It's about 5 weeks since Cassie was spayed, and already I can see she has started to put on weight around the lumbar spine. In my view she looks better for it as she was really skinny pre op, her spine, pelvis and ribs were all clearly visible which I didn't like very much. She ate loads and I didn't have to count calories for her. I have now started to ration her food and am trying to increase exercise, obviously it was reduced post op and the weather has made things difficult. But I've noticed that she doesn't have the same amount of bounce on walks as she did before and even gets a bit puffed. I was wondering if it,s due to the extra weight already, or if part of it is maturity. I plan to pop down to see the vet nurse next week to discuss, but I'd be interested in others experiences.
I can't help @selina27 but I thought I'd just share my experience. I've always monitored Plum's food and measure it out carefully. Post spay I continued to do so and after a month or so she'd actually lost weight! She's gained a little since (maybe a pound) but nothing noticeable, I only know coz I get her weighed at the vet's. Her energy levels seem the same to me (she's 3 months post spay and 18 months old) - in fact today she ran constantly on our walk - and I didn't notice a drop-off of energy immediately post spay. I'm just wondering if it's still part of the recovery from the op- when female humans go through hysterectomies recovery is prolonged. I know we're not the same species so I've no idea if this comment is relevant! It'll be interesting to read others' experiences and if my experience turns out to be the more common then a chat with the vet nurse makes sense.
I don’t know @selina27 but I suspect it’s the extra weight. Sky when younger was prone to putting weight on and at several times throughout her life (she’s 11 now) I have worked with the vet nurses to get the extra weight off. Since getting Red last year, I weigh their food. Sky has always loved her food and would keep eating so I have to be strict. She also gets a monthly weigh at the vets. I understand what you mean about not liking Cassie being skinny - Red has been like this for ages but is now beginning to fill out. It seems to be all about getting the balance right with their weight. Cassie is too young to be getting ‘puffed’.
Gee, I have always used a measure for my dogs' food and did not notice weight gain or energy loss with our two girls. Whisper was four years old and Jet was 9 months at time of spay. Whisper was an English Springer Spaniel though, field bred, so was very energetic her whole life.
We have always been very careful with Harley's food and it has been weighed from the start. Our vet has always felt like she has the potential to be plump (must have been the labrador genes that gave it away) so we have been very strict with her consumption. She could possibly still lose a kg or 2 but all and all everyone is happy with her weight. She was spayed at 7 months so it is difficult to say regarding her weight and energy because she was still developing. Her weight has remained very stable since she hit her adult size.
Axel before getting neutered, I never had to count calories for him, post neuter I still didn’t. I only had to about 9 months after he was neutered which I think was just when he was done growing, he was 19 ish months. So now I measure his kibble for breakfast and dinner, but never worry about goodies in between he meals because they don’t make a difference for him. Energy levels never changed though.
I think I woukd be getting a check at the vets. How much weight has she put on @selina27 ? I've had numerous restricted exercise periods with Jen due to her elbow and her spay and not noticed a drop in energy level even when she has put on a pound or two . Her first period of restriction was 2 weeks at 5.5 months with her elbow immediately followed by her soay - anither 2 weeks. Then at 8 months we had her ED op and many weeks of restriction and slow build up to 'normal' exercise (and she put on a little weight as I forgot to reduce her kibble).
Vanilla weight we have to manage. But I weighed out her food from day 1. Currently she has gained 3kgs due to the tablets she has been on. Starting to loose it slowly, but will take a few weeks. But back to your original question, after Vanilla was spayed she was very slow on walks after her first one. It took us about 6-8weeks to get back to normal but we did take it slow as did not want to cause issues with stitches. I think they are the same as us, no exercise or strenuous excersise for a few weeks and then going back to it out of breath. Well I am anyhow. But sure some is also maturity, Vanilla seemed to change over night a few months back...
Thanks for all the replies. I took some photo's yesterday, which I will post just as soon as I have got to grips with both my new phone and my new laptop @Atemas when I say puffed I really mean everso slight, I don't think anyone else would notice, and thinking about it we were at a new place and she had been up and down a steep bank which she doesn't usually do. Experienced people, trainers and the like, have said to me that I will see a change in her at 2 /2.5 , that she will calm down, so maybe it's largely that. @Jojo83 I will get her weighed this week and then I will know how much she has gained, her ribs are still clearly visible.@Plum's mum you may be right about post op recovery time.
It may well be post-op recovery, building up stamina again, combined with a little extra weight, particularly if she’s only slightly more puffed. I always measure the food for my two, adjusting it slightly according to treats and Kongs during the day. Wispa looks tubby when she’s sitting down, partly because of her ‘froggy’ sit, but when she’s standing or running around I can still see her ribs. As for calming down at 2/2.5, I’m not so sure - Tuppence is now 4.5!
Thanks @Granca , I think i think it's something about cassie herself that makes them say that, believe it or not underneath all her Lab rambunctiousNess and hooliness, she is quite laid back
Well we've been to the vet today and seen one of the nurse's regarding weight control post spay. Since spay day Cassie has put on .4 of a kilo, going from 25.5 to 25.9, so nothing to worry about at all. The nurse agreed with me that she was too thin beforehand, she looked like a hat rack, and even said that it wouldn't hurt to put on a bit more over the ribs. I feel like provided we have no more cold weather setbacks we are now able to maintain exercise levels to balance her weight, and I will take her to be weighed once a month. It seems that the subtle changes I have noticed are either due to less hormonal activity or growing up, or more than likely a combination of both.
So glad Cassie is OK. I'm going to start having Inky weighed monthly as he'd lost a bit more last week. I weigh his food and have increased it but am very aware don't want to increase pressure on his joints. Always something to worry about!
I measure our pups meals in a measuring cup (quicker than scales). She is a couple of weeks post-spay at the moment and only just back to off-lead walks. I think the restricted exercise has put back her stamina, she is raring to go but definitely more breathless with it. I suspect Cassie will soon regain her lung capacity too!
