Hi all, My 9 monther was spayed yesterday and I'm just wondering what is normal in terms of behaviour over the next few days. I wasn't able to pick her up from the vets and OH didn't ask all the questions I asked him to. So, she is quite unsettled so far today and whining a fair bit- she is quite a whiney pup anyway but this is more than normal. Could this be a bit of pain or nausea perhaps? She is playing lots (it seems to be all she wants to do) and eating as much as she can shovel in her mouth so I don't get the feeling she's in masses of pain (they didn't give us any pain killers which does surprise me after she had a part of her removed from her body)! I'm trying to not reward the crying but I do worry so I know she is getting lots more attention. I can't help it. Our other problem is the cone of shame. I've given lots of treats when we put it on but she does not like it one bit. Any tips? Will she just get used to it? Trying to keep it off as much as possible but I'm going to have to work at some point. And I think her scars will start to itch more soon :-/
I had Molly spayed just before she was 2 years old. I think the whining might be your girl still getting over the general anaesthetic- Molly was rather unsettled for a few hours, though she was fine the next day. I didn't put a cone on much as I was able to be with Molly almost all the time and make sure she didn't lick the site, so you can give your girl a break from it as long as you're watching her. My vet told me to do lead walks only for 2 weeks, which I complied with ( though Molly had a lump removed at the same time so slightly bigger op.) Hope your girl feels better soon.
Have you got a plastic cone for her ? If so, consider buying a Buster collar , they are inflatable and much more comfortable , my girl never objected to wearing one at all . Joy is right , GA can stay in the system for a while , she will be fine pretty soon . Try to stick to the advice re exercise , its not easy but best in the long run for a trouble free recovery
Sorry, I can't help you as Annie has not been spayed yet. Just want to wish your girl a speedy recovery. I would just spend time with her and lots of cuddles
As @Joy says, the whining was probably to do with the anaesthetic and she will not be doing it today. I have had five bitches spayed over the years and they have never had to wear a cone. These days the wound is usually very small, about an inch long. I wouldn't let her play too much and she should be walked on the lead for 10 days! However, I did let mine off the lead for gentle walks after 7. I was spayed and appalled when they took the stitches out after 5 days, when I was used to dogs having stitches in for 10 days.
@Stacia Millie didn't have a cone post spay either , the buster collar was for when she had her eye surgery , invaluable . Re cones after spay , I guess a lot depends on circumstances , I was at home all the time with Millie after hers , so was able to keep a close watch for any subversive messing with the wound Incidentally , I had my stitches out five days after my spay too If I remember well , Millie had dissolving ones so, apart from a post op check , it was all very trauma free and easy
My three girls didn't need a cone post op. If it was a keyhole op the scar is very small anyway and most dogs won't be bothered by it. They were all sent home without pain medication as they will have had a long lasting pain killer injection after the op. I would try and keep her quiet, maybe cage rest if she is very bouncy and playfull. I understand she also had X-rays done on her joints which means she has been 'pulled about' a bit under GA to get her in the right position for the images to be taken. So a nice few days of rest will do her good.
Thanks guys, we are only doing lead walks and have been anyway for a few weeks due to a leg problem. When I say play I mean the fairly gentle play she gets from me (not the running around and tug of war type play she gets with the husband). But I'll make sure she doesn't overdo it. I think I'm just going to take the day off so that she can have my full attention. Hopefully it is just the GA wearing off. It has been 24 hours now but I think I read it can take up to 2 days. It was a laparoscopic spay and they didn't give us any pain killers to bring home. I have some for her from last week (the leg injury) but don't know if they'll react with the GA so don't want to risk giving them. Is it normal to not get any pain relief at home? I know I'd certainly want some of I had bits taken out of me. It's breaking me heart to hear her little whines when there is nothing I can do
It is normal. I had one of mine spayed last month, a laparoscopic spay, she came home without pain killers.
Poor Tatti, it's tough when your dog whines. When Hattie was spayed at around 18 months it was a full surgical procedure, she also had an umbilical hernia removed too so it was a bigger operation. Unfortunately she was pretty poorly afterwards not eating or wanting to do anything. The vet was at the point of readmitting her but fortunately I got some different food and she ate it, but it was about a week before she would even go for a walk The keyhole must be so much better but it wasn't something that was offered to us almost 7 years ago. I really hope Tatti will be OK, but of course if you are worried give your vet a ring. xx
Poor Tatti, I hope she feels better soon. Ella was a nightmare post spay as she acted like nothing had happened. We got home from the vet (the OH carried her in from the car) and she decided to run across the lounge and leap onto the couch . I nearly had a heart attack! She didn't need a cone as she wasn't worried about her stitches and she spent the whole time bringing toys to us in the hope that we'd play. We ended up playing with her before her stitches were taken out as we felt that controlled play with us was better than the zoomies she kept trying to do around the house!
We are definitely having the same problem which is much better than the alternative I suppose I've resorted to bedtime biscuits as she just won't settle. She's been up since about 06:30! I just hope the whining isn't pain :-/
Hi @tattie Juno's spay wasn't of the laparoscopic variety in France but we didn't have painkillers for her, and didn't think anything of it. The whining may be due to the GA together with the effect of being pulled around for all the x-rays. Juno is fine with GA and doesn't make a whimper, light sedation gets her whimpering though. She wore a collar only when left alone so she couldn't touch her lovely line of stitches but she never made any attempt without it during the day with me there. She was back to herself very quickly and wasn't too bad with the restricted exercise as she had just been on 2 weeks worth due to her first limping episode. Lots of fuss and cuddle to make her feel better never goes a miss though
Tilly was spayed at about 6 months (would not do it so early again). We were supposed to keep her calm, but the first thing she did was run into the house and jump over the sofa. IIRC we did not need the cone, at least not very much. She was back to normal behavior the next day, but we did what we could to keep her quiet for a week. She is so calm now, it is hard to remember that her puppy nickname was "Chief Crazy Dog" Ginger, our first Lab was a rescue and had a litter of pups before we got her. She was about 4 years when we had her spayed, and it did slow her down for a a week or so.
Belle had a big op when she was spayed - no pain killers to take home. She was back to her usual self next day - a nightmare 10 days of lead walking for a dog who was a bit if a free spirit. She didn't touch her big wound - no cone. I'm sure it's just the anaesthetic affecting Tatti - Scooby suffered for 2 days with it after he had a lump removed - he was on pain relief, it was heartbreaking to see his low demeanour with the whining.
No pain killers to take home for us either! The vet would have given her a pain killer by injection after the op. I think you will find by tomorrow you will be tearing your hair out trying to keep her quiet. HOWEVER, if she continues to whine and seems quieter and off her food, phone vet for advice pronto.
Harley wore a cone for the first day, then we brought an inflatable one which she was more comfortable with. Her op was complicated as she had pyometra and a twisted hernia. We did get given pain killers which she had for 5 days. She did whimper a lot which is unusual for her, but she wasn't very active for about 5-6 days. If she's still whimpering tomorrow I would give the vets a call to check in with them. Hope she feels better soon x
