Bob is due to have his op this Monday morning and we will pick him up later that afternoon. OH is around all day Tuesday but has to go to London on the Weds at 11am. I will be home from work and collecting Arthur around 3.30pm. The rest of this week he'll be around all the time to keep Bob company. Question... Bob doesn't get left on his own very much really as OH works from home most of the time. So he's not used to it. Would it be fair to leave him during his recovery phase for these 4 1/2 hours? We were thinking of paying someone we know to sit with him for 4 hours but it would work out at £40!! Or maybe ask her to pop in and give him his lunch only and stay for about an hour. I'm just not sure what the right thing to do is? Should we cancel the op?! It's terribly late notice though. Any advice or suggestions you can share?! Thank you.
If you were down the street I'd watch him for you for nothing. I've always been about for my dogs when they've had ops because I'm fortunate enough to not have to work. I'd say a male neuter is a lot less of a deal than the female. My current boy was already done when I got him (lab rescue). My previous dog, Staffordshire BT, we had done and apart from sleeping solid for 4 hours post pick up he was absolutely fine. Where do you live?
Personally I'd be a little worried about leaving him that day as you might want to keep an eye on him for any adverse reactions to the op. Hopefully he'll just sleep for the rest of the day but you just don't know how he'll recover. Good luck, I hope you get it sorted ☺ Oops... Just realised that you said Wednesday and not the day of the op! Doh, my reading skills were clearly lacking!
You are the one who knows best how Bob is likely to be on his own, but I honestly doubt there is any medical reason to worry. By Wednesday, the effects of the anastetic will have worn off and you'll have a full day on Tuesday to see how he is. If he seems to be recovering well, I should think he'll be perfectly fine for 4 hours safe in a crate with a cone on to stop him getting to stitches etc.
I agree, by Wednesday he should be pretty much back to normal with no need to worry about the effects of the op. I'd take him for a good walk in the morning, then leave him in the crate with cone on and plenty of treat filled toys to keep him busy. Before then it'd be worth spending some time getting him used to being alone in the crate for short periods, if you can manage it. Always an important thing to teach our pups - that being alone for a few hours is not a bad thing (we all have to leave them sometimes....).
I think we will risk it leaving him for this time. He was OK when left today and we were out for 3 1/2 hours. I think we will get someone to pop in at lunchtime to break up his day and give him some lunch. And keep everything crossed. My concern really is that he'll have to have his cone on during this time so won't be a happy bunny anyway and he'll have lots of sitting around time to think and plan about taking it off! We'll try him with it again tonight, he hated it when we put it on yesterday... went beserk. So I didn't want to stress him out today putting it on. But we'll have to do it again tonight... will get a pouch of cat food ready so he can have a real feast while we do it up. God I know I shouldn't worry but I've been reading up so much on 'should you' 'shouldn't you' neuter dogs. We've made our decision now. Both the vet and trainer said now was a good time. And the trainer commented on how well endowed Bob was as well and told me I was making the right decision doing it now. But still - you just worry don't you. Thanks for your help and advice. Lou x
Try to slow down getting the cone on. If you have a clicker (or a marker word) just sit on a chair holding the cone and have some super tasty treats in a pot nearby. Wait until he makes a movement towards the cone, or even looks at it - mark and reward. If you can get him bumping his nose on the cone that would be great. If you have time reward for moving the cone toward him and so on. I know the operation is tomorrow, but even if you can manage 5 short sessions this evening you might be able to get him to feel a bit better about the cone. You probably don't have time to get him to love it, but you might have time to get him to feel a bit better about it. You'll have all day on Tuesday too to get him used to the cone if you can supervise him then....
Darn it, I forgot Julie he's nil by mouth now until after his op (he goes in first thing tomorrow). so we'll have to do it afterwards... but will try and use your advice above for when we have to. What a numpty I am not realising before. Also he ALWAYS has about 4 treats which we throw into his crate before bed every night. We've done this since the day we had him. But we can't tonight, how awful for him. I've got a squeaky toy which I'll throw in instead, at least something's going in! Wish us luck tomorrow, I'm so nervous for him, I know he'll be fine. Silly really. Lou x
You've made your decision. There are plenty of people on either side of the divide that are adamant they have all the answers. It's not true. Neither side does. I have only had rescue, neutered males until this point and they have all been fine. They have all had plenty of issues sill - you can't expect taking away a part of the anatomy will take away all behavioural issues - but they have all been perfectly fine. This time, I have chosen to keep my male dog intact. But it's a choice. It's dependent on many factors. Just because it's what suits me and my dog doesn't mean it's the best for every situation. Don't beat yourself up about it. Julie has it right; in the time you have left, spend as much time as possible acclimatising him to the cone. He'll be fine. Don't you worry
He'll live. We love our dogs, and want to do everything to make them happy. As a result they are secure, know they are loved and so probably a LOT more resilient than we give them credit for.....
I've just found a little squeaky toy which he goes nuts for as hasn't played with for a while... I'll pop that in with him tonight I checked the squeak was still working and he came rushing over. So I've put it to one side for later Feel a bit better now I know I've got something to throw in. Thank you for being so nice, I know I'm just worrying about nothing lol!
