Neutering advice

[Katie & Mr. Bodhi]

Well it's time for my little man (no longer little!) to get neutered! We are taking him in tomorrow morning and I am so nervous! I was wondering if anyone could share their experiences with me on this subject so I can get a better idea of what I am getting into. How did it effect your doodles behavior? How were they during recovery? What kinds of things did you do to entertain them? ......etc :o)

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

Mr. Bodhi will do just fine, no worries. Monty got neutered when he turned 5 months, I believe. We took him to the vet in the morning, they did the procedure and kept him overnight. He got micro-chipped at that time as well. I could not wait to pick him up the next morning. It was Saturday and when the assistant brought him to us, she apologized that his tail is a bit dirty from the runny poop he had from the anesthesia. I was a bit upset, but Monty seemed happy so we went home. We did not use the cone of shame, he did pretty good with not licking the area. The hardest part was to keep him from jumping around for the next few days. How exactly are you supposed to do that with a puppy??? The healing part was not that bad, except it would not be Monty, if everything went just fine. Well, the stitches that were supposed to dissolve did not dissolve. I've noticed him licking the area several days after the surgery, and sure enough, the area around stitches was red. So in to the vet we went and she just had to pull the pesky stitches out. After that, everything was fine. To be honest, I have not noticed any behavioral changes. But then, I don't know how Monty would behave if he was not neutered. No worries, it will be just fine, stay calm when you drop your guy at the vet's office. :-)

[Bonnie and Kona]

My guys went through it with flying colors. Neither of my doodles bothered the incision site so no cone was needed. I did cover it with a t-shirt or men's briefs (can't remember which).

Kona was mellow and sweet before surgery but was getting a little "humpy". He's not humpy anymore but he is 5 yo. 

Owen seemed to be a wild and crazy guy before and after. We discourage humping because he wants to be dominant about everything.

[Rachel and Ollie]

Ollie did just fine :) The worst part for him was the cone. He hated it, it depressed him. It would run into things and freak him out. His first few hours home, he was a bit sedated (just kept sleeping). After that he was fine though. I bought a blow up cone for when I was home with him. When I had to leave for work or when we went to bed I'd put the big one on him so that while I was gone or asleep he wouldn't mess with the site. This seem to work well. I also used little boy underwear. He could still reach the site with the blow up cone, but it helped.

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

Ollie looks soooooo cute in this picture..... love it :)

[Rachel and Ollie]

I couldn't help myself. poor Ollie (teeheehee)

[Katie & Mr. Bodhi]

This is such a cute picture!!!

[Rachel and Ollie]

Thanks Katie! He was so pitiful about his attire I had to get it on camera! 

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

I just love this picture. Hate the cone, but there is something about that cute little tooshie in those briefs that always makes me want to kiss it!

[Cyndi, The Boys & Callie]

Both of mine did great.  Stayed over night and slept a lot the next day.  We put the men's brief's on both and they paid no attention to the surgery site.  We had a soft Kong collar we put on them when we took them outside to potty since they were off leash in the back yard.  That seemed to keep them from running and was the only time they wore it.  All in all, a non-event.  Mr. Bodhi will sail through with flying colors.  

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

Both my doodles did fantastic.  Sasha did not even look at her incision and was back to normal the very next day.  And my Ollie he was just fine too.  He licked his incision maybe once or twice and then that was it.  I did not have to put the cone on either dog.  The only thing that was difficult was to keep them calm for the two weeks of no running, rough playing etc. etc.  But otherwise both doodles did fine.  Usually the first night when you bring them home from the vet they are very groggy and just sleep.  Good luck :) and Mr. Bodhi will do just fine!!

[Katie & Mr. Bodhi]

UPDATE: Mr. Bodhi is home. He is one sleepy and drugged puppy but he is pretty mad at mommy for putting the blow up collar on. He was soooo excited to see us at the vet that I thought he was going to bust a stitch before we left! I can tell this is going to be a challenge already cause he really wants to lick himself. I am just looking forward to tomorrow to see how well he will do. Thanks for all the advice!! I will post a pic soon!

[Rachel and Ollie]

I'm so glad he is doing well! He sounds just like Ollie :) I think Ollie was more mad about the collar then he was about the procedure. silly doods.