Ollie's Big Day Tuesday

[Rachel and Ollie]

So Ollie is getting "fixed" on Tuesday...poor dood. I did searches on here and bought him some little boy underwear...size 4 lol. I am looking forward to the photo op.

I also bought a seat belt for him...I am guessing his cone will not fit in the travel crate (by the way I brought the crate in and it is sitting by the door, he hates it...he whimpered with his tail between his legs backing up and going forward because he didn't want to pass by it to ring his bell to go potty lol)

Anyways, any advice on diet before surgery and after? What about work? Did you cone your dogs in the crate when you had to leave? Do dogs who have reactions to shots get reactions to anesthesia? 

[Doris, Knox & Flash]

Rachel, Ollie may not even have to wear a cone -- neither Tahoe or Knox did! They were both past the age where I crated them, so crating wasn't an issue for us. Hopefully, someone here will give you advice on that!

The only change I made to their diet was to restrict food and water before the big event as instructed by my vet. I limited their activity for a couple of days, but that's all.

Good luck to both of you!!!

[Rachel and Ollie]

I think I'll call on Monday to see if I need to limit the food and water...they did not mention it, but it makes sense to me! :) 

[Lynn D.]

In my experience, they are usually "NPO" or nothing by mouth from midnight the night before surgery.

[Cyndi, The Boys & Callie]

Tank was "fixed" a few weeks ago.  Our instructions were nothing but water after 8:00PM the night before the surgery.  He spent the night of the surgery day at the vet's and we picked him up early the next AM.  They said he ate a little breakfast (I packed him a little of his regular food) and that night (second night after the surgery) , he ate his regular diet.  We used the underwear and, like Doris, didn't need the cone.  I had one of the Kong inflatable ones ready but as long as the underwear was on, he didn't pay any attention to the surgery site. We don't crate him but nights weren't a problem. No issues with the anesthesia.   The underwear worked great.  Just cut a hole in the back for his tail.  We had some trouble finding the right size so I got as close as possible and then we pulled up the excess material in the waist and used a rubber band to tie it up for a better (but not tight) fit.  He seemed to find it comfortable and paid them no attention.   Good luck. 

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

No food or drink 12 hours before surgery was our instructions but Daisy is a girl. Most of late have purchased boys underwear, put them on backwards so tail goes through the "secret" passage way - LOL

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

Both my doodles went thru surgery without any problems what so ever.  The night before I could not let her eat or drink after 9 pm.  I brought her in for surgery at 8 am. and she was home by 8pm.  When we go home I gave her the pain meds and a little to eat.  She slept the whole night and the next day you would not even know she had surgery.  There was no running or rough play for 2 wks and I did not even have to put the cone on her.  I think maybe once she looked at the surgery site and that was it.  I did not have Oliver at that time so I did not have to worry about them wanting to play.  Sasha had surgery on a Thursday, I took off from work Friday and Monday so I had 4 days home with her.  When I went back to work on Tuesday I did everything like I normally do with her in the crate etc. with no problems.  I always go home on lunch anyway and she did just fine.  When I got Oliver he was neutered at 6 months and went thru surgery and recovery with no problems either.  He was done 2 days before Christmast a year ago, I was off on vacation for Christmas so I was home with him for a week.  He liked the surgery site the first night when I got him home and he hated the cone so I bought the Kong blow up tube to put around his neck and it worked like a charm.  By the 2nd day he was fine and did not bother with the surgery site.  The only problem I had was keeping the two doodles from running around and playing.  So I would let the outside one at a time and when in the house I would keep a real close eye on everyone.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Good luck Ollie!  There's some good advice here, and I have nothing to add.  I didn't change their diet (other than the pre-surgery restrictions), but Murph was not at all hungry that first day home.  After that he was fine.  He did need to wear the cone, but we got the smaller, soft cone and he had no problem going into the crate with that one.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Good luck. I can't think of any medical reason why dogs who have a reaction to shots would be more likely to have reactions to anesthesia.

[Bonnie and Kona]

Owen didn't touch his incision for neutering but he had to wear a cone for a hot spot and yes, he had to wear it in his crate. 

[Cyndi, The Boys & Callie]

One other thought.  You can put the underwear on "backwards" so the tail goes through the underwear opening.  But, our vet suggested putting the underwear on the "regular" way (so the opening was on the same side as his tummy) and cutting a hole in the back for the tail.  That worked better for us.  You can make the opening for his tail as large as you need and it was easier to get them on/off (for going outside to potty) .  Just another approach.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Chloe was not be trusted out of a crate, when she was spayed she HAD to have the cone becuase she licked it. When I was going to work I went to put in in the crate with the cone on and she was scared to death so I called into work to stay home with her. When it was Myla's turn I had it done on a Friday and took the next Monday off too so she didn't have to be in a crate with a cone. Good luck Ollie!!!!

[Rachel and Ollie]

Thanks for all the tips everyone! I have moved it to Thursday so that I can be home with him for a few days after it. I also asked about food and water and will stop feeding him by 8pm the night before and pick up the water in the morning. DK is so helpful!