If you've recently purchased a puppy, you undoubtedly want your new furry friend to enjoy the best possible quality of life — and this highly depends on providing it with proper veterinary care. It's important to have your puppy spayed or neutered at an early age. This not only prevents adding to the population of unwanted pets that end up in animal shelters, but it also has health benefits for both male and female dogs. For instance, pets that are spayed or neutered enjoy a decreased risk of certain types of cancers, and it may help eliminate issues such as territory marking — or urinating where they shouldn't — in male dogs. 

Spaying and neutering aren't complex procedures, but they're still surgery. They're done on an outpatient basis, and your pet will be able to come home on the same day as the surgery is performed unless unexpected complications are a part of the picture. However, your canine companion will need some recovery time at home for several days afterward. Here's what you need to know about taking care of your pet after it's spayed or neutered:

Keep Your Pet Away From Other Dogs Your pet shouldn't be allowed around other pets until the incision has healed completely. Even friendly roughhousing isn't recommended because it could cause the stitches to come undone prematurely. Check the Incision Twice Per Day You should also check the incision twice per day for signs of swelling, redness, or discharge. Contact your veterinarian if you see anything that's abnormal — it could be a sign of an infection.  Limit Your Dog's activity This isn't the time to go on your usual long walks — and your dog may not be up to it anyway. It can take as long as 48 hours for dogs to fully recover from the anesthesia alone, so be sure to stick close to home. After several days, if there have been no complications and the incision appears to be healing, you can start going for short walks. You should be able to resume your normal routine in about a week. Stick to Your Dog's Regular Diet Stick with your dog's regular food, and keep in mind that although it may be tempting to give your pet a special treat such as a bite of your own steak while it's recovering, it's best to avoid even minor digestive upset at this time.