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Recovery
When can a dog have a bath after surgery?
Day four in the cone. The dog smells like the vet clinic and the couch, and you badly want to wash them. Hold off. Here is why the incision has to stay dry, the usual timelines, how to keep a recovering dog clean in the meantime, and how to tell when a real bath is okay.
Your vet's instructions come first. We wash dogs for a living. We are not vets, and this page is general guidance, not medical advice. If your discharge sheet says something different from anything here, follow the sheet, and if you are unsure, call the clinic.
The short answer
Keep the incision dry until the vet clears it.
The standard guidance after most surgeries is no bath, no swimming, and no soaking until the incision has been checked or the sutures are out, which is often around 10 to 14 days. A healing incision is an open route into the body until it closes. Water can carry bacteria in, and soaking can soften edges that have not knitted together yet.
Waiting a few extra days costs you a slightly grubby dog. Rushing it can cost an infection, a reopened incision, and another trip to the vet.
By procedure
Spay, neuter, dental, and the rest.
Spay
An abdominal incision, usually the largest of the routine surgeries. The common rule is no bath, no swimming, and no soaking until the vet checks the incision or the sutures come out, often around 10 to 14 days.
Neuter
A smaller incision, same basic rule: keep it dry until the vet says otherwise. Neutered dogs are often back to full energy within days, which makes the waiting harder, not shorter.
Lump removal or other skin incisions
Treat it like any incision: dry until cleared. Location matters. An incision on a leg or near the tail gets dirty faster, so ask the vet exactly how to keep that spot clean.
Dental cleaning or extractions
No skin incision, so the rules are different, and the recovery is about the mouth: soft food, no chew toys, medication on schedule. Anesthesia recovery day is not bath day. Ask your vet when a bath is fine, and keep water out of the mouth while the gums heal.
Orthopedic surgery, bandages, or splints
Bandages and splints must stay dry, and standing in a tub may not be allowed at all during rehab. The vet sets this timeline, full stop.
In the meantime
Keeping a dog in a cone clean without a bath.
- 1Spot-clean, do not wash.
A damp, warm cloth on the paws, face, and rear end, well away from the incision. Dry each spot afterwards. That covers most of what makes a recovering dog feel grubby.
- 2Brush the coat, dry.
A gentle brush-through lifts dust and loose hair and keeps longer coats from matting while they cannot be bathed. Stay clear of the incision and any shaved area.
- 3Careful with wipes and waterless shampoo.
Some contain fragrance or alcohol. Use them only on areas far from the incision, and ask your vet before using anything near it.
- 4Wash the bedding and the cone.
Most of the smell in the house after a surgery is the bed, the blanket, and the inside of the cone. Wash the bedding every few days and wipe the inside of the cone daily with a damp cloth.
- 5Leave the cone on.
Licking is the biggest threat to a healing incision, far bigger than a bit of dirt. Do not take the cone off for a clean-up unless the vet has said it is okay, and put it back before you look away.
Call the vet the same day for redness that spreads, swelling, heat, discharge, a bad smell from the incision, a gap in the closure, or a dog who seems to be in more pain, not less.
Senior dogs
Older dogs recover slower. Plan the first bath around that.
A senior coming off a dental or a lump removal is often stiffer, more tired, and more easily chilled than before the procedure, even after the vet clears a bath. Keep the first one short and warm. Put traction under every paw. Do not lift a recovering dog over a tub wall, and do not end with a towel and a damp coat, because a damp senior gets cold fast.
If the car ride to a groomer is itself the hard part, that is one more reason to bring the bath to the dog. Big dogs in particular are covered on our big dog wash page: ramp entry, no lifting.
Ready for a real bath?
All five of these, then a gentle full wash.
- ✓Your vet has said bathing is okay, in so many words.
- ✓Sutures or staples are out, or the vet confirms dissolvable ones have done their job.
- ✓The incision is fully closed: no gaps, no scab still lifting, no discharge.
- ✓No redness, swelling, heat, or smell at the incision.
- ✓The dog is eating, moving, and acting like themselves again.
When it is time: warm water, a mild shampoo, no scrubbing over the scar, a rinse that runs longer than the wash, and a full dry to the skin. If the dog still smells after that first real bath, work through the dog-still-smells checklist, since a post-dental mouth or damp undercoat is often the culprit.
Once the vet says yes
The first bath back, without the car ride.
Tell us about the procedure when you book. We come to your driveway: ramp entry, non-slip mat, warm water, one dog at a time, and a dry that goes all the way to the skin. We will not wash through an open wound or a dog in obvious pain, and we would rather reschedule than rush a recovery. Our senior and anxious dogs page covers how we handle older and fragile dogs. $75 to $155 by size, nail trim and ear cleaning included.
Frames from real washes, not stock.
Frequently asked
Bathing after surgery questions.
Usually not until the vet has checked the incision or removed the sutures, often around 10 to 14 days after surgery. Until then the incision should stay completely dry: no bath, no swimming, no hosing off. Your vet's discharge instructions override any general timeline, including this one, so if they said something different, follow them.
A healing incision is an open route into the body until it has fully closed. Water can carry bacteria into it and soaking can soften the edges before they have knitted together, and some skin glues and sutures loosen when wet. Keeping it dry is one of the simplest ways to avoid a complication and a second vet visit.
There is no skin incision, so a bath may be fine sooner than after a spay, but ask your vet first. Wait until the dog has fully recovered from anesthesia, keep water out of the mouth while the gums heal, and do not brush the teeth until the vet says so. If the mouth still smells bad after the recovery period, that is a question for the vet, not the shampoo.
Wash the bedding, wipe the inside of the cone daily, and spot-clean the paws, face, and rear with a damp warm cloth, well away from the incision. A dry brush-through helps too. A smell coming from the incision itself, or any discharge, is a call to the vet today.
Only once the vet has cleared bathing and the incision is fully closed. Tell us about the procedure when you book. We are not a veterinary service, and we will not wash a dog with an open wound, obvious pain, or a dog who is simply too unwell. Once your vet gives the okay, a warm, unhurried wash at your driveway, with ramp entry and no car ride, is a gentle way to get a recovering dog clean.
Vet said yes? We bring the bath.
Ramp entry, warm water, full dry, at your driveway. $75 to $155 by size, nail trim and ear cleaning included.
or text us at (408) 599-8317
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Hi, I’m Ace.
I run Bay Area Mobile Dog Wash myself — I’m the one who shows up at your door. Every visit is one dog at a time in the van at your curb: warm water, a full brush-out and a proper dry, with no salon drive and no cage waiting. Big dogs, heavy shedders and nervous seniors are the reason this service exists.
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SUCH a great - and easy! - experience! Asa was immediately responsive (I love when businesses actually answer their phone!), worked Moose in within 24 hours, was communicative throughout, bought unscented products specifically for us, did a great job with my 12 year old doodle … all in all: amazing service!
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Ace at Bay Area Mobile Dog Wash was absolutely wonderful with my senior dog. He was so gentle and patient with him, which meant everything to me given his age — I could tell he genuinely cared about his comfort throughout the whole process. Beyond the excellent care, Ace was warm, loving, and clearly an animal lover at heart, while also being completely professional from start to finish. It's rare to find someone who balances that kind of tenderness with real expertise, and my dog came out looking and smelling great without a hint of stress. Highly recommend Ace and Bay Area Mobile Dog Wash.
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Ace was great with my 3 small dogs. They got washed and towel dried, their ears checked, their nails trimmed. One star off because he trimmed one nail too far and it bled for a long time, plus distressed my already anxious dog. Important to know that this service isn't van-based (yet). Ace brings a portable wash station to set up outside. He brings his own water and supplies. He doesn't do any hair cuts, just basic wash and towel dry. I'll call him again in the future!
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Ace did a great job with our little old chihuahua mix. Our appointment was for the evening and he came prepared with warm water, and made our sure our dog was comfortable the entire time. Don't let the lack of reviews on yelp scare you away, his prices are good, and he takes time to ensure that good work is done.
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He did such an amazing job with my dog! He came out looking so nice, clean, and well-groomed, but what stood out to me most was how happy and comfortable he seemed afterward. You can really tell he was treated with care throughout the entire process. I'm extremely pleased with how everything turned out and would definitely recommend him!
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Ace at Bay Area Mobile Dog Wash was absolutely wonderful with my senior dog. He was so gentle and patient with him, which meant everything to me given his age -- I could tell he genuinely cared about his comfort throughout the whole process. Beyond the excellent care, Ace was warm, loving, and clearly an animal lover at heart, while also being completely professional from start to finish. It's rare to find someone who balances that kind of tenderness with real expertise, and my dog came out looking and smelling great without a hint of stress. Highly recommend Ace and Bay Area Mobile Dog Wash. Price is great!
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We booked Bay Area Mobile Dog Wash for our 90-lb German Shepherd, Koda, who hates the groomer. Ace parked the van right in our driveway in Willow Glen, walked her up the ramp himself — no lifting, no cage, no other dogs — and I watched the whole wash from my doorstep. Bath, nails, ears, and she came back inside dry and calm. Flat $95 exactly as the website said, no surprise charges. We've already booked next month. 😊❤️
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