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I've scheduled to have both my puppies (although they're a year old and not really puppies anymore I guess) spayed next Tuesday. I figured it was better to have them both done on the same day so I wouldn't have one recovering while the other one was feeling fine and wanted to play, this way they both recover at the same time.
Any suggestions on what to do? Should I seperate them at night, put them in different rooms so they don't mess with each other's stitches? Any advice?
I feel nervous for them. I mean, I know this is the right thing to do, and I never did want to breed them, but I still feel bad having to put them through it. Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
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If you think they would mess with each other's stitches, put them in separate rooms (or crate them) when you can't be with them.
It is the right thing to do. It's a very standard procedure, and usually females are fine within two or three days, last summer working at a low cost spay-neuter clinic, we did over 20 spays (dog and cat) a day, with about the same number of neuters. The surgery was the hardest on sight hounds (who have issues with anaesthesia) and very small dogs (as in "miniature" yorkies or Chihuahua's) Your Aussie's being young healthy females should be fine.
Posts: 5362 | Registered: Apr 2004
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The collars didn't work on our dogs, so we used t-shirts instead. They worked fine and didn't irritate the wound at all.
Posts: 1215 | Registered: Apr 2005
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What Breyerchic said, separating them at night for at least one night wouldn't be a bad thing. The most important thing is not limiting their activity but keeping an eye out to make sure they don't chew their stitches because that can cause more damage than about anything else. Depending on the vet they may send them home with an elizabethan collar for a couple days.
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A lot of dogs really don't seem to even notice the incision and will barely mess with it outside of occasional licking. That said, I don't know your dogs, and it might not be a bad idea to keep them seperated for a couple of days until they feel better. You can try the e-collars, too, if they really won't leave the stitches alone.
Posts: 1225 | Registered: Feb 2002
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We only sent Elizabethan collars (the cone one) home on dogs that were trying to lick or chew some part of their body before their owner picked them up. This vet has specialized in reproductive surgeries for the past ten years, and now is working with a non profit.
If you think it would help and your vet doesn't give you E-collars, you can get them at Petsmart or other supply places (I've heard people that thought they were only available from a vet).
Posts: 5362 | Registered: Apr 2004
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With two puppies you just want to cut down play time because if they are the type that doesn't want to just sit around after surgery they could end up breaking each others stitches. I would crate them a little more often than you usually do just to keep the activity level down because the less they move, the better it will heal.
Good for you for spaying your dogs. It is honestly much better for their health, especially since you don't plan on breeding them. You reduce the risk of all kinds of problems, such as mammary and uterine cancer, just by spaying them.
Posts: 306 | Registered: Jun 2003
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Thanks for asking. It went well. The vet told me that there was a shot he could give them that would provide extended pain relief, but it was extra. Of course I told him to give it to them.
They came home moving a bit stiffly and sore, and very, very clingy. Needed lots of pats and love to reassure them that we wouldn't be leaving them someplace scary again.
I've looked at the stitches today and they look good, they haven't been messing with them or trying to pull them out. They are still a bit sleepy, I'm trying to spend a lot of time with them, and I haven't put them outside today at all except to go out when nature calls and come right back in. They seem to not understand that, they usually play outside most of the day and come in at night, but they aren't arguing with me too much.
In fact, both are sleeping at my feet right now.
Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
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