Spaying: What should I expect?

[rowdy ridgeback]

My 1 1/2 year old Ridgeback is getting spayed tomorrow. I am a very nervous mom. I am sure this has been asked a thousand times, but what should I expect after the surgery? She weighs 78lbs and has had two heats. I drop her off at 9am and pick her up at 3pm. They said she will have stitches that will be from the inside and that will disolve. No pain meds or anibiotics after the surgery. I dont think they do blood work before hand either. The surgery will cost $130. I am very nervous. I will be on pins and needles all day tomorrow.

 

[Zoom]

First, find a different vet. Unless you're at a spay/neuter clinc that does stuff like this for very cheap, not giving any pain meds is just cruel. Not doing blood work before isn't as much a big of a deal, but they should at least offer it. They should also at least give you a week's worth of a Deramaxx.

As far as the spaying itself goes, she'll come home groggy and fairly sore for the first day or so. Keep her quiet and don't mess with her too much. She probably won't feel much like eating, but have water available. Keep an eye on her to make sure that she doesn't have a reaction to the anesthesia or starts trying to chew on her stitches. She'll perk back up pretty quickly though, which is going to be a pain since she should remain somewhat inactive for about 2 weeks while the stitches are in/before they dissolve.

 

[rowdy ridgeback]

eeeee! Now I am really nervous. This vet is usually really good. If you go in there for a follow up checkup he doesnt charge and does things for really cheap so I am not surprised by the cost. When I made the appointment I just talked to the lady at the front desk when I asked her all these questions. I will see the vet in the morning when I drop off. There are two vets that work in there. I use both of them. They spend a lot of time talking to you and addressing your concerns. They dont hurry their appointments.

 

[Zoom]

If you feel comfortable with them, then go for it. But the only time I've ever seen a dog go home from a spay/neuter without any pain meds was at the s/n clinic I helped out with a month ago.

Even the rescue Airedales I work with at my job get Deramaxx sent back with them after that surgery.

 

[rowdy ridgeback]

She had gotten very ill last year and had to spend a week at the vet clinic and has had seperation issues ever since that so I am worried about leaving her too. She is my best friend and I dont want her to have to go through anything tramatic or be in pain. I know she is going to freak out when I leave. She freaks if they just take her in the back to weigh her. I know she needs to be spayed though. I dont know how I am going to leave her tomorrow. I will probably be a crying mess.

 

[Roxy's CD]

$130 is very cheap for a spay..... Listen to Zoom or not.

As for a dog coming home after a well performed surgery. Not too much different. Of course, if they're put under you shouldn't allow them to eat right away, maybe have a bit to drink. (the anaesthetic upsets their stomach)

Their usually very tired and groggy like Zoom said. Keep them quiet, no running off leash for about 2 weeks, you don't want to reopen the stitches. Try to keep licking to a minimum, maybe freeze something yummy in a Kong to keep her attention off the wound.

Roxy removed her own stitches 4 days after her surgery. I called in they said as long as she wasn't bleeding and I kept a close eye on it she should be fine, and of course she was.

I would look into another vet though. Or just call and ask other prices, see why most clinics are MORE than that... there's a good reason.

Edit: Roxy didn't get any painkillers! Her spay was $275.

 

[Red_ACD_for_me]

No need to worry, she should be fine . But if you ask 10 different people you will get 10 different answers . I have never ever been given pain killers after a neuter/spay for my dogs or cats so I don't see the need in that. Tha last time I had a bitch fixed was a year and a half ago. You are lucky you are only paying $130. Around here it is almost $400 for a full grown female. Good for you for spaying her, she will be much more healthier and happier. You won't have to worry about pyometra and mammory cancer. Good luck she will be okay .

 

[rowdy ridgeback]

I just got off the phone with the vets office. She will go in at 8:30am. The vet does the surgery at 9:30 does an exam and then starts. The dog has three sets of stitches. If for some reason the dog is messing with them or they come apart, there are still two other layers of stitches and is not an emergency. She will be monitored until about 3pm and can come to pick her up. They said no food for that day. She would throw it up. She might be given pain pills depending on how she is. She might have a little cough and it is just from the tube being down her throat. As for the price, they said that they are a small staff (I think there are 6 people that work there) and they would like for everyone to spay/neuter their dogs so they like to do it cheap. They want to make it affordable so people will have it done. They said they dont make money off spay/neuter. It is the actual cost of the surgery.

 

[zoe08]

I am glad I live where I do. Getting Zoe spayed was about $120. And she got to stay overnight and got painkillers. So I don't really know what to do that first day, cuz they took care of her. The next day I brought her home and she just acted like her normal self. The vet said to put some Vicks vaporub around the incision to keep her from licking it.

I think that spay/neuter costs should not be soo expensive. I think what I payed was pretty good and my vet is good. But I think that they should keep the price down so that people will get their pets fixed and quit bringing soo many unwanted puppies in the world!!

 

[rowdy ridgeback]

Well, Puma got spayed today. Everything went good. I had her home 4 hours later. She is a little sleepy and hunger but acting normal. No vomiting or pain.

 

[Zoom]

Good! Glad to hear it all went well!

 

[Carolyn]

Excellent see? now you were worryin for nothing lol. But I know its understandable, we all worry bout our kids. When Sugar was spayed, I said to the vet, now you take care of my baby. And they did

And great you got a good price. They can be expensive. When Sug's was done, I opted for the pain relieving injections, which they charged extra for. That was given during and post op only, nothing to come home with and She was just fine

Make a strong coffee now and relax hehe and hug your girl

 

[Amy-o]

i'm so glad it went well for your dog and yourself. i thought the price was way cheap, as i think its about £200-300 here? which i spose wud be like $600 very roughly (i just double it lol).

 

[patience2]

I'm happy that your best friend Puma has done well and is back home. Soon I will be going through the same worry...

 

[bubbatd]

Thank God we do care !!! They're our babies !!