Upset about puppy op

[pupupboogie]

Hi. I'm just wanting to offload and maybe get some moral support from people who might understand.

My puppy is just 7 months old and is currently at the orthopaedic vet's having a minor op on one of her joints.

I just feel so low about it and wobbly She is my pfp (precious first pup!) and I can't help feeling like I've failed her...and the thought of her being all alone wondering where I am and being crated (she isn't usually) is really upsetting me.

I am worried about her recovery and her being distressed and frustrated through lack of exercise etc. I am worried she will be psychologically scarred by the experience and bizarrely I am devastated that they have shaved her

I know it sounds dramatic but I feel like I've somehow ruined her letting this happen. I can only compare it it how I felt being a first time mum and wanting everything to be perfect. I don't family appreciate how hard I am finding this with her.

Oh OP I have been there so many times and it is awful. I would rather be ill myself than watch my dog in pain.

Nothing really helped so I can't offer you anything other than a paw hold and hope she gets home soon.

It is really hard and as owners we always feel so bad when they are ill especially if they are away from us.

Couple of things to remember - you can remind me when I am in a similar position!

1. She will be really well looked after
2. When they are in the vets they will be heavily medicated so will remember very little of the detail
3. Fur will grow back
4. She will cope without you - often the dogs are calmer when the owner is not there - the traitors!

5.Replace the exercise with mental stimulation which may be hard for you initially but she will love it. The mental stimulation with you will really help to increase you bond.

1. This too will pass

However in the meantime be kind to yourself and I hope your pup is back with your soon

Thanks both for your supportive words.
You worry whether you've done the right thing, but you have to put your faith in the experts.

When the vet rang he said he's done dissolvable stitches as she is hard to manage (she was bucking like a bronco when he tried to do the physical exam) So I'm also worrying she has been labelled as a naughty pup there

She was scared and is usually such a super friendly puppy!

Any recovery tips are very welcome. I'm planning on buying her body weight (which is a lot!!) in disgusting chews tomorrow

Any recovery tips are very welcome.

I haven't ever crated after ops but instead used one room with nothing to jump on/off and put a mattress on the floor so I could stay with him. Just having me there kept him calm.

Hope she’s home and recovering well soon. Vets are used to scared and young dogs. They won’t label her at all.
Make sure to ration the chews! Don’t want upset tums.

Thanks @Wolfiefan and @BiteyShark

I just can't stop thinking about her little face when I left her. I'm afraid I've resorted to wine and ice cream to distract myself.

OP - I can't tell you how much I understand! Our adored pup had a freak accident falling off our sofa when he was 10 weeks old and he fractured his hind leg (it was a very complex twisted fracture) requiring surgery at a specialist vet clinic. He had to be kept overnight in hospital (first at the original vet and then at the specialist clinic) for 4 nights and I was absolutely inconsolable! I couldn't concentrate on anything apart from calling the hospital for updates a million times a day and crying! It was honestly like I had taken my newborn baby to the hospital. He was so tiny and so loving and I felt like he would never forgive or trust a human again after enduring so much pain and torture. And he was a pampered tiny pooch who was suddenly placed in kennels at the clinic and it was just too awful. I felt like the worst mother in the world.

However, I'm happy to report that he made a full recovery and no one is now able to tell it ever happened He still loves everybody (even the vets! ) and it has no effect on him whatsoever. He is also extremely fast despite his tiny size!

It was very difficult to keep him still during recovery and we abandoned the crate because he was crying and jumping on his back legs to get out (so defeated the whole purpose of the crate as it was his hind leg that was operated on). Instead we kept him on a lead at all times indoors to restrict his movements and carried him around as much as possible.

His fur also grew back and the scar is not visible at all (photo of our baby attached)

You’ll be feeling worse now because she’s not with you. As soon as she’s home you can look after her and make sure she’s as comfortable as possible, and your bond will be stronger because she’ll know you’re looking after her. I know it’s hard, but try and enjoy your free time without her now and just give her lots of love when she’s home. (Also they’re quite funny and sweet when they’re all drugged up post op you can spoil her loads). Just make sure you listen to the vet and follow post op advice, I felt mean making my boy wear the ‘cone of shame’ for 10 days after his castration op but he got used to it and it was definitely best for his recovery.

My sad pup post op complete with surgical onesie and cone and now enjoying his cuddly toy. To be honest I’d enjoy the pampering recovery time because before you know it they’ll be back to their old crazy self

@Anothernamechange3 Awww 😊 so cute!

Ours felt very sorry gor himself in the plastic cone, so we got him a soft inflatable one that he used ad a pillow

Aww thanks so much and it's lovely seeing pics of your cuties in recovery!

Any thoughts in the best type of cone? Are those inflatable cushions any better? She is a determined chewer at the moment.

Our puppy really liked the blow up cushion. He used it as a pillow to sleep on, but he was tiny when this happened, so he couldn't reach beyond it or take it off. How big is your dog?

@pupupboogie

Aww thanks so much and it's lovely seeing pics of your cuties in recovery!

Any thoughts in the best type of cone? Are those inflatable cushions any better? She is a determined chewer at the moment.

Will she need one? As in, what’s she had done?

My last dog had an arthroscopy on his elbow st 6 months and managed to remove the stitch while still at the vets but because it’s such a tiny incision, they weren’t bothered... other than getting me to pick him up a day early because he’d also chewed everything in his cage.

Btw, they still were all like, aw, he’s lovely, even after him doing all that.

We're on our way home!

They haven't bothered with the collar as she's been ignoring the dressing so far.