What to expect after neuter?

MyCharlie · 01-19-2008, 07:51 PM

Charlie is scheduled to get neutered in less than a month. I'm sure the vet will tell me what to expect that night, but being a first time dog owner, I'd like to hear your stories on what that night might hold (will he just be sleepy?) and any problems with healing, like licking the stitches or anything like that.

The vet's office said if he's too tired to come home that day, they'll keep him overnight. Is that normal? I thought they pretty much always came home the same day.

Also, they don't routinely give pain meds after surgery. This concerned me, but my coworker has had all of her dogs altered there and has never had any problems. Am I just being over concerned?

Thanks!

RonE · 01-19-2008, 08:40 PM

I would ask to bring some Rimadyl home with you. It's not expensive and it's better to have it and not need it than vice-versa.

I've never had a dog neutered. My male came pre-snipped. But I had both my girls spayed, and that's a bigger surgery. Both stayed over night and were pretty lively when I brought them home the next day. The big challenge was keeping them quiet.

Neither needed the e-collar and the stitches were the dissolving kind. We had no issues at all.

Durbkat · 01-19-2008, 09:10 PM

When I had Snoopy neutered on the 3rd I dropped him off at 9am and he was ready to go at 1pm. When he was brought out he was frisky and just scared or confused as to where he was. But after he was handed to me he calmed down. They didn't give him pain meds but I thought that they should have as he moaned all day everytime he moved. He mainly just slept all day or just layed down and did nothing. He only got up when he had to get a drink or to eat. He only went to the bathroom twice a day on the day he was neutered and the day or two after, he really tried to hold it as long as he could so he wouldn't have to get up. He never really tried to lick, he tried a few times but he stopped when I called his name.

Cheetah · 01-19-2008, 09:59 PM

When I brought Shippo home, he was basically groggy and depressed that night. The next morning, he was a bit slow, but feeling better. I figured out that he was only depressed because of the e-collar(cone) restricting his movement. When I took it off and replaced it with a much better version that allowed him to walk, eat, and drink without my assistance, he perked up and recovered very quickly. They didn't send him home with pain meds, because they said it would keep him from wanting to move around a whole lot, which was preferable after a surgery.

He stunk like surgery though, and I couldn't bathe him for 2 weeks! But he was happy. And he become remarkably more cuddly after his neuter lol...

Durbkat · 01-19-2008, 10:01 PM

Oh yea, I noticed that with Snoopy to he stunk but he is more cuddly.

Cheetah · 01-19-2008, 10:02 PM

Funny how they want to cuddle with you even more when they reek... lol.

Durbkat · 01-19-2008, 10:05 PM

Yep, like the time when Snoopy stepped in cat pee outside, he absoultly reeked but he was trying so hard to get into my lap.

MyCharlie · 01-19-2008, 10:40 PM

Thanks so much! I appreciate the info. Is the e-collar a pretty standard thing to send home with them? How long do they suggest you use it for? (I'll call the vet on Monday also to see if they recommend it).

Cheetah, where did you get the other collar you used instead of the e-collar?

Durbkat · 01-19-2008, 10:56 PM

Every dog is different. That is why they keep the dog a couple of hours after the surgery to see if they are a licker. If they notice that the dog is licking more than normal then they will give the dog a cone. I believe that you have to keep the cone on for a week.

Willowy · 01-20-2008, 01:02 AM

On the other hand, Moose licked his incision for 2 weeks straight (the vet said not to worry about it unless it bled), with no ill effects. The sound of him licking made me nuts, but the incision healed up just fine. He did not have stitches, the vet left the incision open so it could drain. I doubt I could have kept an e-collar on him even if I wanted to. So licking isn't too bad, apparently.

Rough_Collies2008 · 01-20-2008, 01:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willowy

On the other hand, Moose licked his incision for 2 weeks straight (the vet said not to worry about it unless it bled), with no ill effects. The sound of him licking made me nuts, but the incision healed up just fine. He did not have stitches, the vet left the incision open so it could drain. I doubt I could have kept an e-collar on him even if I wanted to. So licking isn't too bad, apparently.

Same here, Riley kept trying to lick and it drove me nuts too. Mostly because I knew he shouldn't be, and everytime I corrected him he went right back to licking(and I am sure he licked in the night when I wasn't watching him). The cone they gave me did not fit him as he could still reach the area because of his long nose.

Honestly, other then the licking, you wouldn't even tell my guy was neutered. I dropped him off at 8:00 the morning and picked him up after 6(didn't leave until 7). He came out of the vets office prancing and wagging his tail like nothing happened. He came home and ate just fine(I didn't feed him as much as he normally gets), slept a little, but was fine.

When I let him out the first night to go potty he did take off and start running around the property. I was surprised he did that so I had him on a leash everytime he went out after that.

Other then trying to lick, the healing process went smoothly. He had Rimadyl for the first few days, and that was it.

Honestly, it seems like a very simple surgery compared to females. He only had a 1-2 inch incision on him, and the vet used some kind of absorbable stitches so no need to worry about him pulling anything out.

Good luck to your dog, you will be very happy once it is over!

Cheetah · 01-21-2008, 07:20 AM

I got the alternative to the cone here: http://bitenot.com/

It was a bit pricey, but it worked great, and I kept it to use again if I need to. Shippo was able to walk around with it on without running into corners and shoveling holes in the dirt outside lol. He actually refused food and water when he had the cone on, but when I took it off and put this on, he ate and drank like normal again.

But yeah, every dog is different. Shippo was a really bad licker, so he needed the special collar.

TCnBham · 01-21-2008, 02:39 PM

Neutering is not nearly so invasive as spaying, so you probably won't have any problems. A lot of vets keep the dog overnight...I personally think it's a better idea than bringing them home when they are not fully recovered from the medication given for the surgery. My vet called after the surgery to let me know my boy was OK, then I picked him up the next afternoon. No problems at all. The incision for neutering is very small.

Max'sHuman · 01-22-2008, 04:39 PM

I would agree with RonE that you might want to ask for the Rimadyl just in case. My dog was in pain and kind of limping and whining so I had to take him back to the vet to get some and that was a pain. Also, yeah he stank really bad. Finally, really make sure you keep him off the stairs. I let Max try the stairs after a few days and he was limping on them. So I carried him up and down the stairs for the full week before I let him walk them. But then again, from what I hear Max was probably more of a whiner than most dogs.

RenaRose · 01-22-2008, 04:50 PM

It depends on the dog sometimes. Sabre and Professer were fine when we picked them up after their neuter. Then my brothers dog Tokillya was very grogy and droolly when he was picked up. He stayed that way for about a day, not getting up, or wanting to play. But it passed and was himself again.

Hey Cheetah, your Shippo is very cute! Reminds me of the little fox demon from Inuyasha.

katscott123 · 01-29-2008, 09:26 PM

My pup Rocky is getting neutered in two weeks, and I have not done much research abut what to expect until tonight. Yall have anwered a lot of my questions, but I am still not sure how long the healing process is going to take and how much attention he will require. I am a full time student and I'm afraid I will not be able to be home with him as much as he needs me to be. Will he be okay to be left home alone for 3 or 4 hours, and should he stay in his cage when I am not home with him? I know I have asked a lot of questions, but I am just really nervous!

Durbkat · 01-29-2008, 09:29 PM

With Snoopy he was ready to go after the 3rd or 4th day after he got neutered, he didn't require anymore attention than he did before he got neutered, infact he required less attention as all he did was sleep. If your dog doesn't sleep and lay around but wants to run around and play then he will need to be in his crate. They will watch him a few hours after the surgery to see if he is a licker, if he is they will give him a cone.

chul3l3ies1126 · 01-29-2008, 09:48 PM

From what you all have experienced, what is the biggest personality difference that you have seen with your neutered boys? I'm very curious because any male I have had came pre-neutered... and I will be neutering my Dane boy once he turns a year. Just want to know the personality differences... good or bad?
Nessa

Durbkat · 01-29-2008, 09:50 PM

Snoopy became calmer and more cuddly. Before he got neutered he was hyper and he'd growl if he thought you had him in your lap for to long. Now he loves to sit in your lap.

katscott123 · 01-29-2008, 09:57 PM

Rocky is mostly an outside dog. Do you think I will be able to let him go outside by himself after 3 or 4 days?