Spayed - tell me I did the right thing

[cathkidstonbag]

I have a beautiful cocker bitch. Took her to be spayed today. I don't think I'd realised how much pain she would be in after or how I would feel emotionally about her never having puppies.
DH was keen on breeding from her but I was just so worried about her getting ill, needing a section, the puppies being ill and all the trauma of finding the right home. So I think I did the right thing but I feel so awful for putting her through this :(

It is the best thing really isn't it, I'm a first time dog owner so I never know what's really the right thing to do with dogs.

[PersonalClown]

Of course you did.

I felt sooo guilty when my boys came back after being done.
Just think about the fact that you are doing your little bit to help with the overbreeding of dogs and helping to reduce the rescue population.

[feesh]

She'll be fine in the morning. There are WAY too many dogs in the UK in relation to the number of caring homes - you definitely did the right thing.

Not to mention preventing other problems for her in the future, such as pyometra.

Your only problem now will be trying to keep her calm for the next few days, trust me :)

Our dog has always LOVED going to the vets and I honestly thought spaying her might put and end to that, but thankfully she is still as happy as ever to go back there, tail circling furiously :)

[silentcatastrophe]

I feel your pain. When our bitch was spayed, I took her home in the bus and carried her to the house. I cried and I cried. 12 years later she's still a fab dog. She has rubbish hips though we only found out long after she'd been done. Your bitch will recover. It's us that feels the awfulness of it, and it doesn't feel very good playing god. Hope you all feel better soon!

[GrimmaTheNome]

Of course you did the right thing. There is no way a first time dog owner (and come to that, anyone who just has a pet dog) should allow their dog to breed.

I've not had a bitch myself, but when we were on holiday in a farm cottage a couple of years ago, there was a little JRT bitch who spent hours playing fetch with DD. One day she didn't turn up for her game; next day she was back, active and playful as ever. Turned out she'd been spayed the day before ... don't know if this was a particularly tough girl but hopefully your dog will be much better tomorrow.

[minimuu]

Come on You know you have done the right thing. Tomorrow she will be much better.

You have prevented her from getting cancers, you have prevented her from having to suffer sessions twice and year and the grumpiness of fluctuating hormones. Also the fact she will have restricted exercise during this time.

You have stopped a litter of puppies when there are hundreds of dogs in rescue being destroyed daily because there are not enough homes for them.

In fact you are a big star and deserve a for being a responsible and caring owner.

[NunTheWiser]

Seeing your dog after surgery is a terrible thing. A lot of the time, the crying and unsettled behaviour isn't so much the pain (which you should have been given something to help her with) but the after effects of the anaesthetic. UnWiseDog cries and cries every time she is sedated but is usually much better the next day.
hope your girl feels lots better soon.

[ditavonteesed]

you did the right thing, I felt terrible when we got cherry spayed, she was in so much pain she just stood and howled for a day, she had extra pain relief from the vet the next day, I took her back as I was so worried, if you are worried ring the vets this morning they can give them extra pain relief. I hope she is loads better this morning. it will soon pass and you have saved her so many problems. well done adn be strong for your lovely girl.

[wildfig]

yes, you absolutely did do the right thing. I promise you, she won't have been checking out the dogs in the park thinking, 'Fenton would make a wonderful dad, but I just don't know if he's reliable enough, or ready to settle down. Should wait until I've got my Bronze Citizenship award, then have my first litter, or get on with it while I'm still young enough to run around after them?'

[LeBOF]

Wildfig

I think Fenton has a bit of running around to do first...

I know it's hard to see them in pain- I'm dreading getting Pickle spayed, but it must be done.

[CalamityKate]

You absolutely did the right thing. You know you did.

You'll be amazed at how quickly she bounces back; the first 24 hours after the op are the worst, but after that, IME, they're stiff and a bit sore rather than in actual pain. Make sure she's got plenty of pain meds and console yourself with the thought that you've done the responsible thing and also that you'll save on dog food now because she'll probably need less food

[Slubberdegullion]

How is she today cath?

yy absolutely the right thing for all the reasons here and also [reduction in house work emoticon] you'll never have to go through all that gopping mopping up of blood droplets all over the floor, or washing the bedding everyday, or having to endure that smell.

@ wildfig