My dog had a massive operation yesterday and I can't settle him

[mummble]

My beautiful, big old dog had an operation yesterday - the vet removed a huge 3k tumour from his belly. I picked him up this morning and he was in a terrible state, whimpering. He is usually incredibly stoical so I have never seen him like this. After not eating or drinking water all day he has finally had some plain chicken and been out for a walk. He is still unable to sleep and seems really uncomfortable, whinging constantly.

I don't know what to do. He doesn't usually have attachment issues but he is really ramping it up when I leave the room. He can't sleep in my bed because he can't manage the stairs. He's 12.

Can anyone help me make him more comfortable?

I'm sorry for him. . I have no advise really...just time...everyone feels groggy after an OP. I'm glad he has eaten. Stay with him as much as you can, poor thing. [doggie bone]

Oh poor old love. Give your on-call vet a ring and see what advice she/he gives ? Don't leave it until later, you'll probably get more reluctant to phone them as it gets later into the night. Maybe they'll get you to pop down & get some pain relief for him (if he's not already got any ? Usually called metacam) hope he's ok bless him x

Thanks Jo. He is beautiful, gentle animal and I just want to make him ok again. I just wish he would get in his bed and go to sleep. He is wandering round the house looking unhappy and in pain. I have given him anti-inflammatories.

Could you bring your duvet down and sleep near him ? He's probably just really uncomfortable and you'll be such a comfort to him

I asked my (fantastic) vet about pain relief today but he said the anti-inflammatories would work.

Actually I think he's asleep.

What a horrible day. He collapsed walking home from the vet (less than a hundred yards) and we both ended up on the pavement with me blubbing while I called for a taxi. It was quite a scene!

Our dogs sleep at the end of our bed but when one of them hasn't been able to make it upstairs I curl up in the floor with them downstairs. Also, it sounds weird but having a cup of chamomile tea steaming on the side nearby has helped calm mine. Combing rather than brushing their fur has helped too.

Meant to add .

Your poor baby. He probably feels lousy and disorientated. Poor DDog had a similar thing and kept whimpering. It was heartbreaking. DH slept downstairs snuggled up with him for comfort. He took about 36 hours to be more normal again. Fingers crossed for you. X

Poor old guy. Could it be disorientation after his anaesthetic as much as anything. Some animals take a long time to get over them. Presumably he was under for a long time? I hope he's better soon .

I wish I'd insisted on taking home some pain relief. She just said that if he was in pain it would be inflammation and the loxicom (which he has everyday anyway) would do the job. Will check out Metacam tomorrow, thanks mulberry
Hellbeasts good tip with the camomile tea. Between him and DS I'll be up and down the stairs all night.

twowrongs glad your dog had a good recovery. Hope ours is the same, it is such a massive scar, the whole of his tummy.

Thanks so much for your posts. I am so worried about him

Tinfoiled I think you're right about the anaesthetic. They had to sedate him overnight as well, so that will have knocked him out. He's old for a big dog too (45 kilos).

The loxicom should offer some pain relief but if it isn't sufficient then by all means call your vets on the out of hours number. Either someone from your own vets, or whoever they outsource their out of hours services to, should be able to give you advice on increasing doses or giving you some different medication to try.

There's still a long time until opening hours tomorrow, if he is struggling with the pain I wouldn't want to wait that long personally.

Thanks Tiptops I'll check their website and see how it works.

He has got into his bed and I think he's finally asleep.

At least he has had food and water and a wee - that's much more than I hoped for this morning.

Food, water a wee and now asleep sounds positive, in my experience the first twelve hours from when you get them home are the worst so it sounds like he's doing very well. It is so heartbreaking to see though

Loxicom and Metacam are the same thing.

If he's ok for the tonight, see how he is tomorrow as there's plenty of other painkillers he could have alongside loxicom.

Mine was on tramadol for a fortnight after stomach surgery on top of his normal painkillers.

I hope he's feeling a bit better this morning

My dog has had a general anaesthetic twice and has cried and cried for hours afterwards- it takes some dogs quite a long time to get it out of their system

Thanks everyone he is looking pretty good this morning, ate lots of grilled chicken for breakfast and went to the beach for a little walk. He is now laying in the sun. Still whimpering a bit but it seems like a miracle how much better he is.

Also his wee was like blood yesterday and today it is back to normal, so that must be a good sign.

I've just seen this thread and I'm so happy your old boy is feeling more himself today!

I was 30 weeks pg when my oldish JRT had an operation, I was frantic with worry so I can empathise

My boy has recently had 3 operations. I realised how much I'd underestimated the emotional toll it would have on him. He had never whimpered and the day after his last op, he wouldn't stop. It was heartbreaking. I slept downstairs with him for 6 months during his ops! I would recommend adaptil spray and plug-in for calming, lots of love and lying down games. (Treats under yoghurt pots, teaching 'touch' and 'left and right' with treats and a clicker kept us amused and him distracted). Do hope your lovely boy makes a good recovery.

Thanks so much confused and Nellieellie I'm glad your hounds made a good recovery

My beautiful dog has made a fantastic recovery. Last night he played on the beach for ages - i couldn't catch him to come home. He is eating like a horse - lots of liver and steak to build up his iron levels.

And today we have had very good news - the growth is benign, no sign of cancer at all. It looks like he has good years ahead of him

Congratulations !

Aaah, lovely news!