastic ones most veterinary clinics will provide. I’d recommend against this, as soft cones or neck pillows can easily be circumvented – since they’re softer, they can be bent, and you’d be surprised at how flexible and determined your dog may be to lick or chew!
When using a cone, be sure to follow your veterinarian’s discharge instructions. Keep the cone on at all times, especially when you cannot supervise your dog. If your dog has trouble eating or drinking with the cone on, you can try raising their dishes for easier access.
Typically, cones can be removed once sutures are out. But I would recommend leaving the cone on for an additional day after suture removal, as the freshly-removed suture site can be another source of itching for dogs!
Use a sock or shirt to prevent scratching
Some suture sites won’t be accessible by a dog’s feet, so just using the cone will work. But others, such as on the dog’s sides, can’t be protected by a cone. In that case, you can use a sock on the dog’s back foot or a shirt to cover their body to prevent scratching!
The worst thing about scratching is irritating the skin or ripping out sutures. Having the surgical site covered will be able to prevent too much scratching, but it’s crucial for you as an owner to also be on the lookout for scratching and try to stop it when you see it.
The best way to keep the sock on your dog’s foot is to use a bit of medical tape! If your dog has very long fur, you may want to trim it in this area so the tape can be more easily removed. To make sure the tape isn’t too tight, slide your finger between the tape and the dog – if it fits, you’re good!
If the sock ever gets wet or soiled, remove it – trapping moisture in your dog’s paws, especially if they have sensitive skin, is a recipe for infection and even more itching!
As far as shirts go, what will work depends on the size of your dog. Typically, baby or child-sized clothing will fit most dogs. For security and cleanliness, tie the bottom of the shirt around the abdomen!
If your dog has an abdominal surgical site and won’t wear a cone, you can also use a onesie to protect it. Most baby or toddler onesies work well for this – just cut a hole in the end for the dog’s tail!
How do I get my dog to stop itching after surgery?
- The first step to stopping the itch is by preventing it in the first place! Post-surgery shaved areas or suture sites may tempt your dog to scratch or chew, but by blocking their ability to do so, you’ll break the cycle! As you probably know, scratching that itch only leads to more itching!
- If your dog seems very uncomfortable or is itching or licking at sites you’re unable to cover sufficiently (such as shaved areas for IV line placement), try your best to discourage licking or scratching and monitor the area. If the skin becomes red and raw, it’s best to seek medical advice from your veterinarian.
- Always ensure you follow your veterinarian’s specific recommendations! If you have any questions or concerns regarding discharge instructions or procedures, don’t hesitate to call for professional medical advice!
How do you soothe a dog’s shaved skin after surgery?
Preventing licking, chewing, and scratching will go a long way in keeping your dog’s surgical site clean and healthy and prevents further skin issues down the line. But, aside from that, some dogs are still irritated when their fur is clipped. So what else can you do?
Using medications to reduce the itch
When a dog’s hair grows back, it can be very itchy. In addition, if your dog has sensitive skin, it may also be more prone to clipper burn from the shaving process.
In that case, your veterinarian may prescribe a topical cream to reduce inflammation around the shaved area, speed the healing of clipper burn, and soothe itchiness. Be sure to use any medications only as directed by your vet!
Using hot and cold packs
If your dog will let you, using hot or cold packs on the surgical site can reduce pain, discomfort, and inflammation. Be sure to keep any packs wrapped in a towel and do not leave them on too long or without supervision. About 10 minutes will work!
Are medicated baths okay for dogs after surgery?
If you have a dog with skin issues, you may be familiar with medicated baths. However, it is not recommended to bathe your dog after surgery – you should wait until the surgical site has healed fully and sutures are removed before resuming any bathing regimen you may have.
It’s essential to keep the surgical site clean and dry during healing to prevent infection!
Do dogs itch after being shaved?
Yes, shaving a dog’s fur can make them itch, especially as it begins to grow back. The sensation can be uncomfortable, and if your dog already has existing skin issues, it can exacerbate existing itchiness.
Since dogs typically have an IV line placed during surgery, the shaved spot on their front legs can be a hot spot for licking. Be sure to watch out for this and let your veterinarian know if your dog is experiencing discomfort!
The above recommendations of using a cone and shirts or socks should help prevent scratching and further itching, so scroll up if you’re interested in those!
Can anaesthesia make dogs itch?
There is nothing about the anaesthetic process that inherently makes dogs itchy. However, having fur shaved for surgery and IV line placement can definitely cause itching!
As part of a regular anaesthetic protocol, dogs typically receive a sedative injection before undergoing general anaesthesia. As with any injection, your dog may experience some soreness at the injection site.
References
- https://vcacanada.com/know-your-pet/care-of-surgical-incisions-in-dogs
- https://wagwalking.com/wellness/how-to-prevent-your-dog-from-scratching-a-wound