Having had Jet, our youngest Dog, who is just under nine months old, Spayed five days ago I thought it would be a good idea here at the Dog Blog to give a little advice on Dog spaying and tell what happened to our Dogs after being Spayed. Female Dog Spaying aftercare is especially important and there are a few things we should all know.
As always though, these are just my opinions and experiences. If you are ever in any doubt about any aspect of looking after Dogs then consult your Vet.
I wrote previously about when I believe you should get your Dog Spayed or Sterilised so I won’t get in to that debate here. We have three Dogs and they have all been Spayed now. Daisy, the Mother of Jet, had one season and with our best intentions she manged to get out via a quick dash for the door and five Puppies were the result. Luckily we found homes for four but it was a mistake on our part that we didn’t want repeated.
Dog Spaying Cost?
We have a local Vet that performs the Spaying for about 200 Euros ($250). The antibiotics they have for a week after cost about 50 Euros. It can vary dramatically from Vet to Vet and the procedure they do. Ours is relatively cheap and I have heard of many cases of it being up to $1000!!!
Our Dog Spaying costs are relatively low because there is no overnight care afterwards. It is a small clinic and they merely perform the operation. The Dogs go in at nine am and we are taking them home by eleven. If they were to be cared for all day and possibly the night then it would be much higher.
What To Do On The Day Of The Dog Spay?
Hopefully your Vet will have told you not to have let the Dog have food or water since the previous evening. After the Spaying it will take some time for the Dog to come around from the anaesthetic. It took all of our three Girls the better part of the afternoon to come around properly and even then they were in and out of sleep for the rest of the day.
Female Dog Spaying is a major operation and it will take time for them to recover. The first day is normally the worst for them.
Dog Sick After Spaying?
All three of our Dogs were a little sick on the day of the Spay. Not much but it is quite normal for this to happen. As long as it is not prolonged then it is not a major cause for concern.
Dog Shivering After Being Spayed?
Jet, just about visible under her blankies!
All Dogs react differently to the Operation. Our more heavy set Dog, Faye, never shivered but the two more delicate Dogs were shaking like mad a little while after they were brought home. This is normal, especially for lighter framed Dogs. On the day of Jets Spay she had about five blankets on her for the day and this just about stopped her shaking. Dog Spaying aftercare involves ensuring you keep the Female Dog nice and warm.
Try to get a portable heater near to the Dog if they simply won’t seem to stop shivering. Oil filled radiators are always a good choice in my opinion. Better than portable gas heaters as they don’t make so much condensation in the house.
Can The Dog Eat And Drink On The Day They Are Spayed?
This is really down to the Dog. Jet had no inclination to eat or drink on the first day. We gave her a little bit of water and she had a few laps at it. The next day she was a lot more inclined to eat and drink. Faye, on the other hand, by the evening, was up for normal food and lots of drinking. She was only given a little food though and was fine with it.
Daisy, our most delicate Dog, was a lot more sick than the others and for about two days she found it difficult to hold down any food or water. Her body is just a lot more delicate.
See how they react to food and water and take it from there. Just don’t let them have too much too soon.
Dogs can drink water on the day they were spayed, just be aware that they should not drink too much. You may well find that your Dog has no inclination to drink water on the day of the Spay, and may be reluctant to drink for a few days after. It is very much down to the individual Dog.
The Elizabethan Collar, Space Collar or E Collar
The Elizabethan Collar, E-Collar, space collar, cone, or whatever you call it is very important after female Dog Spaying. The stitches, if this was the procedure used, most not be tampered with. Many Dogs natural instincts will be to lick or gnaw at the stitches. You must ensure that they can’t do it.
This plastic funnel that attaches to their collar will stop them from getting to the incision. The Elizabethan collar for Dogs is very important, especially for Dogs that like to gnaw or get bothered very easily. Does your Dog need to wear an E-Collar? I would recommend it, at least for a few days, to see what your Dogs reaction is to the Stitches. Some Dogs will only need the E-Collar for a short amount of time but if your Dog tries to gnaw at the stitches then you need to be very careful indeed.
How Long Should The Dog Wear The Elizabethan Collar?
This is really a judgement call. It is totally down to the nature of the Dog. Faye, the big brash Girl really didn’t seem bothered by the stitches at all. On day two the Space Collar came off and she was fine without it. We kept an eye on her and for our own peace of mind put it back on for the night. Only for a few days though. She just isn’t the kind of Dog that seems concerned by these things.
Daisy on the other hand had to have hers on for nearly two weeks constantly. She was really bothered by the incision and would try to get at it. The Space Collar stayed on until all the stitches had either dissolved or the last few bits taken off.
I would just say err on the side of caution.
How Long Do Stitches Need To Be Left In After The Dog Is Spayed?
Although it seems more and more Dog owners now have the option of Laser Surgery to get their Dog Spayed, many of us will still find our Dogs with quite a number of stitches. These will be internal and external stitches. Our Vet recommended that the Stiches should be left in the Dog for at least a week.
We then had the option of going back to the Vets to have them removed, or, see if they come out on their own. With Jet all her stitches were still there after a week, but I did not want to take her back to the Vets after being Spayed so soon. After a few more days the stitches started to simply drop off. They also began to unravel and I simply pulled them out. After three weeks there were a few stitches still in her, I pulled lightly on them and the stitches simply came away.
Personally I would not be concerned with leaving the stitches in the Dog for a few weeks after being Spayed, but it depends on the Dogs reaction and how easily they seem to come out.
Dog Spaying Recovery. How Long?
Again it completely depends on the Dog. The advice from the Vet was no strenuous activity for as long as possible. The wound may be healing well but you can’t see what is going on inside. They need to heal well. Any running, jumping, playing could cause a major problem.
Although difficult, keep your Dog calm for a few weeks if possible and then take it slowly. I know from experience this is difficult to do. Faye especially was up for running and jumping up walls within two days. She had to be on the lead constantly and at times even in the house. She recovered so quickly she just wanted to play like normal.
Again err on the side of caution and keep them close and never let them run around for the first few weeks. For some high energy Dogs this will be tough but this is a few weeks out of a long life. You don’t want any complications.
Problems That May Arise After The Spay?
Lumps After Dog Spayed?
Many people become concerned about the size of the swelling around the stitches a few days after the Spay. Normally it is a Seroma, a collection of fluid after the operation. It is normally a reaction to the stitches.
All three of our Dogs have been on antibiotics (expensive) for a week after the surgery. This helps them recover quickly and stops the reaction to the stitches becoming too big.
Both Jet and Daisy swelled up quite a bit but although it bothered Daisy, Jet is taking it all in her stride.
Faye, the indestructible Dog, had little to no swelling under the stitches.
What she did get after about a week were two hard lumps either side of the base of the stitches. We were told this is quite common, and in a few days they disappeared.
Dog Is Sick After Being Spayed?
Sickness is normal for a day or so after the operation but if it happens too much or goes on too long then you ned to call the Vet.
Dog Is Lethargic After Being Spayed?
Some Dogs will be fine after a day or so and want to run and play. For others it could be a week or more before you see them getting back to normal. If they are too lethargic after a few days then check with the Vet.
Conclusion
This is by no means a full coverage of the topic. I can only speak about my experiences with out three Dogs. Each of them reacted very differently. From wanting to play basically the next day to another being very sedate for about a week.
The main thing is that if you have any concerns talk to the Vet. Female Dog Spaying is a major operation and your Vet should be there to assist if you have any concerns at all.
Keep a close eye on your Dog, make sure they have a Space Collar on, feed lightly for a few days and ensure they get no large amounts of exercise for as long as you can.
What was your experience like after your Dog got spayed?
Did they react well or did it take a long time to recover? Or do you not even believe in getting your Dog Spayed?
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Tags: dog spaying aftercare, dog spaying cost, dog spaying recovery, elizabethan collar, female dog spaying, space collar
my lab puppy had gotten that huge lump after a few days I had to take her back to vet and they releived it and then had to put staples in because she popped a few stitches as well. Our vet didn’t put the collar on her and I think she needed it. she also did get sick the day I brought her home. she went in at 7am and came home at 4pm that day
great article
Jill, it is so hard to stop them breaking the stitches, especially if they get a lot of swelling. I am surprised the Vet didn’t mention the Collar though.
Question – have you ever had an older dog spayed? I adopted a senior beagle (she’s between 8 and 10 years old) and she’s not spayed yet. We want to get her spayed, but I’m concerned about the procedure because she’s so old. What do you think?
I begin it, and it is miyumama
I will visit it for the first time.
A disease was great.
Please take good care.
miyumama’s last blog post..The discipline – - – pulling habit of the dog
Carolyn, I have only ever had young Dogs Spayed. I really don’t know to be honest. I do know it is a very serious operation and it can really take it out of a lot of Dogs. The older they are the harder it is to recover easily from the Operation. I would talk to the Vet and see what they have to say.
Sorry not to be of more help but I wouldn’t want to advise the wrong thing.
I think a lot is down to the Health and strength of the Dog. Could you let me know what you find out?
Miyumama, nice to have someone from Japan visit. I hope the translation program worked so you could read the posts easily.
Our vet keeps the doggies overnight, we dropped #1 off at 7:30 the morning of the procedure. (#2 gets it at the end of this month, at 4 months old, #1 went in at 8 months after a heat–uh, never again)
Anyway, we had the option of a laser procedure, which cost only slightly more, that we opted for because we have the low to the ground Corgi’s (females). They also did not get food or water after midnight the night before. They spend the night after the procedure because the vet wants them fully recovered and eating, drinking, and pottying before going home the next day.
The following day, #1 was mostly back to her old self and chasing tennis balls. Incision site healed nicely, never had any problems total cost was just over $300 and she received great care.
Angie, that sounds great. The laser procedure would definitely be easier on the Dog and I’m glad you had that option. Hopefully more Vets will offer it in the future.
[...] Please see my female Dog Spaying post for lots of information on post spaying [...]
We recently had our 12yr old male beagle neutered and he did great. Showed no interest in his stitches. No collar needed.
I just got my 1 and 1/2 year old pitbull spayed and she did so good. It cost a little over 200.00 for laser spay and complete bloodwork. We took her in at eight in the morning and she was ready to go at 4p.m. She hopped into the van on her own….not her usual hop but a hop nonetheless and we went home where she proceeded to lay down pretty much for the rest of the evening. The next day she got up and we walked her a bit and made sure she got some exercise. I think she finally ate a little bit this day. Three days after the surgery she was hiking with us at our local state park. She is doing quite well. She had inside stitches placed and the incision is healing quite nicely. I feel so relieved that everything went off without a hitch.. She did not wear one of those goofy collars. She keeps the area clean and we are not to bathe her for several weeks.
Mary Jo, glad it went well. It is always harder the older they get when they have operations. It is amazing how differently different Dogs can be about stitches.
Laurie, judging by the comments here it seems Laser is the way to go. We haven’t got anything like that here but it sounds great. So glad she healed so quickly. Faye was like that but it was awful for Daisy. Different Dogs react so differently. That is a very good price as well.
I’m glad to hear technology is catching up even for animal medical needs. I also doesn’t hear that much here at our place but thinking about it really makes me feel great for my pet Lab who tends to need medical attention from time to time because of hyperactivity.
I’m glad things turned out ok. I was very worried for my dog as I have never had a pet spayed before, but my friends and everything I read told me it was the right thing to do.
Shelley, technology really is moving at a pace isn’t it?
Hi Janet, glad all is OK. Female Dog spaying is a big worry. It is such a majot operation. Glad you got your Dog spayed though.
I was just wondering, when you get a dog spayed does it stop the bleeding that happens when they come in heat, or do they still bleed?I have 5 pound chihuahua and she is having her 2 heat cycle.She is a house dog with no chance of getting breed, but the blood is so nasty. I got the doggie diapers but at night she trys to pull them off.So my question is will getting her spayed stop the bloody cycle????
Hi Sherry
A good question. When the Female Dogs are spayed it means there is no menstrual cycle so yes there will be no blood. I certainly know what you mean about the mess. When our first Dog Daisy came in to season she bled very heavily. I was just glad we didn’t have carpets everywhere.
I hope this helps.
We are in day 2 post op from having our Lab, Jette, spayed. Keeping her subdued is easier said than done, that’s for sure!!! We are keeping her on leash all the time in the house to keep her from chasing the cats (which they LOVE), and carrying her up and down the steps when she goes outside to potty. This morning, when I checked the sutures, I noticed they are seeping. Is this normal? It’s not blood, otherwise, I’d be at the animal hospital! I called the emergency line for our vet, and they said that as long as it’s pink and not red (which it is not red) to keep an eye on it. Should I be concerned?
Danielle
Hi Danielle, now, obviously the Vet knows best and this is only my opinion.
All of our Dogs seeped after the spaying. It seemed to be quite normal. Daisy was very bad but the other two just had a bit of a seep around the stitches for a few days. It is quite normal and if the stitches get a lump around them them this can increase the pressure on the stitches and can make the seeping worse.
I would just keep an eye on it, but I am sure it will be fine. It can really take it out of a lot of Dogs being spayed. It sounds like you are doing the right thing by not letting her jump about, and the fact she wants to is a very god sign indeed. I hope this helps. If in any doubt though see the Vet.
I’ve just had my 5 (probably) year old rescue dog spayed this morning and despite having gone through it before with my last one (13 years ago) I wasn’t sure what the after effects were, so thanks so much for your wonderful blog. We’ve had her for 2 months now and a more lovely companion would be hard to find, a fabulous replacement for our last puppy who died 2 years ago aged 14.
She’s very unhappy and is shivering at lot, so I have her cuddled up on cushions (her bed isn’t acceptable!) with a blanket over her. My only concern is that she’s bleeding a little when she moves. The vet says not to worry too much though as it was probably the journey home so I am just keeping an eye on it.
If I’d had the option of laser as mentioned above I would certainly have taken it up. I feel so bad for putting her through this, although I know it’s for the best.
thanks again for the information on what to expect.
I just took Grayson, my bishon poodle mix, in to get spayed. She is a rescue from the pound and has had alot of serious back problems already at the age of 2. They keep telling me that this is the best for her but I am SO worried. I pick her up today after 5:00. The vet bill was about $250 but I am also getting her teeth cleaned while she is under to try and get rid of her bad breath!! So please think about my dog today and I will update you after I pick her up! Thanks for all the information it has been very helpful and stress reducing.
Sue, I am glad you had it done, it really is for the best I think. Sorry for the delay in replying.
Hello worried Dog Mum, I am certainly thinking about Grayson today. I know it is horrible and the next few days can certainly be upsetting. Expect lots of wobbling about and she may well be sick. All normal but horrible to see.
I am glad the post was of help. It was certainly something I wish I had before we got our first Dog spayed. That was a good idea to get her teeth cleaned at the same time. Try giving her bones to chew on a few times a week in the future. It completely cleans their teeth which means you will never have to worry about bad breath again.
Let me know how it went. I know getting female Dogs spayed can be a very worrying time as an owner, especially when we see them so helpless afterwards. Give Grayson a scratch behind the ears from me.
I have just had my 7mnth dachshund x russell spayed,after first 3days the internal stitches gave way as she is extremely lively so had to be restitched. She has no outside stitches this time just internal & somesort of glue!I am keeping her as quiet as possible-no jumping,no walks,it is very difficult. She too has the lumps either side but they do noy seem to be effecting her.We will return to the vets if i am too concerned.
This is such a great site! Thanks for all the info on spaying!
I took my 9mo boxer in this morning to get spayed and I’m so lonely now! I was hesitant to take her and leave her overnight, but I keep telling myself it is for the best. She normally sleeps in the bed with me but I guess the next few days/week will be different since the bed is so high.
I’m also having her dew claws taken off while she is under. Vey says she will be very sore. She only has them on her front paws though. I dont want them to be accidentally torn off and cause her more pain so we’re having them done too.
Thanks again for the great info!
Elaine, my apologies for not replying sooner, somehow I overlooked your comment. I hope all is well now.
Hi Anna,
Don’t feel lonely, she wil be back and on the bed in no time:)It’s a very good idea to get her dew claws removed at the same time. I wish that I had done the same.
Just try to keep her from running or playing for at least a week as the stitches (if used) can easily split.
I hope it all goes well and that she recovers from the spaying quickly.
This is a wonderful site! We found a stray Lab when we were camping 3 weeks ago. Actually, she found us when she came into our campsite and submissively introduced herself. She’s about 12 months old. We already have 2 other dogs of similar size. We know nothing of her history. Two vets checked for signs that she had already been spayed but there was no indication. Still, they said it was possible she already had been. So it was very stressful deciding whether or not to have exploratory surgery done and a spay if she had not already been done. But the more heat cycles a dog has, the greater the risk of mammary tumors. For that reason I didn’t want to wait to see if she went into heat. So I decided on the surgery and she was spayed this last Wednesday. I was glad that I didn’t put her through that for nothing. I had her nails trimmed at the same time. She seems to be doing very well. She didn’t get sick and seems to be leaving the incision site alone. Keeping her from running and playing with the other dogs is not easy. Like others have said I have to keep her on a leash outside at all times and sometimes even inside. And we’re only heading into day four post op.
Thanks for all the great information and for providing a place to express our experiences and concerns.
Thanks for taking the time to write such a thorough article! I had my 2 yr old pup spayed 3 days ago and after waking up at 4 am I went online to search and make sure she was not in any pain. This article makes me feel much better! Thanks again!
Hi Michele,
Thanks for poting your experiences on getting your new female Dog spayed. It is great news that she reponded so well to the operation. It can be very traumatic for many Dogs.
I hope that by now she is totally back to normal and enjoying life with her new owners. I wonder what happened to her to be lucky enough to be found by you?
Hi Laura,
Glad that the post helped you feel a little better after getting your Dog spayed. I hope she is doing fine now and back to normal. It should onlybe a few weeks after the spay for Dogs to be back to normal.
I really appreciate this site! I bought a 1 1/2 year old Shih Tzu and had her spayed two days ago. When I picked her up at the Vet’s office to bring her home I was told that she has had at least one litter because her uterus was stretched and enlarged and not tight and smooth. It had also been torn at some time in the past. The people I bought her from hadn’t told me and I am so glad that I made the decision to have her spayed. I don’t know much about this condition but I suppose it could have caused her some sort of problem later on. She is very subdued today still and isn’t eating or drinking much. She hadn’t pottied since I brought her home but this morning she finally relieved herself even though I was taking her out every couple of hours during the day since I brought her home. She will drink a little chicken broth every now and then but still won’t drink water. I also had her teeth cleaned at the same time and maybe her mouth is a little sore (they said her teeth were terribly bad but it was cosmetic and she didn’t loose any.) She looks so pathetic but I know she will be so much healthier when we get past this.
I just wanted to say thanks for this article and for posting your experiences. I feel better after reading it.
Our 5 month old retriever/irish setter cross was spayed today and I was more stressed out than I expected! I’m feeling extreme mommy guilt for making her wear the cone to bed, even though I know it is for the best. Maddie does not want to eat or drink and has been pretty much laying down all evening. I’m hoping that she feels up to eating something tomorrow morning.
Hi Diana,
I hope she is feeling much better now. It is normal for them to be off food and drink after being spayed but they soon (sometimes too soon) get back to normal.
Getting her teeth cleaned was a good idea. I am a firm believer in raw meaty bones for keeping Dogs teeth sparkly white. Why not try introducing her slowly to some raw bones that are suitable, it really does save ever having to have their teeth cleaned.
I hope she is back to being a chirpy Dog soon. I know mine were extremely relieved when they had the elizabethan collar removed.
Hi Shawna,
I’m glad the article was of some help, that was the main reason I wrote it. It is a stressful time as you simply don’t know how the Dog will react after being spayed.
Don’t worry if she is off her food for a few days. She may also be a little sick, even from simply drinking water. The shock of the operation and the anaesthetic canm ake them quite upset for a few days.
The cones are horrible, especially if, like mine, they make a point of banging in to everything to make a point! Better than them getting to the incision though and it is only for a few days.
I hope she is feeling better today. All the best.
Hello!
The blog is great! My loved dog Pecas a 3 year old american cocker spaniel will be spayed on Sunday at 11 am. The problem is that we live in China! So i am a but worried! Should I do something before the operation to make it better for her? I am giving her bach flowers to calm her and prepare her a bit! Any suggestions?
I love her very very much and i hope this operation makes her stay with us for many many years!
Thanks a lot!!!!
Hi Elena,
Thanks for the kind words. There isn’t really anything that you need to do before the spaying apart from ensure that she doesn’t eat after the evening before.
I am sure that it will all be very straightforward and that she will be with you for many years. I wish you the best of luck.
All the best.
Hello! My baby already had the operation, the only problem is that one part of the uterus, near to the vagina is too big! They didn’t remove that part because they said they need to make some tests! But they say that the vagina is too big and that in the next 3 days it needs to get smaller, otherwise its dangerous! Does someone know what is that!! They are gonna give her hormones but i don’t get the conection between the hormones and what she has!!
Please I am very worried!!!
Elena
Elena,
I wish I could be of more help but I am sorry to say that I really can’t offer any advice on this matter. It is certainly the realms of experts. I really don’t know how I can help although I wish that I could. Let’s hope that the treatment the vet gives her will help.
If anyone reads this and can help then please leave a comment for Elena.
Elena, please come back and let me know how it went. I am hoping that all will be well and you have my best regards.
Hello
She is doing very well the doctor says everything is going great! Still need a few days to see how it goes!
Thanks for your worried!
Elena
Elena,
That’s great. I bet you are relieved.
Hello! I’m a small 8 month old chihuahua and my mom is taking me to get spayed soon. She’s a bit worried because the surgery is on a Tuesday morning and we have a summer camping trip scheduled Fri-Sun.
I love to spend my time wrapped in a blanket on my mom’s lap, even when we’re outdoors. Do you think I will be well enough for a short weekend trip?
Any advice would help. Thanks!
Hi L.J,
I think that as long as you promise not to run around and risk splitting your stitches then you wil be fine. Just try not to get too excited as your insides will need time to heel and running or jumping can make it take a lot longer. Have a nice trip and be a good girl.
Hi
I had my first dog, Tahlula (abandoned Puppy), spayed at 6 months old and she coped perfectly well. She never touched her stitches and was very sensible until they were removed. However she has developed very mild incontinence now (at 91/2 years old), which the vet said was a result of spaying her so early. When I got my new puppy, Matilda (the product of an accidental litter) I was advised to let her have a season before spaying, in order to stop the same thing happening to her, however against this advice, I decided to take the chance as I would rather mild incontinence than a litter of pups or worse! She is now on day 2 of post op and you would never think she’d had anything done….slight problem in keeper her calm but glad it has not affected her.
Dogs Body,
Daisy developed a similar thing a few months ago, about a year after she had Pups. I thought it may have simply been an infection (UTI), which they can be more prone to in some cases if they are spayed young. I tried adding apple cider vinegar to her food. It worked. The problem has now cleared up and no more incontinence. Worth a try if it happens to your young girl.
Thanks for that I’ll keep it in mind
I too couldn’t sleep this evening and looked up about post procedure care or cautions, I have a 1 1/2 year old red border collie named Unique, very active, so I’ve had to leave her in the house while I’m at work during the day, she was full of energy the day after, eating, drinking, talking at me lol and its now day 5, I noticed the lump under the stitches and was worried, but she doesn’t seem to be showing any signs of obvious distress and from what I’ve read it seems to be par for the course
thanks for all the different input, put my mind at ease which I’m sure she senses too! Ciao
This site is great. Wish I read it BEFORE I had my dog spayed! Anyway, I had my 2 1/2 year old Boxer spayed Friday. She’s doing well. I made the mistake of giving her water and food when she got home and she threw up about 7 times over the next 2 hours! I felt horrible.
She wasn’t given any antibiotics at all. Is this normal? I had her spayed at an inexpensive place and they gave her pain medicine for 3 days, but no antibiotics. Also, I was wondering if I need to clean the stitches for her or just let her lick them occasionally which I’ve seen her do. I don’t let her do it for very long at all so it doesn’t irritate the skin.
They appear a little raised and pinkish-red. No blood or oozing though. That’s good! They also said only the males need the collars and usually the females don’t need them.
Comments or suggestions?
Susan
Hi Susan,
We too had our girls spayed at an inexpensive vets. He did not stock antibiotics but he always gave us a prescription to be filled. As far as I am aware they should always have antibiotics after the operation. I would call the vets and ask about this.
As for the elizabethan collars it totally depends on the Dog. I would not let her lick the stitches though. She may start doing it for prolonged times when you are not present or sleeping. They realy need to dry out as quickly as possible. They should not need cleaning but this is where antibiotics are important. It is easy for them to get dirty, even if the Dog licks them. Find out about this straight away if you can.
If she keeps licking the stitches I would get a collar. Two of ours kept trying to lick the stitches while the other one seemed to totally ignore them.
That’s great theat the stitches are not oozing or bloody, that is exactly what you want them to be like. Just ensure she has minimal exercise for a good few days to allow them to continue healing. I would get those antibiotics though, it ensures that nothing can become infected.
I hope this helps and thanks for your comment.
MY 1 1/2 YR OLD FEMALE LAB IS GETTING SPAYED TODAY. WILL THIS STOP HER AGGRESSION TOWARD OTHER ANIMALS?
Robin,
I am sorry to say I really don’t think that it will. For males getting the op it will definitely help but for female spaying I don’t think it will make a difference. I would try socialising her as much as possible with other Dogs. Familiarity should calm her down a lot.
Hi there,
My 24 week goldendoodle puppy just got spayed yesterday. Her reaction seems to be a bit unique. I think the drugs they gave may have made her a bit paranoid and she keeps getting scared by her hind legs – seriously! It’s like they’re numb or she doesn’t know what they are and when she sees them she hops around trying to get away from them – it’s really weird! Needless to say keeping her calm is a bit of a challenge. She drank the evening of the operation and ate too. And she had both bowel movements within minutes of leaving the vets, but no irregularities or throwing up. Except for this weird hopping thing where she’s freaked out by her hind legs, everythig is going well. Have you heard of this hopping/paranoia thing? We’re hoping that as the drugs wear out she’ll calm down.
Thanks so much for the advice!
Heather,
Apologies for the late reply. It does just sound like the numbness freaking her out a little. I have not heard of it before but all Dogs react differently. I hope she is OK now. It sounds like she did really well after being spayed. All the best.
Hello, I had my two Yorkies spayed on Friday, It is now Monday Evening. They are both 7 months old and biological sisters. One of them is doing fine and seem to be recovering quite well from the spaying. My problem is the other one is very quiet, she just lays around, no energy. She only moves when I go out the front door to watch me. She actually did quite well when I brought her home on Friday evening, but today Monday, she is not. I am quite concerned. Is this normal? Thank you.
HI Concerned Mom,
Is she eating and drinking? She should be on her way to recovery but it can take longer in different Dogs and they can be quite listless.
However, I am not a professional. If you have any concerns I really would call the vets. Sorry I can’t b eof more help. She is probably just recovering a little slower and it has realy taken it out of her.
Thank you for your response. She is eaing. Actually today she seems a little better. When I first got home from work, I turned the ceiling fan on and she started trembling. Needless, to say I will not turn the fan on until she is fully recuperated. I feel that it was too cold for her, so I got a blanket and wrapped her to keep her warm. That last for about 10 minutes. After that, I took her to the patio, she began smelling as if she was enjoying the change in scenry. I see a little more activity but not much. I know she is still in pain because when her sister tries to play with her, she growls and I have never seen this happen before.
Hopefully in a few days there will be more progress. Again thank you.
Hi
My German Shepherd Bitch is getting spayed tomorrow. She normally sleeps upstairs on a futon in my son’s room (spoiled, I know). Will she be alright to walk upstairs (she’s a bit heavy to carry) or should she sleep downstairs and I sleep on the couch?
Am I being overprotective?
Thanks
Cat ,that’s an evil word here by the way;)
If you bring her home the day of the spay she will not make it upstairs. The meds keep them pretty much out of it the first day and they are very wobbly. I would also not risk it for a few days as it will not help the stitches to heal.
She may also need to get up in the night. Many Dogs are sick the first day so quick outdoor access is preferable. I hope it all goes well, let me know how she gets on. All the best.
Concerned Mom,
That’s great.Sounds like she is a clever Girl and knows not to play much for a while. Glad that she is doing a lot better now.
I am happy to report my little girl is doing great today. It took her a whole week to get back to normal but today she is running around and playing with her sister. Both of their stitches have now fallen off and I removed the collar from their head. For anyone who have a small dog, when the vet give you a collar for your dog, please make sure it is not too loose on their head. I had that problem this week and my little girl got the collar caught in her mouth. Thank God I was home to take it off. I am so relieved.
Again thank you.
Concerned Mom,
That’s great. Glad she is OK now. That’s good advice about the elizabethan collars as well. Our Dogs really hate them and make a point of bumping in to things to prove it.
Thanks for letting me know, I know it is a very worrying time.
When my girl was spayed today our vet had a great suggestion.
Instead of the Elizabethan collar, you can put a tshirt on your dog, long enough to cover the belly, then pull the excess fabric up on top of the back and secure it with an elastic band or shoelace. That way the dog can’t access the incision site and they don’t have the misery of the collar. Gracie is resting comfortably this evening, but not interested in eating or drinking. I’m more concerned about the not drinking because I know dehydration can happen fairly quickly and that can be quite serious. Hoping she’ll be back to her perky self tomorrow.
Colliemom,
That’s a great idea.
I wouldn’t worry too much about her not drinking much the first day, they are very tired and will sleep a lot. She should be fine by tomorrow and begin drinking lots. I hope that she recovers quickly. All the best.
Hi,
Glad to find out this post, it is very helpful. I have 9 month Chihuahua, she will be spayed on this comming Friday, i am really worried about the surgey, coz she is really tiny, scared of anything going wrong on her. I have been convinced that the vet is really good and performes about 200 surgeries on weekly basis, can you believe that? I just hope everything goes well after surgery. Will keep you posted.
Hi Conniwinni,
I am sure all will be well. The vets wouldn’t perform the operation unless he knew that she is big enough for the op. That is an amazing number of operations to perform. Keep me posted, I am sure she will be fine. Just make sure you keep her nice and warm afterwards.
Hi! I was wondering if it is normal the day after spaying for my almost 6 mo. old mini aussie shepherd to go in circles, whimper and whine and lick at her pee area. She also wanted to poop this morning but wasn’t able to get it out. She pees fine though. I feel bad to go anywhere-even if she’s in the crate because I want to comfort her. She’s not licking the incision too much, not sure how overnight went. I am buying her a doggie shirt today to try instead of the collar. Please help, I would love to be reassured. Thanks!
Good morning,
Just let you know that the sugery went well and my baby is recovering very quickly. She was back to herself the second day. I am very happy with the result. Thank you for being so supportive.
Conniewinni,
That’s great. I’m so glad she recovered so well. That is very good news. Give her my best.
Hi Tracy,
A lot of Dogs can react like that because they may still feel slightly numb and this will give them the impression that they may be peeing. It can also mean they don’t go to the loo properly for a few days as the sensations are all wrong so they are not really sure if they are going or not.
If it carried on for more than a few days then I would be concerned but the day after the spaying can leave them either very numb or the soreness starts to really distract them. I hope this helps.
Hi . We are just about to go to the vets to bring 6 month old Willow the Boxer bitch home after being spayed today . We have learned a lot from reading this site and it has been a comfort to know that we are not alone in our concern for our baby . She is normally a bundle of energy so keeping her quiet for a while should be difficult . Our 4 year old male Boxer Jet has missed her today and will be as glad as us to get her home . We will try some of the tips that we have read . Thanks.
Hi, my yorkiepoo, Zoey was just operated on today. I picked her up from the vet at 6pm. I know it is normal for the dogs to be lethargic but she seems so drained it scares me. I just had my male yorkie fixed last week and he did remarkable. He wasn’t this exhausted when I brought him home. He was a little tipsy but not like this. She is 4 years old, never had a litter, she just wants to sleep, no shivering just pants every now and again. I offered her water but she was not interested so I just wet her tongue. Can you tell me if this is normal behavior? Thanks so much. I appreciate any replies…
Hi Angelie
Sorry for the delay, having technical issues. It all sounds totally normal. Hopefully she will be much better today. 2 of ours we totally uninterested in drinking the day of the op but were better the next day. I hope she has perked up now and feel free to ask anything else.
[...] when you look for Dog related terms. I am already near the top for important things like “Female Dog Spaying” and “Dangerous Foods For Dogs”, and other things I felt were not represented properly until [...]
I got better idea. Why not spay and neuter all man ,women and children in the US so they all can lower they chances having breast cancer or prostate cancer since the odds of getting one is pretty much the same as in your pets!? Enough of that mambo jambo about spaying/neutering poor animals.Guess what,your vet doesn’t give a damn if your dog will die during/after the procedure or will develop health problems(and she/he will,i can assure you),all they care is money,unfortunately like most people living in the US.What happened to your reasons and senses,stop being robots and do what media/vets tell you to do.Have your own head and think for yourself for once!What about all those wild animals,how come they do not need to get spayed/neutered and they live happy,healthy lives,ah? Just think for a second!!!!!!!!!!!
Seaguel
Our pets are not in the wild and there is no natural selection. Our Dog had five puppies because she was not spayed in time and ran away for the night. What do you think I would do if the same happened to the other two Dogs I have and the one puppy we now have as well? In a few years we would have hundreds of Dogs.
I think I have thought about it all carefully and speak from experience. I know the realities and I know that spaying is the best thing for my household and for my Dogs. Otherwise all the puppies they would keep having would have to be put to sleep by a vet and I don’t want that.
brownie ( my 7 months golden retriever )had the operation today , i left her at the vet 9am and picked her up at 4pm…she was unable to get into the car , I had to help her put front feet and help her the bottom …i know she was in pain when i did that but i got no help…she got home very sick , drink a lot of water when i bring to her mouth ,,,i afraid she has pain so i gave her pain relief ( now i know that’s wrong ), the nurse told me to give her before bed time but i just cant see her in pain ….30 minute after she had the medicine , she drown up ….
She has the collar , vet said keep on for 2 weeks but i just cant see her with that for 2 weeks …can i take out sooner ( one week) ? Brownie looks at me seem very upset and mad that i put her in all this pain … i feel so bad , is she really mad at me ??? I know i just cant sleep tonight ……
Brownie,
It’s not your fault so don’t feel bad. You are doing the best thing and she isn’t mad at you. As for the Elizabethan collar it totally depends on how quickly the incision heals and if your girl will try to lick the stitches or not. Our Dog Faye was not interested in the stitches so the collar was off in 2 days. The other two girls were totally different.
I am sure it will all b e fine so don’t worry.
thank you so much for your reply… Brownie is fine next day and now she is pretty much normal …I feel better now …again , thank you .
I recently rescued an abandoned dog that the neighbors left behind. She is a pitbull mix puppy. I am assuming she is about 7-8 months old. I had her spayed on Thursday and she is doing very well, however, I just noticed that the area around the suture (inside her belly and not the incision) is alittle swollen and hard. She is eating, pooping, and acting fine. There is no bleeding or leaking of the wound either. I was wondering if this is normal? I don’t remember my other two dogs’ surgery, but I also wasn’t a hypochondriac then either when it came to my babies. One of my dogs has epilepsy, so I freak out anytime something isn’t “normal.”
I know I should be keeping her quiet, but how do you keep a puppy quiet? Is that a joke? Thank goodness my other dogs hate her right now because she’s new, so they are refusing to play with her.
Just wondering???
Hi Danielle,
Glad the spaying went so well. By keeping them quiet I meant just to not let them run around much or jump up as it can damage the stitches and hinder recovery. If she is feeling fine though and the stitches are holding well then all should be okay.
The lumps are quite common and all ours had them to some degree. They are very hard and appear on one or both sides of the incision. I would not worry and they seem to go down after a few days. It sounds like she is doing just find and I hope this puts your mind at ease. Of course, if you have any concerns then I would certainly call the vet but it all sounds OK.
Hope this helps.
hi Three Dog blogger–
good info!
just having my baby “Shae” (5 month old small mixed black lab)spayed as we speak–
other female 3 1/2 yr. black lab was done @ 6 month~~no probs-
these 2 are the only females I’ve ever had (ALL MALES in the past)
when I dropped off Shae @ vet this am she emitted this unbearable odor– which is the 4th time she’s done this since I got her from a rescue in Sept. (the rescue tells me that as a pup she was in/out of vets and/or hospital due to pneumonia so gets nervous easily)
I asked vet tech if they could take care of this,(excrete a gland, would it be remedied after spaying or what if anything could be done???)
never happened w/my males–
any tips?
thanks-K
Hi Kathy,
Talk to the Vet but it sounds like the anal glands. The smell can be unbearable. The vet can empty them easily. We used to have the same problem with our previous Dog. He used to gnaw his back raw in an effort to relieve the irritation. Check with the vet but it sounds like the anal glands need emptying. If that is the problem then try to give her a raw meaty bone a few times a week. It will ensure that the glands get emptied naturally via bowel movements and should stop this happening again. I hope this helps.
Hello! Your posts have helped me come to the realization that I have been selfish for not having my 5year old female pitmix spayed. Her pre-op appointment is this week, and while I’m sure the vet can answer some questions, I still feel like I dont have enough information. There is very little information on handling larger/older dogs after the spay. I am concerned that her size will greatly impact the outcome. Also I condidered having her teeth cleaned as she will be out anyhow. But my concern is the legnth of time that requires being under the anaesthetic, do pet owners often do this at the same time? Also my biggest fear is her having a complete meltdown at the doctors office, she is terrified of strangers and I am afraid she will react aggressively. Everyone tells me they know how to deal with difficult dogs-but they havent met Jazmyn. If you have any other suggestions they will be greatly appreciated! Again-finding your blog was one of the greatest influences for us actually going through with it. THANK YOU!!!!!!
Hi Melanie,
Getting their teeth cleaned at the same time is quite common but obviously take the advice of the vet. A large Dog should be fine as the procedure, while invasive, is fairly straightforward.
Dogs can be a problem at the vets, I know, and if you think she may be aggressive then I would certainly get a muzzle put on her well before you go. Just explain this to the vet and I am sure she will be fine. The time under anaesthetic will be increased a little if she has her teeth cleaned as well but it should be fine as long as the vet thinks it is OK to do it.
Sorry not to be more helpful. I hope it all goes well.
I know this site is only for dog spay and neuter , I like your site a lot and i just read and read all posts … and most important is you reply … i hope you can help me out with this problem I have …
Brownie, my 7 months golden retriever as i posted her situation after spay above , she is totally recover now … she’s still very hyper , she jump on everyone come to the house and sometime she just playing bite on my hand even I push her down and ignored her when she does that but nothing help… I love her so much but now I just cant take it much more …. what can I do ??? I let my friend have her for 1 week i cry so much everytime I look out my garden dont see her …please give me advise …
Hi Brownie
If you go to my biting puppies website and read that first post and then work through the rest of the lessons I am sure you will be able to get her to behave. I list lots of ways to train puppies to not bite and one of them will absolutely the best way to get Brownie to calm down.
Let me know how you get on, I am sure that you will have her under control very soon.
My dog had to have an emergency operation yesterday after developing Pyometra,she was spayed saturday 3.30pm they kept her there overnight an I collected her the following day,at midday,
they only gave me 2 day supply of tablets for pain relief is that enough do you think?
they also gave me antibiotics 5 day supply,
the problem I worry about is here at the house,we have steps going up to garden at back of house,steps going out at front of house to front garden,an when it comes to do her toilet she wont do it in the house,I rather she would under the circumstances,I have been in an accident myself and have a shoulder injury,so it is hard for me to carry her without me being in pain,an risk dropping her,she has her own armchair,I have had to block it to stop her jumping up adding to her pain she is confused now,she looks so sad an she is making noises I never heard low whimpering,I know she is in pain,any suggestions for toilet for her I would appreciate,
brilliant site for advice thanks for putting it on web,
Hi Ruth
The meds are exactly right, that is what we have always been given as well.
She should be OK by today to slowly go up and down the stairs. Just make sure she is on a lead so that you can take it very slowly. As long as the movement is gentle she should be fine. Just ensure that you check the stitches after she has gone up or down the stairs. Some Dogs are fully up on their feet in a few days and others are not, it really is hard to tell how they will react.
If the stitches do look worrying after the steps then get in touch with the vet but I have found that as long as their movements are controlled then they are fine.
I hope this helps
Hi! I just brought my 8 month old Spanador (cocker/lab mix) Lola home from getting spayed. I just wanted to thank you for all the info, its been a great help. I do have one question, I noticed you wrote that your doggies were given antibiotics. Lola was not. I’m concerned that she should be taking them. Also,should I have been given some pain medication for her?
Thanks you again for all the info!
Our babe “Maka” was spayed today She is 14 Mo. old English Pointer. Tonight she is subdued and resting quietly. The first thing she wanted to so was go to do was lay down on her big cushion and has stayed there since 6 pm. We picked her up at 4:30pm. I’m very glad we have no stairs. I have two blankets on her. Tomorrow I will call the Vet to find out why she does not have a prescription for antibiotics. Spay recommended for Maka because she was prone to having exceptionally long heat cycles; which set her up for serious infection on down the road. she had finished one cycle 3 months ago and the Vet said today she just about to have another. We would have loved to have more Maka’s but the risk of infection, over abundance of dogs, find homes and risk of mating w/a stray dog, etc.. was to much to handle. We are praying for a speedy recovery. We love our Maka greatly.
Thanks for the advice! It’s hard to calm your nerves, I am so nervous! Tomorrow is the big day! Jazmyn is going in to be spayed. Her blood work came back great. I just pray for no complications!
Beloved,
Sounds like the right thing was done. I hear you about the risk of too many Dogs. We were silly ourselves with Daisy. We tried so hard to keep her in the house but all it took was a quick escape when the door was opened quickly for one of us to go out and that was that (5 puppies)!
Rielle
We had to have both for all our Dogs. Unless things have changed a lot in the past year or so and they do not need them, which may be the case. I would certainly call the Vet to check although it would be odd if they simply forgot. Unless their was a slow release antibiotic injection? All ours had 5 days worth of tablets and pain relief for a few days as well. Give them a call.
Thanks for your reply,Maisey finished her antibiotics today,an she is really doing well and seems back to herself,her stitches so far haven’t been a problem,though I did see her try scratch her belly ,so I will keep a good watch on her as that was yesterday , she hasn’t done it since,good sign there healing maybe,
she also had conjunctivitis an had eye cream first that didn’t seem to work an then eye drops both from vet,
can I just give a tip to anyone with a dog with same eye problem,
Apple cider vinegar !! I read about it on the net an after paying eye for medication from vet I thought I would try a natural remedy ,I wiped her eyes both with separate tissues soaked with apple cider vinegar an rubbed a small amount on back of neck as adviced,I could see a difference within hours,I treated her eyes a few days an it is almost gone completely ,it really does work.
Thanks for your advice ,kind regards Ruth
Great news Ruth.
Apple cider vinegar seems to have so many uses. It helps Daisy with a UTI problem. I wonder what else it can be used for?
Hi Can you tell me if any of your girl’s had any red mucus type discharge after being spayed,
Maisey still appears to be fine,finished her antibiotics on thursday,however I have noticed a very slight red spotting on her cream throw not a lot,,sort of mucus,she isnt dripping any on floor,just sems when she has sat,I took her into see vet for a check, the vet picked up Maisey to put her on examining table,an she (the vet) had a bit of dark mucus on her fore arm from Maisey,she has gave me more antibiotics to see us through till wednesday when she has appointment to have stiches out,
an said best to be on safe side,an didnt seem to worried,
I was wondering is it normal,
Hi Ruth
That did happen to Daisy as she is a very delicate girl. It was, for her at least, nothing to worry about. Who knows what is going on inside after such major surgery. I am sure it is nothing to worry about but of course the vet should always be consulted if you have any worries. If he said all was well then I am sure it is fine.
Hi Maisey had her stitches out yesterday,
The vet told me she thought the red spotting from Maisey was the end of the infection coming out,
an if it carries on an turns dark,yellow,or starts to be a bit smelly to take her back,
but so far so good,even her eyes have cleared up properly
her stitches never bother’d her ,so I had no need for a big plastic collar,
hope she continues to to do as well as she is now.
Thanks for being there with your website is great for people who don’t know what to expect after this operation,
Hi Ruth
Glad all is now OK. I am glad you found the information helpfull.
All my best.
hi,
what a relief to find such great info on this site! i am a first time dog owner. my puppy’s name is sofie, she’s a sylkie terrier (mix between yorkie and australian terrier). she’s just over 6 months old now and i just brought her home this morning from her spay. i dropped her off yesterday in the morning, they kept her overnight, and i picked her up as soon as i could this morning… keep in mind i didn’t get much sleep last night. she is a very loving puppy and my family is very grateful to have her. reading this whole blog has made me feel so much better and confident about what to do with my puppy post-op. it’s nice to see there are people out there taking the time to care for all of earth’s creatures, especially human’s best friend!
keep up the great work!
ruff! ruff!
Hi Denisa,
I am glad you found the site useful. Sofie sounds great. Take care the both of you.
Hi there
I was will it take for the wondering how long the internal stiches will take to disolve I have alot of different days.
Thanks
Denalda I am not really sure but they are OK to move about ptoperly after about a week or so as long as you keep an eye out for any problems.
It’s good to read about all these other Dog parents!
Where I live, there’s a law that you can’t adopt a dog from a shelter until it gets fixed. So we picked out a little 5-year-old poodle mix and the shelter sent her straight to the local vet that they use. Meanwhile, I looked up the vet and saw horror stories from people that had adopted animals and picked them up from that vet. I was really worried, and we picked up our pup just yesterday evening. Her incision doesn’t look similar to anything I’ve seen on a spayed dog… It sticks out a lot, kinda looks like a hotdog bun. And she’s been clearing her nose pretty often and it’s runny… Anyhow, the vet gave me amoxicillin tabs for her, but she’s not interested in eating anything this morning. Hope I can find a way to het her to take it. Maybe that would make the incision look better and stop the nose run?
Thank you for a great post – your article and all the comments are very comforting to those of us who are first timers having their dogs spayed!
We adopted our 7 month old lab/border collie mix on Monday from the SPCA, picking her up straight after she had been spayed. She didn’t want to get into the car so I lifted her gently, but apart from that she has been fine. Of course, being a young dog in a new house she just wanted to pad around and investigate everything and everyone but she doesn’t seem to have had any problems at all.
She was so hungry on the first night that we had to keep giving her little meals – she wasn’t sick but if we had feed her all that food at once she might well have been. We weren’t sure whether she was house trained but there have been no accidents inside as yet (fingers crossed).
It’s Wednesday now and keeping her occupied without letting her round around the yard is proving a challenge. I keep taking her out on the lead so she can explore the yard without getting into too much trouble. We didn’t have any antibiotics or pain meds for her but she is going for a checkup tomorrow to meet her new vet so I will ask if that’s normal.
Thanks again for all the information
when does the dog start eating again?
Patrick,
Usually the next day or the day after that.
Thanks so much for your informative blog! It is interesting to read all the differences in each of your dogs. Our little 7 month old Bichon, Sophie, was spayed two days ago. Even on pain meds. I know she is somewhat in pain — you can see it in her eyes. She has done extremely well considering. She has had normal meals and has had water. Her issue right now is “pooping”. The strain of the movement makes her howl in pain. I read on another site that a spoonful of pumpkin puree or a little olive oil in the food helps. I did the olive oil this AM in her food, and so hopefully this will help a little. I also put a warm hot water bottle in her bed to keep it comfortable. She seems to like this! I look forward to seeing her back to her normal self again!
Hi Joanne
The olive oil sounds like a good idea. She will be back to her old self in no time I am sure. Give her a bikkie from me!!!!
Thanks so much! Sophie is showing more signs of recovery today and wants to play with the cats. Now I just have to keep her calm. Thanks again for your blog!!! Give a pat to each of your doglets for me!
I am very worried because my foster dog has already jumped onto a table and wriggles so much it’s just about impossible to keep her calm.
She seems healthy and fine and her incision is healing well but how do I know she doesn’t have internal issues going on? Should I take her back to the vet?
Janet,
It can be difficult to keep them calm. If she seems fine then she probably is. Just keep an eye on her and if anything seems wrong I am sure you will pick up on it very quickly. Just try to keep her on the lead as much as possible.
I know it is easier said than done though!
What a fantastic, informative blog. My puppy, Jasmine was spayed yesterday and I’m SO glad I had access to this resource. It’s really eased my anxiety as a first time puppy owner. Thanks to everyone for sharing their stories!
I am so glad I read this blog! I have an almost 3mos old pom that in the 3 weeks that I’ve had her for, I’ve come to adore her! I hate having to do this to her and was even contemplating never doing it to her unless I put myself through it too, but after reading this blog, I’ve decided I will go through with it as soon as her vet advises me it’s time.
( n for me 2 Seaguel09! ;p )
Thank you for such a great site, the process is of course not an easy one but you help a big deal by giving out sensible advice and useful information. My beloved 10 months old English Cocker Spaniel will be spayed next week, and your site has eased a lot the agony of not knowing what to expect.
Your blog was so much help, thank you! But I still have some concerns for my puppy. is it bad for her to sometimes jump on people?likee does it affect her stitches? And just laying on the ground sometimes cause an infection?
Karen
Try not to let her jump for a good week or more as it can tear the stitches. She should have antibiotics so she she not get an infection but you do want to keep the incision as clean as possible. If it get dirty then I would definitely clean it.
I hope this helps.
@Three Dog Blogger, the photo you show is the image of my Molly,who was spayed on Tuesday.My concern is,when we give her food she acts strangely pushing her bowl around,sniffing the floor and bowl and whimpering.She has never done this before,any suggestions please?. Great site.
Hi my three year old rescue westie is getting spayed tomorrow. Im worried sick she suffers from Atopy(Skin complaint common in westie’s) and so is on immunosuppressent tabelts to help stop her licking a scratching. We cut them out completely for the last four weeks because of the risk of her surgical wound not healing and now her skin is quite itchy, so im sure the elizabethin collor will be a must! Our vet said she will need stronger stitches and prophalactic antibiotics because of her long term immunosuppresent tablets!! Im so nervous poor little mite doesnt know whats ahead of her! Wish us luck, thanks be to god i have two weeks off work to mind her! This site is brill!!
Jenny (Ireland)
Hi Jennifer,
I hope it went well. Hopefully she will recover in no time. Just ensure you leave the collar on as long as possible. Ours really hate it but it really does save the day and keep them away from the stitches.
Let me know how she gets on and I do wish you both lots of luck.
Hi Mollys Mum.
The op can simply make them very uncomfortable for a long time. They simply do not understand why they feel so poorly but give it a little time and she will be back to normal. She may simply still be feeling sore when trying to stand, all Dogs seem to react very differently to the op. Faye was like as good as new in a few days and didn’t need the collar while Daisy was very ill for weeks and would not eat, they all react very differently. All my best.
hi all not long back from the vets, turns out we were very lucky, Bonnie had loads of pus in her womb when the vet opened her up he was really surprised if we had of waited another three or four weeks he said she would have had full blown pyometria( I think thats what he called it)!Thank god we reduced down her immunosuppressent when we did! She is doing ok but really out of it walking about looking real confused, doesnt seem keen to lay down she must be sore, the vet gave us antibiotics and pain killers but she needs to take food with them and she isnt keen just yet. Hasnt pee’d or drank any water yet hopefully she will later or ill be up all night worrying! Fingers crossed. Stitches need to stay in for 20 days because of her meds and the infection that was in the womb….poor thing!
Wow Jennifer, that sounds like a close call. Our Jet did not want to lie down either, even though she could hardly keep her eyes open. Just keep her nice and warm and don’t be surprised if there are a few “accidents”. It is very confusing for them as they don’t have much feeling around the rear because of the op. I hope she recovers quickly and she will probably start eating a little soon.
We gave ours rice and chicken as it was an incentive for them to eat a little. Try not to feed too much after the spay though as she may have a very upset stomach.
My little Malti-poo is being spayed on Thursday. Thank you for all the tips….I have heard that having a dog spayed or neutered can change their temperment. Did this happen to any of your dogs?
Thanks for your reply. Molly appears slightly better now although she is still pushing her bowl around and acting a little weird at times. The major problem we have now, is that she cannot understand why we will not play with her and let her run around as normal. Like us after an op, she gets bored just laying in her bed and wants to get up and play.
Hello, my almost 6 month old german shepherd (55 pounds) was spayed today. The vet did not give us any antibiotics or pain medication. She’s been groggy this evening and has thrown up a few times but that seems normal. The vet told us to not give her food or water tonight…only crushed ice chips…so she wouldn’t get sick. I’m just concerned that we were not given any meds. I’ve seen a couple other posts where they were not given meds either. I’m just surprised that there is so much difference in protocol among different vets. Any thoughts…?
Thanks so much for your input.
Hi Blenda
A few people have said similar things and I do find it rather odd. We have always had to give all our Dogs both pain meds and antibiotics. This is as well as the injections that they have after the op.
I would definitely call the vet. It may be different if it was more like keyhole surgery, but I would check. Could you then let me know so others can stay informed? Many thanks.
What a great site!! We just had our 6mo minpin spayed Thursday, she is doing ok but has had some diarhea. The vet told us to discontinue the pain meds and give her 2ml of Pepto Bismol & pepcid. I’ve seen several posts from others who said they received Antibiotics – - we didnt’ not sure why. Should I call the vet and ask for them?
Thanks sooo much for a very informative site!
Our 3 year old (ish) rescue bitch Mundi is to be spayed tomorrow. She’d spent over a year at the shelter and has ‘unknown’ past.I’m trying very hard to hide my anxiety from her! I’m a little concerned that here they will bandage (for 10 days) as opposed to ‘collar’ her afterwards. How can I then monitor the state of stitches? We’ve had her a month and already she means everything to me. So glad I’ve found this site.
Mundima, I would be surprised if she let’s the bandage stay on for more than a day or two. I would just buy a collar from the vets. We live in Spain and they stock them everywhere so I am sure you will have no problem. I hope it all goes well for you both.
Thank you for this information. I just had our 9mnth old lab spayed last wednesday. She refuses to eat though and is always thirsty. She has had abnormal urination all week as well. I have never had to take her out at night and she always sleeps with us. The first night, she woke up and went into the living room and peed everywhere. Totally saturated a huge space. I found her laying next to it when we noticed she wasnt in bed. So i took her outside and she peed and peed and peed and peed like she had no control over her bladder. I called the vet the next day and explained and they said she was probably in defiance of me taking her in to have the surgery. i was like “what? you gotta be kidding me”. So a week has gone by and she has peed once more in her cage, peed at the back door and peed in our bed. She hasnt done anything in 3 days so far but we do take her out every 4 hours to reliever herself. Something else we noticed is, she will not eat. She used to eat 3-4 dog bowls food everyday (she is 60lbs) and since the surgery, i have thrown away 2 bowls of food that she hasnt touched. But she drinks like no tomorrow. She sleeps alot, lays on the couch and stares out the window for hours. She doesnt want to play when she used to jump around so much we wouldhave to giver her a doggy downer to keep her calmed so that we could have peace. She wont eat her “treats”. All she wants to do is be affectionate with my fiance and just lays on her like she is depressed.
As a concerned “dad”, does anyone think maybe the vet hit her bladder or something? or caused other damage? she seems to not have any control over her bladder as she will go and go and go and go outside. And when she peed in her cage, it was like a river!
any suggestions? The surgery was $85.00 at our local vet and they are always a good place to go to and the doctors are wonderful. Have had 2 dogs spayed there before and no issues. The secretary even has a lab and she said her lab never did any of this.
Sorry for the long post but i couldnt find anything on the internet about my problem.
I just got my little 7 month old jack Russell back from the vet.
She got spayed on Monday… Now, she seems to be afraid of everything. The vet did not give me antibiotics but did give me Metacam , a pain killer, but when I gave it to her she got very sick…She did not get a collar…What is totally scaring me is that every so often she has these spasms …. Is this normal? How long will it take for her to go back to her self?
i have just had my 14 month old jack russel spayed after a lot of problems, she had cystic overies, enlarged overies and hadn’t ovulated when she was in season and was going through a phantom pregnancy. she was spayed on wednesday 17th and hasn’t been right since, she wont eat or drink, she wont settle she whimpers all the time and looks really miserable, she now has the runs and her tummy around the stitches is really swollen now, and to top it all off the poor girly had a reaction to the anti-biotic jab and now has a large lump on the back of her neck. has anyone else had any of these problems if so how did you overcome them?
dad to a lab
Your lab needs a blood sugar level and kidney function blood work. This behavior is not normal. Also question the anesthesia used. Sometimes the animal will react unfavorably and subconsciously remember the pain of surgery. This could be the case, especially if they seem to have a personally change. I know years ago an anesthesia was developed and used on humans. Humans subconsciously remember the pain and surgery were filled with unusual anxiety and sounds in OR would trigger it. I read later that it is being used in veterinary clinics. I can not remember the name of it. Someone will know.
more info on vet anesthesia at website: http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/clientEd/anesthesia.aspx
I just adopted an 8 week old puppy. They had her Spayed last friday the 19th of Feb. and I adopted her on the 21st. She is so playful and I watch her carefully with my big lab mix as they play. I’m not quite sure about what kinda surgery it was but she has a healing scab on her belly about a 2 inch line. It has swelled the past day or so and the lumps on either side are soft, I assume is fluid. She is eating drinking peeing and pooping good. So I guess everything is doing well…..any advice on what to do with the swelling?
Hi Katie,
Just keep an eye on her. Try not to let her be too playful until she has healed well. The lumps are perfectly normal and nothing at all to worry about. They wil go down in a few days.
I had my 7 month old pit mix spayed about a week ago. The Vet I took her to used sdtaples unstead of stitches. She has lost about 4 of them it seems she is getting them caught on things and they are coming out. I noticed that it has opened a little where they came out. No bleeding or fluid leaking from area but I was getting sort of worried. I am a nurse so I went ahead and used steri strips to close the area but she kept licking them off. I then took a tagaderm (clear plastic bandage used to cover IV sites)and put on the top so she can not chew off the steri strips or the other staples.. This so far is working.. She is extremely hyper it is almost impossible to keep her from jumping or playing. She seems to be her normal self. We had occassional vomiting and shaking. She gets the rest of her staples taken out next friday.. Thanks for the great Blog!
Dad to a lab
what happened to the lab. did she get OK?
Good article; it’s very insightful for first time dog owners. My 6 month old, black lab pup goes in for the operation on March 16th. A feel a little more at ease after reading about what I could expect. But $250? That is expensive; we’re only paying $120 USD at a clinic that’s been around since my mom was a kid.
We have a 10 month old female boxer who is in her first heat, it began 3 days ago. We had thought we wanted her to have 1 litter but she seems to be uncomfortable now. How soon after this heat can she be spayed? Do we have to wait until she is finished? She is a clean freak and can’t stand to be messy so it has not been bad in that regard. I am just feeling terrible that she is having to go through this at all. Can anyone tell me if she can be spayed soon or do we have to wait?
Kim,
I think now you will have to wait until she has had her season and then it can be done fairly quickly. But just ask the vet they will know what is best for her.
I just had my mini dachshund spayed today. She if very groggy and unable to get comfortable. I keep watching her and she goes from one area to another area and is very restless. Is this normal? The Vet did not give any pain medicine and how would I know if she is in a lot of pain.
J
That is totally normal. Some Dogs will sleep, and others will fight it and try to move about to get away from the sensation. I am surprised again that you had no pain meds given. It seems to be quite common judging from the comments here. If she whines or really tries to get at the stitches, or jumps in shock then you will know she is in pain. I would call the vets to ask about pain relief. Could you let us know what they say?
Maggie is a 7 month old coton de tulear and she was spayed 3 days ago. She went for bloodwork on Tuesday and the operation was done on Wednesday. The vet gave her a penicillin needle during the operation, but he did not give her any antibiotics or pain killers to take home.
I am somewhat worried about Maggie as her recovery process seems to be much slower than many of the dogs I’ve read about. She is in a lot of pain… the first night after her surgery she cried a lot and did not sleep at all. The crying has stopped, but she is still in a lot of discomfort. She has been in her bed since we brought her home and outside the occasional spasm (where she frantically runs/hobbles around in a spastic circle and then stops suddenly)she hasn’t moved an inch. Her behaviour is very worrisome… she looks so scared… she panics when I try to touch her… and any motion causes her lots of pain. I wish there was something I could do for her and it concerns me to read that other dogs were hiking / back to there old selves in this time frame!
She is not eating or drinking much either. She won’t eat from her bowls, even when I place them under her chin, so I have resorted to hand feeding her. She turns away from all her usual favourites and the most I have been able to get her to eat is some bread soaked in milk. I have brought her outside and she has gone to the bathroom, so at least that part is OK. I am sure her appetite will return if she could just get over the pain.
One thing I did notice tonight is that Maggie has some dried blood near her pee hole area (not where the stitches are, but where the entry of her vagina is). She has never had her period so it was shocking for me to see blood there, nor did I notice the blood when we brought her home, so my concern is that she is bleeding internally. Is this possible or could it be just reminants from her surgery?
I know spaying a dog has a lot of benefits, but 3 days after the surgery, I am really worried about her and somewhat regretting putting her through this terrible pain.
Coton Mommy
Coton
A few of our girls had blood in their pee and we were initially worried but it is actually quite common. The eating is the same. Daisy went for an age before getting back to normal and has an extremely hard time of it. Her stitches split, she would not eat for days and was in pain even with her meds. They will get back to eating in their own time. They will never starve themselves. Just carry on with nice treats for a while.
What I am concerned about is that like a few other people you were not given antibiotics or pain meds. I would call the vet to check on this. And if you or anyone else could report back on what the vet says about not supplying pain meds or antibiotics it would be a great help for everyone. For all 3 of our girls we were given a prescription for both, expensive but it seemed very necessary, especially for Daisy who was in a very bad condition for quite some time afterwards.
I called my vet this morning to ask why Maggie was not sent home with antibiotics or a pain killer prescription. The receptionist advised me that Maggie received a penicillin injection and a hydromophone HCI injection (pain killer) at the time of her surgery and that is normally sufficient to carry a dogs through the first two days, at which point most dogs don’t require anything further. I advised the receptionist that Maggie is still in a lot of pain and that I would like to pick something up for her today. I was first advised that I would have to make an appointment with the vet in order to get a prescription, but after I protested, they advised that they will have something ready for her later this morning. Thank you for advising me that this was an option… as a first time dog owner, I am very uncertain about what to expect and this website has helped me immensely. I am confident that with some pain relief medication, her recovery will go much better.
As for why the vet didn’t initially give me a prescription, it might be that the vet didn’t want to overprescribe (for both health / cost reasons), seeing as many dogs don’t need anything more than the initial injection. On the other hand, this may be a way for him to make a few extra dollars profit on the extra vet visit. I really hope it isn’t the later because it makes me sick to think that Maggie has had to suffer so much so that someone could make some profit. That would be grossly inhumane.
In any event, I am very grateful for this site & your (extremely timely) reply. It is comforting to know that there are people out there who have shared similar experiences and that genuinely care. Thank you so much!
Coton Mom
Coton Mommy
Thanks for the reply. It does seem very odd that the vet would not advise you to fill a prescription if the Dog is still in pain after a few days (which is very likely).
You would think that at the least all vets would advise that the initial injection may not be enough and that you may need further meds. At least that would put owner’s minds at ease a little knowing what to expect.
I hope Maggie is now feeling a little better as I am sure by now you have the pain meds. Glad that you have found the site helpful.
All the best.