Issues: Spay and Grooming
 

Spay
Julie had her spay on Monday, May 20th. I am SOOO glad her spay is done and is now behind us. I believe she was in good hands during this surgery. My only concern is that last night when I took her and Sabu out to get busy for the night is that while she was trying to have a bowel movement, she made a short squeal indicating that she was having a tough time making a bowel movement. For those of you who have either spayed or neutered your puppy, do they sometimes have difficulty in passing a bowel movement after surgery? As far as I can tell, she has been doing pretty well thus far.

Grooming
To groom or not to groom? I am having some difficulty answering this question for Julie. Her hair is close to 3½ inches. First, I am anti-grooming because I love her hair being longer then shorter. I am pro-groom because her hair in the rear has poop sticking onto her anal area which then needs to be cleaned and/or trimmed frequently, which causes her to have some difficulty in trying to pass a bowel movement. Plus, I cannot see her bud should there be a reason to check things out in that area. That is the major reason why I prefer to have her groomed. For those of you who have kept your yorkies’ hair long, do you have the hair around their anal area trimmed professionally? As far as I have seen from the photos on YorkieTalk.com, it is pretty much even on those who have chosen to have their yorkies with long hair vs. short hair. I’m also going to ask my question another way, which do you all prefer to have your baby groomed, short or long hair? I'm sure this type of question is a no-brainer, but I am having difficulty in this area.

Thank you.
Starlette

I'm glad she is doing well. She might be having trouble pooping from the pain meds. You can give her pure pumpkin from a can and this should help her. I just recently go Chloe trimmed shorter for summer. She's not shaved all the way down, just short. I'll try to post a pic in a bit. I love her hair long, but it's so hot in Texas. When her hair was longer, I would have her a sanitary trim done. I believe this is the rear, girl part, etc.

So glad to hear Julie's spay went well! Poor baby sounds constipated...like mperran1974 mentioned, pure pumpkin will help things move along.
Even if you grow her hair, the sanitary areas should be trimmed & you can also have her stomach/ underside shaved during the hot months to keep her cool. You can request this @ the groomer or buy a shaver. The Wahl Peanut or tidbit are good ones to have @ home. You can shave their under paws, do sanitary trims & underbelly too. I also shave or trim w/blunt nosed scissors, the armpits too, any high rubbing areas where it tends to tangle.

First, about your puppy's constipation following spaying, that is not unusual. It could last up to 4 or 5 days. If it goes on longer than that, or if your puppy starts throwing up, take her in to see the vet.

About the grooming, wait until your puppy has recovered from the spay surgery, at least two seeks. Hair length depends on your preferences, but shaving the butt (sanitary cut) is a good idea to prevent retention of fecal matter in the fur. I had mine done professionally the first time (the vet did it, but groomers will do it too), but if you know what you are doing, you can do it yourself with a hair trimmer. Just be careful not to gouge or nick the tender skin. And again, wait until the puppy has recovered from the spay.

Every time Callie had to go under anesthesia the vet always told me if they are trying to go and nothing comes out or they act like there in pain (sequel) then you need to call the vet asap. My dog is very active and not so girly so a short cut is what she is in because it fits her personality. One day I would love to grow it out once because it is so pretty but now even with short hair she gets stuff in it. Even people who grow there dogs hair out get a trim and a sanitary cut which is the privates and feet. It is important to keep there butt hair trimmed and then the hair cut between the pads of there paws or they wont have good traction.