Any post spaying tips?

[Shari Becker]

Lexi was spayed on Monday, and while surgery went well, she's been emotionally distressed since we brought her home. The vet's office told us that she didn't come out of anesthesia super well, and that she cried and cried all day - that someone had to sit with her constantly. They told us it could take 48 hours to pass, which should be mid-way through today. The vet also said doodles are particularly sensitive and aware animals, and that her complaining is more likely emotional than physical.

Still in a day and a half, she has escaped from two different cones, she is scratching her sides until they are raw and pink, she has cried off and on all night for two nights, despite even putting her in bed with us. AND, she has these bursts of energy between pain killers when she races around the house jumping on and off furniture and banging her head into things trying to escape from the cone. She has even figured out how to use one cone to scratch her stitches. When we take her outside to go to the bathroom, she tries to race around the yard and only wants to dig frantically in the snow. I've been letting her dig because it seems like a good way to expend some of this nervous energy. We are afraid to leave her alone for a minute because she gets so frenetic. I'm afraid she's going to pull her stitches out...

The vet gave us sedatives, but said we should try not to use them until after the pain meds end after five days. She said Lexi will definitely need them to sleep and chill out at home. 

Does anyone have any suggestions for how to calm this miserable little pup? Any ideas how to stop her from scratching her belly raw?

[Shari Becker]

Hi Deb,

Yes, Lexi has to get her sutures removed in about 10-14 days. we are doing 14 since 10 falls during our Feb. school vacation.

I feel like regardless of how Lexi was on Monday post surgery I would have liked to sleep closer to her, so that's smart I think. Not everyone would agree. I met three moms at school today who all said their puppies were almost perfect within 24 hours of their procedures...

[Deb's Yarrow and Schatzi]

Wow.  I wonder if those three moms had female pups.  I know the surgery is much less invasive for males.  I sure wish I could have gotten it over with yesterday instead of having to wait another week.

[Shari Becker]

I don't know... One has a girl dog for sure. My husband is out now in the middle of a snow storm driving Lexi back to the vet today. She started bleeding from her sutures - all red and inflamed. She's been crying and clearly really uncomfortable. I think he is going to discuss sedating her. I am so sad. Worried about them driving in the snow. Worried about her condition. We were debating waiting to spay her after her first heat, and now I'm just second guessing my decisions... (I know this could have happened to her post surgery at any time, it's not rational.) To be clear, though, Lexi is a puppy who is VERY sensitive. She is extremely sweet and loving, but she is not carefree. I think this began as a psychological response to the procedure.

[Deb's Yarrow and Schatzi]

Oh, I am so sorry to hear that.  Poor Lexi girl.  And poor you and your husband.  I've been so unusually conflicted about the timing of Yarrow's spay.  Your experience is literally bringing a tear to my eye.  Yarrow is also VERY sensitive... a really old soul people say when she makes eye contact with them.  I can relate.  I'm sending you and Lexi lots of love and emotional support.  She WILL be okay, it's just going to take a bit longer.  My last dear female canine companion had complications like this.  It just took extra time and T.L.C.

[Shari Becker]

Thank you! The vet put her on antibiotics today and also sedatives. She has to be sedated all day for the next few days so that she can heal, which she wasn't allowing herself to do. It's a little pitiful. She just lays there staring into nothing dozing off and on, but at least she's safe, right?

[Deb's Yarrow and Schatzi]

Right. :) Now she can heal.

[Deb's Yarrow and Schatzi]

Thinking of Lexi today.  I'm sure she's doing better with the extra rest.

[Sally S Miles]

A standard cone does inhibit the urge to leap around and run, it restricts their line of sight and thus makes them take a look.  I prefer the softer padded ones over the cold plastic from the vet.  I did have a dog who was behaving just as you describe, she was either out like a light, or off like a rocket and I did have keep the cone on, restricted her territory, and so on.  A few days of discomfort outweigh doing damage.  

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

I would also suggest the inflatable collar.  The huge plastic collar the Vets issue is like adding insult to injury.  The smaller inflatable is so much more comfortable.  Enzo actually used hers as a pillow the first night she was home and didn't seem to mind near as much.

Wishing both of you a restful night!

[Shari Becker]

Well, I had no luck getting an inflatable collar at my local pet store. The owner said she stopped carrying them because so many people returned them having issues with them. Tomorrow is probably a snow day, but I will try another store.

I do think we've figured out why lexi has been so distraught though, and while it has been a tough day (with lots of jumping and running around), I am hoping tomorrow is better. Probably during her post-anesthesia haze, Lexi somehow chaffed her skin where she was shaved for surgery. We think she's been scratching it with her paw, but we couldn't see it because she was so frantic and kept laying flat on the ground refusing to move. She has cut up the skin on her belly (that she could reach with her paws) It's really red, raw and painful. I was able to get her some pet first-aid type sprays and balms, which we applied. Then we put a t-shirt on her so she can't scratch the spots the same way.She's already calmer. Also, I bought her some Bach pet rescue remedy, which is a homeopathy type calming treatment. I have no idea if that stuff actually works, but it's worth a shot.  Our fingers are crossed that the lotion applications will settle Lexi down and she's able to stay safe tomorrow. I think it hurt her to be lying down having her bare, raw skin touching surfaces. 

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

This is the one we had for Enzo....not exactly inflatable per say...it's called the Comfy Collar
http://www.amazon.com/Comfy-Cone-E-Collar-Large-Black/dp/B000XY7CKE...

[Shari Becker]

Thanks Ro! I actually have that one! She is doing much better in it tonight now that we have all the balm on her belly. I really, truly think the combo of the bad reaction to anesthesia, and her cutting herself up is what made her so frantic yesterday. She's still kind of crazy when we go near the cuts, but once the lotion was one, she totally chilled out. She's just resting on her bed in the LR with my husband watching the olympics now! :-)