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Originally Posted by Bluebells  Brief Update: The vet’s office just called, and Jax’s bloodwork is all normal, so we’re a go for the surgery on June 5th. So now I just wait and worry.
I do have a question, for any of you with smaller yorkies. Jax’s written pre-op instructions include that he is supposed to eat a small meal and drink a small amount of water before 5am on the morning of the 5th, before he is dropped off for his surgery. (Drop off is at 7am.)
The pre-op instructions were on top of his crate when I picked him up from the vet’s office vestibule yesterday after his appointment, so I couldn’t ask about them then. So I asked the nurse who called with his bloodwork result, because (as a foster) I’ve taken a lot of animals in for surgery, and the food/water cut off is always the night before surgery.
The nurse says the morning meal & drink are because he’s so small. I told her I would try, but Jax is simply not a morning eater. It’s rare I can tempt him to eat anything before late morning except his tiny lick of peanut butter (mentioned in an older post under the “Diet” section). The nurse said to try. So question: is this normal for smaller yorkies, pre-surgery? And, if so, is it going to be a serious problem if he won’t eat? One more thing to worry about.... |
Then feed him a teaspoon or two of natural peanut butter or his regular food, if he ignores it, just open his muzzle and put it in his mouth and he'll get most of it down. Same with water, a needle-less small syringe of water in the side cup of his mouth will be mostly swallowed. He'll resist but you matter-of-factly, with no emotion, insist on getting some nutrition and fluid into his mouth, gently but firmly just like a medical professional does things we dont' like but are for our own good. Afterward, big laughs, smiles and praise, take him up and love him, smother with kisses and let outside to run off feelings. Got very used to doing this when fosters were too ill to want to try to take any nutrition but doc said feed them some food however every 4 hours but get it down and when tiny Jilly was young, would refuse food or water, etc., for a time. Natural peanut butter or a teaspoon or two of his food should keep his blood sugar regulated through the surgery; and while he's at the vet, they have all types of ways to keep his blood sugar level regulated. If you get some of both into his mouth, he'll likely spit lots out but get some down and you can tell by the amount he spits out how much was left and whether you need to repeat it.