What should I expect at home after she gets spayed?

[mspooley]

Greetings!

I hope this is the correct place to ask this question. I scanned a few pages in this vet forum but didn't see anything regarding this.

Tomorrow (Tuesday)I am taking my 5 month old female in to be spayed.

I have read of the benefits etc. of having her spayed, and this is also part of the puppy contract I signed with the breeder. Somehow I am bothered to have to put her through surgery pain and I am really feeling badly about that! Perhaps IO am, in my mind. comparing this surgery to a knee surgery my small dog had a few years back, anmd she was really miserable...

Am I being neurotic? I guess I am hoping that she will only have minimal discomfort, and I would love to read comments from you folks who really know what I should expect. I am confident in the skills of the vet hospital she is going to and of course they will explain everything to me when I arrive, but they don't live with a rottie.

Any words of comfort for me? Also, any insights as to whether she should/could attend her usual Saturday puppy class?

Many thanks from reggae's mom.

[lgslgs]

Our girl Georgia Rae was spayed 6 days ago, at age 6 months. She stayed overnight at the vet's the first night and has a pain pill she's supposed to take daily for 6 days.

She's really not showing any signs of discomfort except every once in a while she seems to find one of the razor stubble spots on her belly a bit itchy. The itch spot isn't near the incision and her incision site doesn't seem to bother her at all.

We are supposed to have her on restricted activity for two weeks, partly due to the surgery and partly due to the fact that she has a severe heart murmur. She seems like she'd like to go run an play, but we're sticking to mainly quiet time with some gentle leash walks for fresh air and fun.

I wouldn't be surprised if your vet might want her on light duty on Saturday. You should ask specifically and see whether she can attend with restrictions or whether it would be best to spend the day at home instead of going to puppy school.

Hope that helps you feel a bit less apprehensive. :)

Lynda

[lilysmom]

hey there,
I'm a new rottie Mom too.My girl is Lily,she is 1 and counting.

she got her spaying about 6 months.It's really no big deal to your sweet girl.It is very minor surgery.She will be groggy( kinda stoned) in the beginning.She needs you to be aware she can't control her bladder for awhile.Or her body tempature.

Your vet will tell you all these things
The most important thing is you.Be confident and positive to your girl.Take her for a good long walk before you go.
If you are calm, she will be too.I know that can be hard.I kept all the good things goin on in my head.

She will live longer....less cancer risks.....she wont have the (heat)desire to breed.

The stitches can be a little itchy.....if you see her trying to scratch at them...just redirect her attention....a walk or a toy.

She loves you.....act like it's no big deal......the most important thing for her is you....be as calm as you can.

[sweetlee]

I hope you will be pleasantly surprised at how quickly they recover from this.
Some vets let you bring them home the same night if the surgery is early in the morning.
They are pretty groggy that first day, and moving kind of slow for a day or so. All they told us was to keep Shaggy quiet for a couple of days and then let her play more quietly than usual.
It was hard to keep her still though, she seemed to be ready to run and romp after about day 3.
Best of luck to you and your baby.

Sharon

[targonrotts]

i just spayed 2 of mine recently.
i know how you feel!
even though i work at the clinic i hate to see them go under and get any type of surgery.

but, she should be quiet and only leash walks at least for the first week, start a little more after 2 weeks, and no jumping or agility stunts for at least 6 weeks.
even though it is not a big surgery, she gets cut thru the abdominal wall, and even though dogs are great how fast they recover, it was a surgery.

it is ok to do puppy class as long as there is no roughness or jumping. might want to at least skip one week.

kepp eye on incision, keep her from licking it. if she messes with it, get an e-collar.
all should be fine.

[mspooley]

THANK YOU ALL!

Your words really mean a lot.

I just dropped her off about 30 minutes ago and I was calm until after the tech took her through that door without me ! I cried all the way home, at the same time realizing I am over-reacting . It's kind of silly the way I am rso upset today! After all, she is young and healthy and we have many years left together. This is a routine surgery!

Once I settle down, I will be fine. I will be picking her up later today. The vet will call me after her surgery and then again when it's time to pick her up. I know I'll be coming home with pain meds for her.

All of your reassuring words are wonderful, again thank you!

[blisscodisco]

My dogs hate the plastic cone collars (ecollars) so I found these really cool "blow up" collars much nicer. I found mine locally but if you do an internet search for "soft E Collars" you can find some. They are pricy but nice.
some links
(***I have NOT ordered from the bonafido co so I can not personally recommend them, but they look more like what we have at the local place I go then the Foster and Smith one.***)

Soft-E-Collar (Elizabethan Collar Alternative)
or
Elizabethan Pro Collar for Dogs: ProCollar Protective Collar at Drs. Foster & Smith
just an alternative idea.

[mspooley]

blisscodisco, thanks so much!
I actually have seen the blow up collars at my local Petco. Hopefully we can get by without it, but at least I know I can get one immediately if needed.

No word from the vet yet as to whether she is done with surgery.
I am feeling better and not crying anymore. Sheeeze!

[blisscodisco]

That is great you can get them from Petsmart now, they must be catching on!
She will be fine, the hardest thing with my girl was keeping her calm. She is a wild one and likes to do a lot of leaping, which they are NOT supposed to do. My vet did give me something to make her sleepy, I can't remember what it was but it helped a bit
Sending healing happy thoughts and prayers for you girly. Puppies heal sooo fast.

[mspooley]

I want to once again thank you all for your input! Of course, you are all right! Now me - I was a basket case all day, and that surprised me 'cause I'm usually more in control of my emotions!

Anyway, we got home at 6:30 tonight.
The vet said she did great during surgery and when I picked her up, the vet tech said everyone on staff had fallen in love with her 'cause she is such a sweet natured sweetie!

They sent me home with Tramadol for pain, and beginning tomorrow I will also start the Rimadyl anti-inflammatory. Vets' orders say we have to skip Saturday's puppy class, and we'll have a check up in 10 days. She also has one of "those" collars, but they said I can take it off her when supervised.

[blisscodisco]

Watch carefully with the Rimadyl. My male tolerates it no problem. My female gets bloody diarrhea from it. I guess some dogs have weird reactions to it. Not common just something to be aware of... and my vet neglected to tell me that it can cause this reaction in some dogs so now I try to share with everyone I know as it is scary to see something like that right after surgery! Glad she is doing great. Even tho it is a routine surgery it is always scary everytime they go under.

[mspooley]

Thanks! I will watch for that.
They told me to give it with food, as it could upset her tummy.
So far so good!