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The doghouse

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

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Original poster

We are a mess!

30 replies

GinGeum · 30/05/2017 21:07

Can someone knock some sense into us? We are being totally ridiculous.

Lovely GinDog is due in for castration on Thursday morning and we are both shitting it that something's going to go wrong. He's five years old now which makes us worry he's more at risk.

I booked him in this morning, got off the phone and started to well up when I looked at him. DP has come home and asked if we can have him on the bed for the next two nights incase he doesn't make it. I've started thinking about giving him a lovely meal tomorrow.

It's like he's on bloody death row! It's a procedure these vets do constantly - why are we being so wet about it all?!

OP posts:

TattyCat · 30/05/2017 22:56

Oh I get it! I was exactly the same when TattyDog was spayed. We'd only had her ,2 months and she was just 3.5yrs so a bit late for it really.

If it's any consolation, I was a mess too. I thought I'd take the opportunity to go shopping for the day, locally, and pick her up afterwards to take home. Didn't happen. I sat on the sofa chewing my fingers off ALL DAY.

When I phoned mid afternoon, she hadn't even gone in for the op (drop off at 9am), so I was pretty frantic that she'd be a mess when I picked her up. She was, a bit. She was pretty out of it and just stood gorming at everything, bless her. I was convinced that something would go wrong and felt so, so guilty for putting her through it. Oh, and I panicked for a couple of days because she'd eat ok but wouldn't drink. She knew best though...

She healed really quickly and was back to her normal self within 2/3 weeks (once she was getting proper walks again and allowed to run).

He'll be fine. Honest.

TattyCat · 30/05/2017 22:58

Oh, and my parents had their dog neutered years ago and he was about 7, so very late for it (another rescue). He was much better for it too and had no complications. Just keep the wound dry and clean and don't let him run around, even if he feels like it!

Floralnomad · 30/05/2017 23:15

Totally normal to worry about any procedure that involves anaesthetic , when my dog had his last lot of X-rays under GA I was so stressed all my top teeth felt loose . I booked an emergency dental appt for the next day ( whilst he was still at the vets) and by the next day they felt fine but I went to the dentist anyway and he said that it can happen with stress . I always make sure that I've minimised all the risks by having a full blood screen done before the anaesthetic and paying for any optional extras .

MipMipMip · 30/05/2017 23:21

Totally normal to be panicking. MipHound has had a few ops and each time I have been a wreck. Just make sure you both go to collect him - he'll struggle to sit upright (and if like MipHound won't want to lie down) so will need your support in the journey back.

But he will be fine.

Blackfellpony · 31/05/2017 05:54

I wouldn't worry too much, it's such a routine Op. I've worked in a practice where we neuter up to 30 per day and I can count on one hand the number of complications I've seen in 7 years. The OP itself is quick, less than 30mins in the majority of cases.

He should recover quickly and should be back to normal within a few days. Hope it goes well!

Original poster

GinGeum · 31/05/2017 06:20

Ah I'm so glad it's not just us worrying over this! I can't imagine what we'd be like with anything less routine.

I hadn't thought about the journey home - DP will be in work so I don't think he'll be able to collect him with me!

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ThroughThickAndThin01 · 31/05/2017 06:39

My gorgeous boy was 5 as well. He was fine op absolutely fine. I felt like you and kept wanting to cancel, but so pleased I didn't.

Good luck, but he'll be fine.

MipMipMip · 31/05/2017 09:55

Might you and DP be able to go after he's finished work? He won't be getting anything done there anyway! If not pooch will be OK. He's probably got more sense than MipHound and will have a snooze.

Original poster

GinGeum · 31/05/2017 10:07

Unfortunately he's a farmer, so could finish very late after vet has closed. You're right though, he won't be able to concentrate on anything anyway! Perhaps I'll see if MIL can pop along with me to sit with him.

What should I expect for the few days after? Will he be desperate for a walk and not be able to have one? Or will he be feeling a bit sorry for himself?

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MipMipMip · 31/05/2017 10:12

With MipHound he was very miserable overnight I slept next to him for days but he improved hugely once he had his body suit taken off. He thinks wearing anything is a punishment though and a lot of dogs find them comforting. He was fine after a couple of days and it was difficult keeping him on calm lead walked for ten days after. But he was perfectly fine.

Original poster

GinGeum · 31/05/2017 12:06

Having just lost the bugger on a walk, I've gone from being terrified of the procedure to wishing it was being sodding done this afternoon

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MipMipMip · 31/05/2017 23:04

Haha, can't blame you. He WILL be fine. You may not be.....

TattyCat · 31/05/2017 23:42

Hope you're managing some sleep op!

Also hope you've managed to organise someone with you to collect him. As I said, Tattydog was late going in for her op (because of an emergency just after she was admitted) so was very, very groggy when I picked her up. DP couldn't be here so I had to manage her into and out of the car myself - there was no way she could hop in or out. She's a lab, so it wasn't easy! And upon getting her out of the car at home, she was facing the wrong way so picking her up was a challenge (saloon car!) and she'd poo'ed a bit at some point either before collection or on the journey home, so my arm was a bit stinky. Oddly, I didn't care.

We blocked the stairs off with a piece of wood (mdf type thing we had hanging around), but she managed to push her way past it at about 3am to get upstairs to us, the gorgeous little sod. 2 nights later, she was still wearing her pet t-shirt and I came down in the morning to find her completely immobile. I panicked a bit until I realised that she'd hopped onto the sofa but managed to get both back legs stuck inside the t-shirt. She was such a sorry sight. I took the t-shirt off her at that point and she left her wound alone, fortunately.

He'll be fine, honest. Just make sure that if he's paying too much attention to his wound, you keep the cone on to save his stitches. It looks worse than it is and they do get used to it!

Original poster

GinGeum · 01/06/2017 07:04

Today's the day! Eek. DP is farming the field right next to the vets, so I'm going to collect him alone but if he's really groggy then DP will nip over and give me a hand getting him back.

I'm so nervous!

He will not be happy about not being allowed upstairs/on the bed

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MipMipMip · 01/06/2017 08:26

Don't forget to take as toy to cuddle MipHound had a well chewed brush that was his favourite at the time!

Original poster

GinGeum · 01/06/2017 08:43

Oh bugger, DP's already taken him and I didn't give him anything to leave there. Not that I can think of anything he'd want to have. Will they give him a cuddle when he wakes up? Oh poor dog

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Original poster

GinGeum · 01/06/2017 10:59

I've been feeling fine about it all morning, and suddenly now I've stopped and sat down, I've gone into panic mode and can't stop crying! This is so silly! Will they be annoyed if I ring up to see if he's had it done yet?

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BlueKarou · 01/06/2017 11:05

My vets usually ask me to wait until after lunch to call, just because any emergency coming in can mean non-emergency procedures can get pushed back. Also they like to wait until the hound's awake before they confirm all is ok and give you a time to collect.

I get why you're worried though, it's a big deal. My Dad's dog went in for castration fairly late; 5 or 6 years old. Not a single problem; he was back and fine in no time.

Do you want to tell us a bit about GinDog whilst you're waiting? How long have you had him?

Original poster

GinGeum · 01/06/2017 11:32

DP has just messaged to say they are going to ring as soon as he's awake, so I better not ring. Here's a picture of the gorgeous little thing while I wait!

We've had him since a pup but he's mostly been a working farm dog until I gave up work about a year ago. Just recently he's started getting the whiff for bitches after being the most un-bothered dog on earth before, hence the need to suddenly get him neutered now.

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BlueKarou · 01/06/2017 11:56

Oh he looks gorgeous. I bet you're loitering near the phone, waiting for the call. Is there anything else you can do today to make the time pass quicker?

Original poster

GinGeum · 01/06/2017 12:27

We've had the call! I'm picking him up at 1.15. He's woken up lovely and is whining about being stuck in a kennel which sounds about right!

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Original poster

GinGeum · 01/06/2017 14:43

The poor sod is home. He was mad to get out of the vet but has since gone into sleepy drunk mode. Thank you for keeping me sane while I waited!

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BiteyShark · 01/06/2017 16:55

Awww glad he is safe and sound at home. Hope he recovers quickly.

MipMipMip · 01/06/2017 16:59

Looks like he is doing well. I always find they're wide awake when you get them then just drift off. Give him a big cuddle from me. And a lick from MipHound.

BlueKarou · 01/06/2017 18:25

So glad he's back home with you. I've given my two hounds an extra pat today, remembering their ops.

Poor lad will probably feel a bit sorry for himself this evening, but if he's anything like mine he'll be back to normal within no time.

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