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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

6yo bitch spayed today, advice/peace of mind please

49 replies

TooTabooToBoo · 24/07/2013 22:58

She is reluctant to walk out to the back garden, hasn't wee'd (op was at 11am ish)

She's refused food and water.

I'm about to go to bed so have put her cone collar on but am worried she will want a drink in the night and not be able to get to her bowl.

I've a 16 week old baby or I would happily sleep downstairs with the dog (no other adult in the house)

Any advice re the water? I have just dipped my fingers in and wet her muzzle and gums.

Am I just being PFD, does she sound normal?

OP posts:
Original poster
TooTabooToBoo · 24/07/2013 23:17

Bump

OP posts:
Apileofballyhoo · 24/07/2013 23:20

Sorry no advice other than post in chat as you might get a response there. Can you bring her upstairs for the night?

Original poster
TooTabooToBoo · 24/07/2013 23:26

I did think about that but my room isn't big enough and I'd worry she would try and get downstairs.

I think I will set my alarm for 2 and check on her and then DS wakes at 4 for a feed so I will come and check on her after that as well.

Such a shame for her, she's feeling so sorry for herself and I've all the sympathy in the world as my c-section is still very fresh in my.mind! Cross-species sisterhood! Grin

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tabulahrasa · 24/07/2013 23:27

What is she doing? Just sleeping? Is she alert enough if you disturb her? Is she dehydrated...if her nose and gums are dry and the skin on the back of her neck doesn't go back to normal as it usually does if you pinch it then she is. Did she go to the toilet at the vet's before she came home?

If you're struggling to rouse her or if she hasn't been to the toilet at all since having the operation and you think she might be seriously dehydrated then I'd be worried.

If she's just out of sorts and wanting to sleep, but wakes up if you wake her up and doesn't seem dehydrated, she's more than likely just letting the anaesthetic get out of her system...dogs can drink with cones on if they want to badly enough and nothing else is affecting them.

Original poster
TooTabooToBoo · 24/07/2013 23:56

Thanks tabula.

She's awake when I rouse her, can stand up and walk and is wagging her tail at me, albeit very slowly. Her nose is warm and dry and the scruff of her neck is ok, goes back ok.

I will use your list to help keep an eye on her, thanks so much for replying.

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tabulahrasa · 25/07/2013 00:07

If it's just her nose that's dry, she's more than likely just a little bit dehydrated because she's not had a drink and that's also why she's not peeing...but nothing that I'd worry about until tomorrow if she's awake enough and waggy.

I'm not an expert of any kind just so that you know, but I find that some of mine just wanted to do nothing because - they don't feel right and they got mucked about with and they'd rather just go over here and sulk thank you very much until they feel more normal, lol

VanitasVanitatum · 25/07/2013 00:40

Mine was very woozy from anaesthetic and didn't eat or drink til the next day either. She should be Ok over night as long as she has water in the morning.

Original poster
TooTabooToBoo · 25/07/2013 08:15

Thanks for replying.

I checked on her during the.night and if she could have told me to bog off she would have done!

She's brighter this morning, turned her nose up at the scrambled egg I lovingly made her (vets advice) but happily ate the cat's left overs (sp tablespoon of wet food) so she has an appetite, just not for eggs Lol!

It rained over night so will try her with the rain water, she's not interested in tap water.

She'll play on this I know it Grin

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digerd · 25/07/2013 11:47

My little furry, short muzzled dog is having it done on Monday and I have been worrying myself for weeks. Have the pre-op assessment on Saturday.

Original poster
TooTabooToBoo · 25/07/2013 12:08

She'll be fine, don't worry yourself - although I need to take my own advice really!

Mine is still sleepy but has come out of bed with a very waggy tail on 2 occasions now. She's going for a short walk later this afternoon, as advised.

It will be so nice to not have to worry about her having pups and she was always miserable during her season.

I feel huge sense of relief.

OP posts:
Grunzlewheek · 26/07/2013 09:07

My little JR cross just wanted to hide after the op, I was very worried about her, she only cheered up when we went back to the vets for a post op check and she saw lots of other dogs to bark at !

Original poster
TooTabooToBoo · 26/07/2013 11:31

Aww!

Well she's doing ok, eating and toiletting (if that's a word!).

Walked her last night, just a short gentle stroll and she slept about 2 hours after.

Much.brighter this morning but noticed they've scraped her with the clippers on her stomach, she's licked it and it must have hurt as she took back to bed shaking! :(

She's not touched the wound itself though.

Poor girl!

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sebastianthesingingaubergine · 26/07/2013 18:12

Its probably "clipper rash" rather than being scraped, although unfortunately it is easy to scrape at times! Sounds like she was just recovering from the anaesthetic, although she isnt elderly, it does take more of a toll as they get older I think. Glad she is up and about today, just let her take it easy:)

Another tip for something to check is her gum colour, they should be nice and pink (like ours) and if you press them they should blanch but the colour return in a second or two. Your vet can tell quite a bit from your dogs gum colour/refill time. And every vet has an out of hours service, so you just need to call if you're worried I'm sure.

Hope she is back to normal soon.

Original poster
TooTabooToBoo · 27/07/2013 00:16

I think it is more of a scrape as you can see the tracks of the clipper. No worry though , these things happen.

We have her check up tomorrow and I think all is fine. I'm just a worrier and she is a total drama queen Grin

Thanks for the gum tip - will definitely remember that for future use.

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digerd · 27/07/2013 07:21

Pre-op assessment today at 12.30 and getting more worried. She's been a bit off her food this week and fear she may now weigh less than the 5 kilos she was .
Is she having the stitches out tomorrow?

Original poster
TooTabooToBoo · 28/07/2013 16:39

sorry, missed this yesterday.

They did internal stitches so no stitches to remove thankfully.

She has got quite bad bruising - the nurse asked how she'd been and I told her that although bright and eating/toileting, she had taken to hiding under my bed. I thought this was part of the process but the nurse said it was probably because she was in pain from the bruising. I feel awful for her. Not impressed really, although it may be common, I don't know. Apparently it's where they put the towel clips but not all dogs bruise as much as mine has?

We've got more pain killers and she is still finding it difficult to get comfortable but is no longer hiding under the bed. She is getting spoilt though, so swings and roundabouts Grin

OP posts:
digerd · 29/07/2013 07:11

So on Sunday it was only 4 days since the op? Hope she soon feels better.
My little dog - weighs only 5 kilos and is very fluffy- is going to vets this morning at 8am to be left there until her op. Collecting her about 4pm. She is also sensitive to clippers and get excema type skin reactions if sheared too close. So worrying like mad Sad

pregnantpause · 29/07/2013 18:11

My pup was done this morning. She's home now, but like yours last week, hasn't weed eaten or drunk. She has slept and whimpered occasionallySad
I feel so guilty that I've put her through this. Good to hear they come around eventually.

digerd · 29/07/2013 21:16

My 2.8 year-old was done at 2pm but was delivered at the vets at 7.45.am. She was very disturbed at me leaving her.
Picked up at 4, went back to sleep and is still asleep. Had to take her too big collar off as she couldn't breathe properly in it or hold her head up. Don't think I can go to bed tonight and leave her alone and I am suffering from nervous exhaustion now and guiltSad

pregnantpause · 29/07/2013 21:24

I have removed the collar too- it filled with drool and stopped her lying comfortably. I'm sleeping in the living room with her tonight. About ten minutes ago she's had a small drink. And she had her op at 11. Good luck tonight dieg

digerd · 29/07/2013 21:27

Just this minute she stood up and turned round and now she's looking more normal phew!!!! Smile Brought her some water but she didn't want any. It's going to be a long night.

digerd · 29/07/2013 21:55

pp
Hope you sleep well on your sofa. My little girl loves to keep cleaning herself down there, so she will probably lick the stitches too so I will have to put the collar back on if and when I go to sleep. She is now curled up in her usual cat position.

Original poster
TooTabooToBoo · 29/07/2013 23:50

Ah, honestly they'll be fine but I felt exactly the same - as per my OP!!

I think when you're used to your dog being so healthy and perky, then suddenly they're all quiet and still, it's really unnerving.

I ended up just putting her collar on when I went to bed, any other time I could keep an eye on her. The first night I put a stairgate across the kitchen/living room door and then left the hall/living room door open so I could hear her in the night if she needed me (she didn't of course!)

She's still sore, or maybe achey - she is managing to bark at passers-by (joy! Hmm ) and nicked the cat's toy earlier. Have only taken her for short on-lead walks though, will wait for bruising to go before any bigger walks.

Hope they both have a comfortable night (I swear I wouldn't have been this worried if it was a human relative haha!)

OP posts:
digerd · 30/07/2013 06:07

Well, she still has the collar on, but is still disorientated and couldn't use her back legs last night so hasn't walked yet. No greeting this morning, just sat up as I lifted a leg and now flopped down again. She is a quiet little thing anyway. Has an appt tomorrow at the vets for a check-up at 4pm. Was told she had to eat and drink last night as had nothing since 12 pm on Sunday - well she couldn'tHmm

pregnantpause · 30/07/2013 07:49

Well, I feel rather silly already. Pup is up and about, has weed and pooped and even had a scrambled egg. She's still grumpy, and sleepy, but I've had to stop her trying to jump onto the sofa this morning so it can't be that bad. (although her hind legs give way still)
I did put her collar on again this morning, it makes her fall over as her legs hit it and it drags on the floor. She fell ths morning and cried, it obviously hurt. I think they've given me one that's too big, she's a basset hound, so a large dog, but her legs are short. I've taken it off her again, but I have to go out for an hour later- she'll have to have it on while I'm gone- poor thing.