Amelie's just been spayed!

JMB · Old Hand

Amelie's just been spayed!

tandemsandy · Master

Oh poor girl. I know nothing about the drinking as Red is male and had already been seen too. But give her a gentle hug from us and hope she is back to herself very very soon

Ambers Mo

I hope that Amelie is back to her usual self very soon.

I can't remember much about Amber's liquid intake after her speying.

I'm sure that she will be just fine.

Give her a gentle hug from me.

Joyce

tootsmazza · Enlightened One

Give the girl a hug and keep in touch with the vet. Fingers crossed she is back to normal soon, I know how stressful it is when they seem out of sorts and you don't know what's normal and what's not.
Marie

Isla · Enlightened One

She sounds like Millie after an op. She's always been very groggy and uninterested in food or anything. After a pain-killing injection the last time, she got very distressed because her back legs were quite wobbly and cried for hours. So much so that we phoned the vet (who were somewhat suprised by her reaction as she should have been out for the count).

Even so, if in doubt, I'd be contacting my vet.

-- Edited by Isla at 23:18, 2008-04-17

JMB · Old Hand

She's now starting drinking, thankfully!

We didn't have a good evening or night with her last night. She spent most of the time crying and rearranging her bed, trying to get comfortable, and thus none of us got much sleep.

This morning I had to persuade her to even go out for the toilet and she was dragging me back to the flat afterwards!

She's now sound asleep on the spare bed and doesn't seem to be in any discomfort, thankfully. The sleep will do her good. If shes still crying once she's awake then I call the vets to see if there's something that we can give her or get the vet to give her an injection to help with any discomfort.

I do feel so guilty though ...

Janice

Carole2 · Old Hand

Happy to hear she is begining to come round. Brook was already done when I got her from GAL, but I have put my cats through it. All I can say is males just have it so easy. It is a much larger and intrusive operation for the females. My female cat was feeling sorry for herself and pondering about for a good week or so. My male cat, got him home and you wouldn't even have known he had been through an operation that day, runing about as normal within about an hour!!

dannimac · Old Hand

Janice - not sure if I'm reading this wrong but has the vet not given her any painkillers away (I'm inferring this from your reference to the vet giving her an injection). Misty had some painkillers to take each day when she got done (think it was for 6 days). Can't recall her not drinking but she definitely didn't show major signs of discomfort.

Big kisses to her and hope she's better soon

D

Beauty William · Old Hand

Poor wee Amelie!

Have had several bitches spayed in the past and don't recall any problems with drinking or excessive discomfort - possibly I've just been lucky. As with any op. Vet always asks me to phone her regularly over next few days to let her know how dog is and to contact her immediately if I have any concerns. Am quite surprised you haven't been given painkillers.

Hopefully, by this time she is feeling a lot better and you too! as I know how stressful it is when one of your animals is not 100%

Denise

JMB · Old Hand

I had asked the vet about pain relief for her and she said that she doesn't normally give any away with you when you leave. She thought that if she didn't feel any pain then she would be trying to run around as normal but if she was aware of something not quite right then she would be more subdued.

I don't want her running around as normal in case she injures herself, but I don't want her to suffer either.

She's just slept all day apart from when I have to bribe her with food to get her off the bed to go to the toilet. She just literally goes straight out, she does what she has to, and then she's dragging me back in again.

We're back at the vets in the morning so we'll see what's said then.

Janice.

-- Edited by JMB at 16:39, 2008-04-18

tootsmazza · Enlightened One

Isla wrote:
She sounds like Millie after an op. She's always been very groggy and uninterested in food or anything. After a pain-killing injection the last time, she got very distressed because her back legs were quite wobbly and cried for hours. So much so that we phoned the vet (who were somewhat suprised by her reaction as she should have been out for the count).

Even so, if in doubt, I'd be contacting my vet.

-- Edited by Isla at 23:18, 2008-04-17

That's interesting. The first time Mason went lame the vet gave him a pain-killing injection which left him crying on the sofa as it began to wear off. I phoned their out of hours helpline who said the drug
Vetrelgesic had a side-effect with some sensitive dogs causing them to vocalise and was related to opium.
Since then he gets norocarp, which I think is an anti-inflammatory. My vet has no problem giving me supplies to keep at home. It avoids unnecessary consultation fees and weekend stresses. Mason has his own little shelf with anti-inflammatories, doggie dose imodium and xantac.
Good to hear Amelie is drinking but I'd push the vet for some painkillers if she is still in obvious discomfort.
Marie

dannimac · Old Hand

I can't believe the vet wouldn't give painkillers. I know it's a routine op but it's still major - I'd like to see the vet's reaction if she herself had her tubes tied and was then given nothing!

I'm with Marie - I would push for it. While Misty had painkillers and wasn't in discomfort, she still was a bit less than herself. Even if at the least the vet would give a low level of painkiller it might take the edge off for Amelie and mean she'd be more keen to eat, drink and have a walk.

Big hugs to Amelie

D

tripleD · Old Hand

When we got Daisy and then Debs speyed the difference between the 2 was immense.At our then vet Daisy was done in the traditional way with quite a large scar and took a week or more to get fully back to eating, drinking and wanting to go out etc, when we got Deb we registered with a vet recommended to us by a good friend from the R.G.T (dont know if i,m allowed to say but the vet is Boyd and Houston in Clydebank). His Father pioneered a technique where the incision is made inside the dogs back leg on her underside therefore decreasing the need to go deep inside them. They are one of only a few vets who use this technique and I would recommend anyone having a dog speyed to make enquiries about this. Daisy had pain relief and clearly needed it but after an initial 1st sleepy night from Deb no relief was needed as the vet had assured me on leaving his surgery. Because the cut was smaller it healed quicker and stitches came out 2 days before their due day. I dont think it was a case of 2 dogs reacting differently i,m sure it was the different methods.

ALISON X

Beauty William · Old Hand

Hi JMB
I can see your Vet's reasoning to some extent - when my Lab was spayed within hours of the anaesthetic wearing off no-one would have believed that she had just had any kind of operation at all, but she is a very strong dog and quite a different proposition from a Greyhound! Nevertheless she was given a certain amount of pain relief.

When my Staffie X was in quite a bit of pain from another type of op., and Vet didn't want her to move around too much, she gave her pain relief, but at a lower doseage than would take away pain completely, so that there was a wee "reminder" there to stop her damaging herself.

Amelie sounds as if she's in quite a bit of pain, so maybe your Vet could adjust the doseage such that she gets some pain relief, but still acts like a bit of an invalid so that she has time to heal.

Hope it goes well today!
Denise

JMB · Old Hand

She had a better night last night, thankfully!

She's not crying any more, but she doesn't seem to have any life about her ... she just lies there, she's not interested in anything. All she really wants is some cuddles, which she's getting by the bucket load!

We'll see what the vet says this morning.

Thanks for all your kind thoughts,

Janice.

-- Edited by JMB at 09:16, 2008-04-19

Michelle · Master

Good luck at the vet - it's horrible when they're not themselves. Poor little Amelie - she will get over it though.

JMB · Old Hand

We're just back from the vets and she's given us some painkillers for her for today and tomorrow, and if we need any for Monday we've just to call but she thinks that by then she should be fine.

I'm hoping that once they kick in she should be a bit brighter.

Janice.

feldandjack · Guru

I worry about getting Cara spayed, I would hate anything to go wrong, I know it shouldn't, but I still worry. Cara has a very easy 'in season' and it wasn't a prob before as there were no dogs nearby. I should be getting Bryn and Cara done in the next couple of months and I'm not looking forward to it. I hate getting any kind of surgery myself and feel 'if it aint broke, don't fix it' hmm

I'm glad Amelie has got some painkillers, no point in suffering if she don't have to. blankstare

JMB · Old Hand

We've also just bought her a new bed, which she's now trying out for size in the living room!

dannimac · Old Hand

Aw bless - hopefully the painkillers will give her some relief and she'll be back up and around soon. Love the bed shot - why is it that they always lie in the most awkward way and make it look so comfortable!

D

JoLiz · Old Hand

Sorry I hadn't read this lately, but by some coincidence Maddie was spayed on Wednesday as well down at Bothwell rescue centre. She seemed very quiet as well on Wednesday night and by Thursday she still hadn't eaten or more importantly drank anything. One quick trip to the shops later for a turkey baster and we were squishing water down Maddies throat which within a couple of minutes did the trick. She immediately looked brighter and also started to eat. We gave her pasta and fish and chicken for a couple of days and now is doing very well. We are keeping her downstairs for a few more days as yesterday she got up them okay but I had to carry her downstairs so she must still be finding it a wee bit sore. All the best with yours. Joe.

tootsmazza · Enlightened One

Love the bed picture, she fits just perfect. I'm glad she's feeling better and hope Maddie recovers well as well.
Its always a tough decision to put our pets through these procedure - I sympathise with you Anne - but at the end of the day it does make their lives easier.
I've heard older bitches are at risk of ovarian cancer and other issues if they are not spayed, but I think that's if they've never had a litter.
Does anyone know if it is an issue only if they've never had pups or not?
Marie

JMB · Old Hand

JoLiz wrote:

One quick trip to the shops later for a turkey baster and we were squishing water down Maddies throat which within a couple of minutes did the trick.

I never thought of doing that! Much have looked quite a sight though!

Well Amelie is feeling much better, she's now crying because we won't let her up on the bed! We had let her up on the spare bed for a few days as she was so poorly, and we had also let her sleep (in her new bed) in our room last night, which we never do either.

Like Maddie, she's still a bit tender going up and down the stairs.

Glad to hear that Maddie's feeling better.

Ambers Mo

I am so glad that both girls are getting better.

Look forward to seeing them soon.

Joyce

feldandjack · Guru

Did someone on here have keyhole surgery on their dog to get this done, or was I dreaming. I think I'll ask the vet about it, it must be less intrusive hmm

I wonder what the difference in cost would be. weirdface

JMB · Old Hand

tripleD wrote:

When we got Daisy and then Debs speyed the difference between the 2 was immense.At our then vet Daisy was done in the traditional way with quite a large scar and took a week or more to get fully back to eating, drinking and wanting to go out etc, when we got Deb we registered with a vet recommended to us by a good friend from the R.G.T (dont know if i,m allowed to say but the vet is Boyd and Houston in Clydebank). His Father pioneered a technique where the incision is made inside the dogs back leg on her underside therefore decreasing the need to go deep inside them. They are one of only a few vets who use this technique and I would recommend anyone having a dog speyed to make enquiries about this. Daisy had pain relief and clearly needed it but after an initial 1st sleepy night from Deb no relief was needed as the vet had assured me on leaving his surgery. Because the cut was smaller it healed quicker and stitches came out 2 days before their due day. I dont think it was a case of 2 dogs reacting differently i,m sure it was the different methods.

ALISON X

I think this is the post that you were referring to. If it cuts down on their potential suffering and increases recovery time then it's certainly worth looking in to.

Janice.

-- Edited by JMB at 16:06, 2008-04-21

Indiana · Guru

Glad to hear Amelie is feeling better. Her bed looks very comfy and must be giving her the cheering up she needs right now

tripleD · Old Hand

feldandjack wrote:
Did someone on here have keyhole surgery on their dog to get this done, or was I dreaming. I think I'll ask the vet about it, it must be less intrusive I wonder what the difference in cost would be.

HI AGAIN IT WAS MYSELF WHOSE DOG HAD KEYHOLE OP. OUR VET DOESN,T CHARGE ANY MORE FOR THIS OP AS IT IS THE ONLY PROCEDURE HE USES. WHEN HE EXPLAINED TO ME HOW HE CARRIED THE PROCEDURE OUT IT CERTAINLY MADE SENSE HOW IT WOULD BE SO MUCH EASIER ON THE DOG AND A MUCH FASTER RECOVERY AS WAS PROVED WITH DEB COMPARED TO DAISY.

ALISON X

Lindasdogs · GAL Convenor * Homing Co-ordinator * Forum Moderator

When I got my first gal spayed - it was horrible back then. The poor thing was in so much pain - granted she was older than most - rescue dog at age 4 - I took her back in the next day as she was panting so bad and also wouldn't eat/drink. They reluntantly gave me a few sedatives for her. It took a week for her to be back like she was!

Since working at the SSPCA - they also don't like to give any thing incase once the dog wakes up and becomes excitable - it could cause injuries. However, they do give out antibiotics to help prevent bleeding, upset tummies, etc. And for females they usually do give out pain killers as it is more intrusive surgery than males. When I had my 3 boys done - they were up and wild by the next morning! So much for feeling sorry for themselves.

At any rate - it isn't easy watching your baby suffer and should I get another female - which is possible - I would try to make sure I have something for the pain for them - even if it is just for a day or two.

I really hope Amelie is feeling much better!! Give her a hug from me!
linda and her gang

JMB · Old Hand

Amelie does seem to be slightly brighter tonight. Up until now she has just gone through the motions of eating, going out for a very short walk for the toilet and then sleeping for the rest of the time, however tonight she has been looking for some cuddles from us, which is lovely to see.

Her bed in the living room sits near the end of our coffee table, and every so often tonight you would see a head popping up above the end of the table to see where we were, and to see what we were doing.

She's not had any painkillers today and she's to go back to the vets on Sat to have her stitches removed, so we're hoping that by that time she'll be back to her mischievous self!

Amelie says thanks for all the kind thoughts and hugs!

Janice