I Need Advice!!!
 

Jezebel is scheduled to be spayed in two weeks, she will be 5 months old. I am a nervous wreak, that's why I'm not asleep!! I am terrified that 1. Something will go wrong during surgery, 2. She will get stolen somehow from the vet office, or 3. This is the BIG ONE she will have problems that night and no one will be there to help her!!! Everyone leaves the office at 6pm and no one returned until 7am. She has never been alon for more than a couple of hours, I am terrified!! They insist she spend the night what do I do?

I know it is scary.
Please never ever leave your pup there overnight without supervisoin, especially after surgery. If they won't release her, go somewhere else. It is dangerous. Ellie came home 4 and 1/2 hours after her spay and liver biopsy. Her vet is staffed 24/7 but they release spays same day. It is fine if the vet wants to keep them overnight but only if someone is there watching. I stayed up all night with Ellie since I was worried. What if you pup didn't come out of the anesthesia correctly and nobody was there? Or she reacted to pain meds? Or there was something wrong with the incision (she may have just gotten closed...)? Or they keep an IV in and something goes wrong? I would be worried too and I would not let her stay...

I understand you being nervous, most all are even though she will be fine, I'm sure. Why do they insist she has to stay that night? I don't understand that and wouldn't want to leave my baby there either, especially with no one there at night. At least if she is home with you, you would know if something were wrong. Of the 3 we've had spayed none were ever required to stay overnight and this was 3 different vets.

I think Jezebel's doc is great. He's not the one who insisted she had to stay (he had left to see another patient) it's the vet tech. I ask if it was absolutely necessary and she said yes, that all animals have to stay after surgery.

They can't require YOUR dog to stay. I believe it is against the law if you ask to take her... You'd have to sign a waiver though.

And there are some vet techs that make me want to :rolleyes:.

When I had LuLu spayed last month they let me stay during the entire process. I brought her in and we sat together in the waiting room until they were ready for her surgery. They took her into surgery while I waited in the next room and then immediately after surgery they wrapped her in a blanket and set her in my arms as she came out of the anesthesia and recovered. We were able to cuddle together like that until it was time to take her home. So, no worries about her being alone and frightened, lost, or without an advocate. It was also great for me too, because I was right there with her so I "knew" that she was okay. If you can find a Vet in your area that will allow this it is really a great scenario for all.

I'm sure the vet is a good one. Still I wouldn't leave my yorkie overnight without someone being there. Could you talk to the vet and see if there is not some way he would let her come home instead of staying?

i guess maybe i'm not as particular about odie as i should be?

when i got him fixed i had to work so i had to get jeremy and his little brother take him to the vet's office. that made me a little sad that i didnt drop him off, but then once i really thought about it...once odie came around and realized what happened, he would be mad at jeremy not me! HAHA

but point being, i left him over night and didnt think twice about it. and whenever i have stayed out late or even at friends' houses, i dont get all emotional and scared about leaving him home alone...?

The vet wanted both of mine to stay overnight also...but since no one was going to be there...what was the point?? What if they choked or were in horrible pain or just needed to be comforted? I would never leave mine alone without supervision. Tell the vet tech you want to take your baby home with you. Period.

My vet lets us bring our dogs home because we have a 24 hour vet care place in case of an emergency. If you have a 24 hour vet open I would insisit she come home. Or I would find another vet that has some one there with the animals over night. (My Mom's vet has some one stay over night with the animals) It is insane to think that your baby will be better off in an empty vet office then home with you were you can watch her. There is no way I would do it on this GREEN EARTH!
Sadie gets spayed March 12th. She also will be 5 months. I also am terrified.

Sadie gets spayed March 12th. She also will be 5 months. I also am terrified.[/QUOTE]

When is Sadie's Brithday? Jezebel's is October 10th. She is going to be spayed March 14.

It isn't so much that they shouldn't stay alone, they shouldn't stay alone after a surgery. It isn't safe.

I also insist on preop bloodwork, surgery must be done on a heated surface, pain med has to be given if I want it and the dog can handle it, isoflurane or sevoflurane has to be used for maintainence, monitoring equipment has to be available and an IV must be used.:)

I agree with you on making sure that all safety measures are in place before and after surgery. This isn't about leaving her alone at home on a normal day while I go run an errand. This was surgery and although it is a very successful, common procedure one needs to be a patient advocate for our babies.

I can absolutely understand that many people work outside of the home having multiple responsibilities and often have less flexibility. But, for myself this was a one time surgery, scheduled well in advance and I knew that I wanted to be there the entire time. I would have done the same with any family member having surgery; especially one so young without a "voice" of her own.

I do want to be clear that I understand that this is not always an option for everyone and each set of circumstances is individual.

like the others have said, i would really fight against her staying the night unless someone is there monitoring her!! :(

i understand your worry and am thinking good thoughts for you and jezebel :) miss buffey will get spayed soon and i am also terrified!!

When is Sadie's Brithday? Jezebel's is October 10th. She is going to be spayed March 14.[/QUOTE]


Sadie's birthday is oct 12. She will be 5 months to the day. (TOOO SCARY!!!)

First make sure your vet has worked with small animals.

2. Use the isoflorine gas. It costs more but is worth it.

3. Have the pretests and schedule the surgery early in the morning. My vet keeps animals if you want or releases them that day if you want.

4. Arrange to pick up your baby before the vet closes. Don't fuss over her too much. Doing so reminds her of her surgery and makes it an ordeal.

5. Don't worry! It is not as hard on them as it is on us.

First off could you wait till she's at least 6 months. My Vet. doesn't like to spay till they are 6 months.
Next, can you find a Vet. that has a night crew that takes care of the animals? I wouldn't leave any of my girls in a Vet. office or hospital that didn't have people that take care of them at night. That doesn't even sound right. If they vomit or have diarrhea, that could be terrible if no one is there to help them right away.

i had my layla done just last week and i didnt have to leave her.i dropped her off at 10am and went to get her at 5pm.witch im glad i did she was out of it and needed help going out to the wee wee.she slept alot the first night but i was so happy she was home with me so i could keep her comfy:) is there ant way you can ask to get her at the end of the day?? good luck to you keep us posted on how she dose:)

having her done at 5 months is perfectly fine unless she is like 1lb. then i'd be a little worried. i didn't used to think much about patients being left in hospital over night....that is until i got a yorkie and started working at a 24/7 hospital. now i wouldn't think of leaving her somewhere that doesn't have a night time staff.

Tell your vet that morning when you drop her off that you want to pick her up and take her home after she recovers from surgery. They cannot deny you your dog. They might make you sign a waver going against their medical advise. whatever, sign it. you'll have her home with you where you can watch her. Most vets that want to keep them do it only because the pet will be in a small cage and the only thing to do it rest and sleep. Sleep equals less pain. So when you do bring her home after surgery take her to a quiet room and sit with her until she falls asleep. no excitement for the rest of the day. if you make a big deal about it, she will too. best pretend like nothing happened (but still watch for any ill signs after surgery) so she won't pick up on your anxiety.

good luck with the spay. i'm sure she'll do just fine. spaying at 4-5 months old is more common now if the puppy weighs enough. With males, most vets will do it when both testicles have dropped.

I would make sure you have checked the Vet out with other friends and family and make sure he has A good reputation and see if there has been any other occurences,when we had our pets spayed they were able to come home same day,but the surgery was done around 8am and I picked them up by 5pm

I had Mochi spayed 2 days ago. I was also terrified because of her weight (2.5 lbs). I dropped her off at 9am and was told that she would have to stay overnight, but I knew there would be no one overnight taking care of her. I had decided to go to the hospital in the evening to talk to the vet and pick her up no matter what (knowing no one would take care of her overnight). The vet called at 2pm and told me Mochi did really well and asked if I wanted to pick her up later in the evening, I didn't think twice and answer DEFINITELY. Well she came home a bit lost, cried a lot, but at least she was with me in my arm. If there was anything wrong, I could take her to the emergency.

So..... yes, I would 'fight' to death if the hospital did not let me pick up my baby on the same day!

When checking your baby in, make sure they use the gas Isofurane, had her bloodwork checked, and may be bile acid test, too.

I think I was also over worried about her. Today is the 2nd day after surgery, she has already returned to her old naughty self - jumping and running. But I confine her in the kitchen and she was very pissed of what I did to her. I hope the following 2 weeks will go faster so that she can run crazy with her brother again.

You guys are absolutely right!!! I am not leaving my baby alone all night after surgery. I called the vet (I could not stand the thoughts of it any more). They informed me that If I did not want to leave her over night then I should not bring her!!! They also said if I did bring her she would stay overnight!! Needless to say this made me mad. called another vet and had all of Jezebel's records transferred. She will have surgery April 10th, when she is 6 months old, and I will pick her up that afternoon! This vet completely understands my not wanting to leave her. I talked to the secretary for 45 mins, she explained all about there practice and the procedure. I feel so much better now!!! Thank you for all you advice everyone!!! :)

Great news.:)

And I'm glad you left that vet if they are going to act like that.