My Baby Was Spayed

[Nikki_3G]

Hello Everyone,

I'm a new pup mom and my 12 month old Sophie was spayed on Monday 7/29 (while in heat). She came home with her right eye swollen and dripping goo. The third eye lid was also showing. When I called the Humane Society they said it was likely just a reaction to the drops they use during surgery to keep their eyes hydrated. They said it should be better by morning. The third eyelid went back down by the next morning, but it still looks a little swollen to me. It definitely looks much better than it did when I first got her home.

Its been a little less than 48 hours and she's eaten about a handful of food and had some water. She hasn't gone to the bathroom yet. She marked once the night after surgery when I took her out. She hasn't eaten again for me to give her the pain meds. She won't take anything. She's just kind of laying and not doing anything. I took her out this morning and she took a couple steps then sat down. She looked like she was in real pain. Like it hurt to walk. I also noticed a little blood on her bed this morning, so I called the Humane Society where the surgery was performed and I'm waiting for a follow up appointment to have her checked out.

Does anyone have any suggestions for making her more comfortable or the feeding? Am I thinking too much about it? I know she's "just a dog" but she's my baby!

[lovespandp]

Originally Posted by Nikki_3G

Hello Everyone,

I'm a new pup mom and my 12 month old Sophie was spayed on Monday 7/29 (while in heat). She came home with her right eye swollen and dripping goo. The third eye lid was also showing. When I called the Humane Society they said it was likely just a reaction to the drops they use during surgery to keep their eyes hydrated. They said it should be better by morning. The third eyelid went back down by the next morning, but it still looks a little swollen to me. It definitely looks much better than it did when I first got her home.

Its been a little less than 48 hours and she's eaten about a handful of food and had some water. She hasn't gone to the bathroom yet. She marked once the night after surgery when I took her out. She hasn't eaten again for me to give her the pain meds. She won't take anything. She's just kind of laying and not doing anything. I took her out this morning and she took a couple steps then sat down. She looked like she was in real pain. Like it hurt to walk. I also noticed a little blood on her bed this morning, so I called the Humane Society where the surgery was performed and I'm waiting for a follow up appointment to have her checked out.

Does anyone have any suggestions for making her more comfortable or the feeding? Am I thinking too much about it? I know she's "just a dog" but she's my baby!

Hi! Welcome to YT, and congrats on your new addition.

So you had her spayed at the Humane Society? I would honestly try to find a vet in your hometown and take her in for an exam. I don’t like the fact they sent her home like that, especially without saying anything to you. If it were me, that’s what I would do. If you are seeing blood, if the incision site looks red or inflamed, please get her in as soon as you can, and if the Human Society can’t see you asap, try to find a vet around you… I mean you will have to find a vet anyways right?

It is always hard to say how pets will take the surgery. Most of the time the males aren’t really phased by the neuter but my male was simply a drama king!

Let’s see to get her to eat you can boil a skinless boneless chicken breast. Then you can give her little shreds of that. If Peanut is under the weather I will do this for him, I will also put the shreds in a dish and add some water and mix it around- it makes like a little gravy. That way he laps up water as well as takes some food in.

You can also try some baby food. I always get the Organic. Read the ingredients, make sure you don’t get any with onion, garlic. Usually the meat type baby food has those ingredients in there, I always get the fruit or veggies. Peas, carrots, squash, bananas, etc. He loves them and if you get the organic all the ingredients are carrots, water. No other added stuff. Peanut really likes the Squash for some reason.

Make sure she doesn’t jump around, no jumping up or down bed’s, couches, etc. If you can pick her up and take her out to potty. Try to make her as comfortable as you can. It sounds like she is taking the surgery pretty hard, hopefully in a couple days it will let up.

[lovespandp]

You can also get her some pedalight. The pedalight that is for babies. Usually they will lap it up. If for some reason she isn't drinking at all you can use the pedalight and pour them in an ice cube tray and freeze. When they are done pop one out and see if she licks it. Peanut was really sick awhile ago. He wouldn't drink water or even pedalight, well I did this and he lick the ice cube. It really helped us.

Hang in there, we understand this is your baby! You have came to the right place. We all love our babies here and other’s as well. Glad to have you as a member and please always ask questions.

[Nikki_3G]

When I attempted to feed and give her pain meds this morning she wouldn't take anything again. When I took her out she walked a couple steps then just sat down. At one point she actually laid on the ground. Her belly looks like her little bladder is full and she just won't go. I ended up just grabbing my keys and taking her back to the Humane Society (they were just opening and I was definitely still in my pj's...didn't even bother brushing teeth).

They were super great when we got there. I carried her in wrapped in a blanket because she was shaking. The vet there took her up immediately and came right down to talk to me after she checked her out. Apparently Sophie was in pain. She was in so much pain that she wouldn't go to the bathroom even though she really needed to. The vet gave her a shot of pain med and I swear within a couple of minutes Sophie peed and pooped all over that table. Then she just looked around and barked with her little tail moving all around. I was SO happy to see my baby up and at it again.

They showed me some different methods for getting her to eat. After a couple tries they said to just take the E-collar off for feeding and drinking and watch her closely. As soon as it came off she tried to lick the wound. She was starving! They fed her a wet food because they said it'll make pooping a little easier for her and that way she'll be less likely to stop eating again. They made sure she wasn't dehydrated but gave her something similar to Pedialight but for dogs (I forgot the name). My little girl peed and pooped again right there on the floor and I didn't care one bit! Poor thing was just holding all that inside because she was in so much pain.

The vet explained that some dogs, particularly the little ones with tons of energy sometimes need a stronger pain medication because they metabolize it pretty quickly. They swapped out her original pain meds for a stronger one. The shot they gave her was only supposed to last about an hour so they also "forced" down one of the new pain pills and showed me how to do it in case I need that method again. They said if she gets to the point where she's in that much pain again, she naturally won't eat or drink.

Apparently she developed a small ulcer on her eye. They said its likely from having her eyes open while having surgery and then tried to lecture me about the importance of making sure I put the ointment on that eye twice a day. I kinda fussed at them about blowing me off when I called about the eye the day I brought her home. They were really apologetic and explained that some of their vet techs that answer the phone are volunteers and next time if I'm not getting a clear answer to ask for the vet.

They gave me all the new meds for free, showed me some pretty good tips for caring for her over the next few days, and even gave me a couple cans of the food they got her to eat. I didn't like the ingredients so we grabbed a few cans of the good stuff Mommy has been feeding her baby. We're grain free and all natural over here. Sophie is eating better than me this week!

Oh and by the way, I had to hand feed her...with a spoon! But I'm ok with that!

Thanks again guys!

[lovespandp]

Oh I'm so happy to hear this!! So glad you took her in, and it sounds like both of you were treated great!!

I will be sending good thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery. It is so hard seeing our babies like that, but you are doing such a great job!

[Patti]

I am glad Sophie is feeling better. I know when Cali was spayed while she was in heat it took her a little longer to heal.

[smithj1000]

I'm so glad Sohpie is feeling better! It's unbearable to watch them suffer so. It's also really good she got the attention she deserved at the vet. You're a good Mommy for being persistent and taking her back in spite of that ridiculous brush off from the vet tech.

[Nikki_3G]

Hey Everyone,

Sophie is doing much better! Thank you so much for the well wishes and positive vibes.
We tried the stronger pain meds (Rimydal). When I looked it up I was super hesitant to use it, but she was in so much pain and wouldn't eat, drink, or stand. So I gave her the prescribed dosage. My baby was flipping out! Literally! At one point she was barking and trying to pounce at the air, but I'm sure she thought she saw something in the house. When she was crated the jumped so much that she flipped her crate over. My 11lb Sophie flipped over her entire crate! Needless to say, I stopped giving her the Rimydal immediately.

We ended up at the ER on Friday night for some pretty heavy vaginal bleeding and bleeding at the incision site. They were awesome! Apparently Sophie is healing super slowly from the surgery likely because of the additional stress she's experienced with the pain meds. They gave her a much smaller and better built e-collar which seems to have helped her calm down significantly! They said that the other one was too large so she couldn't use her peripheral vision which was likely freaking her out. She also needed her anal glands expressed. The vet told me about the usual signs (scooting on the floor, excessive licking), but Sophie couldn't do any of that because she's wearing the e-collar and I've been keeping her crated to keep her still for those stitches.

I swear when the vet brought her back to me she was like my baby again! I've been boiling chicken breast (the "tenders" size) and white rice to help settle her stomach and she's eating everything up! The vet also suggested scrambled eggs. I gave her some last night with no oil or anything...just scrambled bland eggs and first thing this morning she had runny stool. It wasn't complete liquid like diarrhea, but it was certainly runny and she couldn't hold it to get outside. She went right there on my kitchen floor. Then she looked at me like: "Hey, you're the one who overslept and didn't take me out on time" and went to get a drink of water. So we won't do eggs again and I won't sleep an extra 15 minutes in the morning when its time to take her out.

I've read that a spoonful of canned pumpkin (puree not pie filling) helps firm up the poop. Has anyone tried this with success? The vet said if she had runny stool to try Peptaid (sp) the human medicine. I'm trying to avoid meds right now. I don't fill myself up with meds unless absolutely necessary, and I'd like to do the same with Sophie.

Also, I've had to feed her soft food much of this week because she wouldn't touch the dry stuff after her first poop post spay. Do you all have any suggestions for getting her back to the dry food next week? She doesn't even run when she hears me opening the bag anymore. She just sits and waits like "Where's my beef and gravy, Ma?" I would LOVE to give her the wet food everyday, but since its nearly $5 a can and I start law school next week, that's not happening. I don't mind cooking for her. I actually kind of like it, but I also want to make sure she's getting proper nutrition. I'm thinking dry food during the week and wet food for Sunday dinner (I make a big to do about Sunday dinner over here).

Thanks so much! I LOVE this place! You guys make a new Pup Mom feel awesome!

[MomtoJasper]

I just finished reading this thread. I want to say that I'm so glad your little girl is getting better. I had my Jasper neutered on Thursday and that drove me nuts. So, I cant imagine if he had come home with the symptoms that your baby did.

In answer to your question about the canned pumpkin, yes, it will help with both diarrhea and constipation. Just plain pumpkin in the can. Not the pie mix. About 1 teaspoon added to her food.

Please continue to keep us updated. I also hope that you will continue to visit the community often. There is so much helpful information here. The library is a great place to do research on a topic, as well as using the search engine available. And, of course, as you just saw for yourself the people here are so wonderful. So many that are full of knowledge and they genuinely care so much about these precious yorkies and bettering the breed. I have been a member here since March and became an addict quite quickly. Lol I learn something here everyday. So...take care of your girl and come back often, okay? I think I can pretty much promise that you will love it here.