Spaying- Alternatives to Cone of Shame

[alvarezb]

I'm having my yorkie Mia, she is 1 year old and weights a little less than 5lbs , spayed next Thursday. She is afraid of everything and I'm anticipating what is going to be like on that first couple of days.
So i'm trying to use a onesie instead of the regular cone, i bought it yesterday but i'm not sure how it should be worn so she can do her business and protect the incision. so i don't want to use the snaps, but then that flap there I don't know if it will work. I bought a newborn size and it fits perfect but I don't know if a size up will work better to close it with snaps and maybe open a hole to make sure she can go when she wants to without having to bother her with the snaps. Please help this is the first time i have to go through something like this. Knowing the way she is she is going to hide from me under the sofa so i know this whole process will be awful.

[Wylie's Mom]

It's been so long now that I can't remember how I used the onesie, lol! But honestly, none of mine even bothered their stitches anyways, so that was pure luck.

Anyone have suggestions on how/if they re-fashioned their onesie to fit a certain way after spaying...?

[alvarezb]

Wylies's mom,

Thank you so much for your help and trying to find out for me. I am very much afraid because this dog gets frightened by anything and anybody. I lost my Cookie, male yorkie, almost 2 years ago and he was a trooper. This girl something had to happened to her before because she doesn't trust anybody to even come to you when you call her. So needless to say I'm pretty scared

[margiepickens]

When Lexi was spayed a few years back, I used a onsie. I cut off the snap part and used it more like a t-shirt. It worked out great. If you make it long enough, I'm not certain they can get to the stitches.

[alvarezb]

Margie,
Thank you for your response. I just bought a newborn size and is not long enough. Will get the next size up. How was her first night experience after the surgery? Do you still remember, I know you said it's been years. Thank you

[JennaPenny]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

It's been so long now that I can't remember how I used the onesie, lol! But honestly, none of mine even bothered their stitches anyways, so that was pure luck.

Anyone have suggestions on how/if they re-fashioned their onesie to fit a certain way after spaying...?

Why, yes!!! I bought three sets of onsies! I got the idea off of googling this site a few weeks ago; and came up on the onsie suggestion in like 2008. I cut a slit for her little tail. She will let us know when she has to go, so I did NOT do anything for her ittle girly bits. I'm planning on maybe a slight cut in that area. if she pees, I'll simply change her.

[alvarezb]

Thank you Jenna. You all have been great. I hope this experience is not traumatic for her as she is for some reason always afraid . It's always very hard for me to groom her or even for her to come to pick her up. She acts as if she had a bad experience before coming to me. She was only 12 weeks old so I don't understand. I just want to make her as comfortable as possible and avoid that she hides under furniture when is time for her meds.

[JennaPenny]

Originally Posted by alvarezb

Thank you Jenna. You all have been great. I hope this experience is not traumatic for her as she is for some reason always afraid . It's always very hard for me to groom her or even for her to come to pick her up. She acts as if she had a bad experience before coming to me. She was only 12 weeks old so I don't understand. I just want to make her as comfortable as possible and avoid that she hides under furniture when is time for her meds.

I thought my little girl also had a bad experience, as she hid under everything and still goes under her bed for "time away from the sissy human, or when she wants to be left alone"

It's not that. Remember how itty bitty they are. Some are just skittish. Watching Chewie come out of her shell has been amazing. Give her some more time.

[alvarezb]

You are soo right! It really helps when you're going through anything that worries you and you can find kind words and good advise from somebody that knows exactly how you feel!!:

[Farleys]

We used a onesie on our little hairless chihuahua/crested mix. And i had to get one size up so it wasnt so tight. We had bought newborn size at first. I cut a generous sized hole for her tail and snapped it shut. If she was right with me i took it off as long as she wasnt bothering it. And when she needed to go outside. Otherwise kept it snapped. They heal so fast that she only needed it for a couple days. She wasnt trying to bother it tho.

[alvarezb]

Farley,
Thank you. That's what I'm planning to do. I also bought a size up, except she goes in her wee wee pad so I'm going to try to let it open cutting the snaps and see how that works. This is trial and error, i'm keeping my fingers crossed.

[bjh]

I have been raising yorkies for 19 years and over the years I have had a number of girls spayed. All of them did real well after their surgery, other than going off their food for a couple of days. I never had to put onesies on them and none of them ever bothered their stitches.

When your girl first gets home she will just want to sleep and be left alone. Make you to make her a comfortable spot where she can sleep. You won't want her jumping on and off of high furniture. If she is used to crate or exercise pen then you can let her rest in there. You just don't want to put her anywhere she will get stressed out.

As for eating, she probably won't eat much at first. Some do and some don't. I always give mine some Nutri-cal for a couple of days after their surgery until they are eating well.

I pray all goes well for your little girl.

[alvarezb]

bjh,

I really appreciate your advise, particularly with all the years of experience you have. Question the Nutri-cal is the one from Vetoquinol Care. I want to be able to order it on line right away as surgery is Thursday.
How did you manage for meds like picking her up did they hide from you, this one is always fightened .
she is also having her canines extracted the same day because one pushing the other on both sides. I don't mind telling you I'm scared. Thanks a million!

[bjh]

Originally Posted by alvarezb

bjh,

I really appreciate your advise, particularly with all the years of experience you have. Question the Nutri-cal is the one from Vetoquinol Care. I want to be able to order it on line right away as surgery is Thursday.
How did you manage for meds like picking her up did they hide from you, this one is always fightened .
she is also having her canines extracted the same day because one pushing the other on both sides. I don't mind telling you I'm scared. Thanks a million!

Mine were not scared and all they wanted to do is sleep. Some would tremble so I knew they were in pain and others did not act like they were hurting. Each dog is different. If your vet gives you pain medicine for her then ask the vet the best way to give it and how often. Some tablets can be dissolved in water and given with a syringe. Some vets won't give any pain medicine to give them and some will. Sometimes the pain medicine can do more harm than good if it upsets their stomach and they start throwing up.

The last dog I had spayed was a big 60 lb hound dog mix that someone dropped off at our house and she adopted us. The vet I use most of the time is a homeopathic vet and does not send pain medicines but the receptionist gave me some Traumeel to give her. Traumeel is a homeopathic product for pain that can be bought online. Anyway our big Girl just wanted to sleep when she got home and she was trembling so before we went to bed I gave her some Traumeel. The next morning she was alert and moving around good and not trembling so I did not give her anymore. She recovered from her surgery really fast. I would be curious to know if anyone else on here uses Traumeel for pain or for seizures.

You can get Nutri-cal from Petco or Petsmart if you have one of them near you. I order mine from RevivalAnimal.com. They have the best prices. If you ordered it on Monday you would probably have it by Thursday. I usually order the Doc Roy's Fortical which is about the same as the but cheaper.

[alvarezb]

You are awesome !! God Bless. I will follow up on both Nutri Cal and Traumeel. Thanks again.