Not right after her spay

[stressedoutfred]

Our 1 year old dog had her spay done on Monday. Apparently everything went well.

We were given pain relief for her, which I've stuck to religiously.

Since her spay she's been very subdued. Will sit wherever she is until someone moves her. Needs carrying to the garden. Walks very awkwardly - almost scuttles, very low to the ground, back end tucked up, tail between legs. She's also licking her back legs a lot. She's wearing a blow up "doughnut" around her neck in stead of a cone - She can't reach her wound. Wound looks sore.

Eating fine, drinking as long as someone brings her the bowl.

Yesterday we had a drop in clinic at the vets with the nurse. She asked a vet to come and see her. They took her temp and it was high so they've put her on antibiotics. They've also changed her pain relief as she's had diarrhoea.

I'm taking her back Monday to see if she can have the stiches out yet - not due to Thursday but vet would like them out earlier if poss .

I can't help worrying there's more to it than just the spay but as a first time owner I've never dealt with one before. This just feels extreme though, she looks so sad

Does this sound normal?

[Nesssie]

My dog was such a drama llama when he was neutered! Sat staring at the wall for hours, laying in the middle of the floor, whining. And castration is not as invasive as a spay.

I would say as the vets are not too worried, I wouldn't be. Especially as she is eating and drinking fine. See what they say on Monday, she might have just caught a bit of an infection or reacting to the surgery a bit more than other dogs. Just lots of cuddles

[Chippyway]

At 1 year old I’m not surprised she’s not dealing with it very well she’s still a baby!!

[BiteyShark]

Hope she feels better soon. My dog had a couple of off days after neutering and we ended up having injections to stop the diarrhoea as he reacted badly to the anaesthetic and other drugs. After a couple of weeks his body also started to react to the internal stitches but eventually it all healed up.

[Seafour]

I had my chihuahua spayed at ten months by an amazing vet, he did subcutaneous stitches so no need for a cone, she wore a stretchy belly band for three days needed no pain relief other than a dose given post surgery. She was quiet and sleepy the first day but fine after that, she did a week of cage rest and then gradually back to normal walking routine over the next week.
So no this doesn't sound right at all, given that she's been on antibiotics for 24hrs she should start to improve quickly, if she doesn't I wouldn't want to leave it until Monday to get her seen again.

[jugotmail]

I had my girl - 19months- done on Monday. She has the cone of shame and spent Monday evening and all of Tuesday either sleeping or giving us the sad eyes. The vets had given her pain relief in an injection before I collected her and she didnt need anything else. She didnt eat until Wednesday (now making up for it) and didnt wee until Tuesday early evening. Her wound is dry and just a little pink aroud the stitches. Today she feels better and is trying to climb on the furniture and jump about, if your girl is still not right i would be going back to the vets.

[stressedoutfred]

Is one year old not normal @Chippyway ? We were advised to let her have one season then have her spayed?

Thanks everyone, she's still very quiet, I'm going to take her back in the morning

[Wolfiefan]

How long did you wait after the season? Can they still have a phantom once spayed?
Wound looks sore? Infection sore or could it be a reaction to the actual sutures?
In terms of when to spay there are different opinions and it also depends on the breed of dog.

[stressedoutfred]

Hi Wolfie,

She started her season mid January. Her wound site looks a little sore, I'm assuming that the vet is wondering if it's a reaction to the sutures hence hoping they'll be ready to be out on Monday?

She's a small 6kg dog, The vet was adamant that it was the right time for her ( we've had no reason to ever question their judgement- they've been good in the past) and as they're the professionals I took their word for it

I feel awful for her

[Sostenueto]

Go back to vets better be safe than sorry I say!
We booked my pup in for spay in march she was 8 months but 2 days before she started her heat so we had to cancel. She was very bad during heat, absolutely poured, rushed her to vets but all fine. When she finished she became subdued and this last month would not hardly eat or play or want walks, teats hanging low and producing milk! Knew no way was she pregnant so rushed off to vets again, full scan etc only to discover she has a phantom pregnancy! I wondered why latest softtoy was still intact and being carted round everywhere! So spay that was booked for July now deferred till august. At this rate she will be on heat again soon!

[Sostenueto]

We were told that once dog has had heat spay can't be done for 3 months due to hormones. Now I can see why!

[Wolfiefan]

You're protecting her from pyometra and unwanted pregnancies. You've let her have a season to help her mature. You took the advice of trusted professionals. You've don't nothing wrong.
Hope she's feeling better soon.

[Wolfiefan]

Season in Jan. it's now June. That's more than three months!

[stressedoutfred]

Thanks Wolfie

[Seafour]

I agree with pp stress you've done nothing wrong but your vet was concerned enough to give antibiotics so taking her back tomorrow is absolutely the best thing to do, I hope she makes a quick recovery.
The advice we were given was exactly the same, first season, time for hormones to settle and then spay. My dog was only 10mths and 1.2kg

Please let us know how she is in the morning

[Wolfiefan]

My mum had her little dog spayed a few years ago before her first season. It was fine but she wishes she had done what you did and let her have one season. She thinks the hormones would have helped her mature and maybe affected her behaviour (in a positive way!)