Overnight Stay at Vet-What's the Point????
 

Hi Everyone,

I have a 2 yr. old yorkie and he's (finally) getting neutered. He's scheduled for the procedure tomorrow. I was told he'd be kept overnight, and I asked if anyone would be there to monitor him. The receptionist told me no one will be there overnight watching him.

So my question is, what is the point of keeping him overnight when there is no one there??? (I'd hate for him to be alone during the night!!!)

Sorry if this question has been posted somewhere, please re-direct me to the proper thread if so.

Thank you!!!

I agree with you. It wouldn't hurt to ask the vet to release him to you. You'll be with him monitoring him overnight, and can take him to the emergency vet if necessary. I'd feel safer having him home.

Hi,

When my Chloe was being spayed, the vet also said they would keep her overnight but that no one would be there. To me that made no sense, she was better off in my care, where she could be taken to an ER vet should anything occur then being left alone all night.

I told them I was taking her home, I went right before they closed to pick her up and they had me sign paperwork saying that I had been advised of the risks and chose to ignore them (well basically that in so many words).

I took her home, she did fine.

Its your dog, and your choice, the vet can't force you to leave him there.

Good Luck.

I'm not sure why some vets want to keep them over night. When my lab Jessie has a cancerous tumour removed a few years ago she was kept overnight. The next day her nose was so raw from rubbing on the cage that the vet thought she was having an allergic reaction.
When I got Sophie she had to be spayed, teeth extracted and the remainder cleaned, I took her to a different vet who performs surgeries on a lot of rescue kittens who are very tiny. She doesn't keep them overnight. She wants you to take them home where they are comfortable and well looked after, and her fees are very reasonable.
?is it a money thing?

Thank you for the responses so far. Those were my exact thoughts--I'd feel safer having him home, knowing that at least SOMEONE is watching him and if any issues arise I can find him proper medical attention asap.

But yeah, I really wonder why they suggest keeping pets overnight when no one is staying with them. :confused:

All three of mine came home the same day after being altered. All of them were quiet at home and monitored by us with no issues whatsoever.

Good question. Kaji was sent home as soon as he was cleared and I had pain pills for him. He still went crazy, but at least I was there to watch him.

I'll be blunt - they suggest it because they want to rack up the bill. It's a business decision in my book unless there is staff there to watch the dog. Just my opinion. I'd tell them NO, I am picking up my dog so someone can watch him/her and since none of you will be at your hospital, I see no reason for an overnight stay and fee when he can be with his family instead in his own home resting nicely instead of scared and alone. That's me though.

Yes terlis, good question! It could well be a money thing. I'm sorry your lab's nose was rubbed raw like that :( I definitely wouldn't want my dog's nose like that!!

That makes sense. My coworker used to work as a vet tech, and she told me they never kept pets overnight and she agrees that it's just for the money..

Agreed! I would let them know ahead of time that you will be taking your baby home so that you can monitor him. I would not leave him there alone. Do they have an after hours emergency line just in case?

I believe they do.

Anyways, thank you for all the responses!! I'm going to try and get a good night's rest now.

I just had Copper neutered about 2 months ago. They didn't start the surgeries until noon and I was able to pick him up at 4:00. I'm not sure whether he was the first surgery or the last or somewhere in between. I see no need for them to keep the dog overnight. Especially since there is no one there to watch him and care for his/ her needs. I would say no. If they have a problem with that, find another place to have the procedure done.

I agree. It's much safer to bring pup home than leave it there unwatched. Ellie was spayed with liver biopsy and still came home the same day (office was staffed 24/7, so they had every right to ask to keep her there).

I suppose it could be a money thing for some, but you are already paying a hospitalization fee for the day of spay/neuter. The night may actually be included. The reasoning I've heard is that some owners don't understand how to keep a dog quiet after surgery. The dogs who normally live outside will be put right back there and that would be a big problem. Also, other animals or kids in the house can be a distraction to sleeping. And the dog can't be checked out the next morning. I totally agree that they shouldn't be left, but I'm guessing some vets think the office is a quieter, and maybe even safer, place to rest. If they wanted the money that bad, they could just tack an extra $25 onto the surgery and then the techs wouldn't have to clean bathroom messes when they got there in the morning.

Only way my girl stay over is if I was right there with her.
Other wise she comes home.

JL

Hi Everyone,

I just called my vet and stated my concerns, and they said I can sign a release form and pick him up later in the early evening. PHEW :)

They were so adamant in-person, but over the phone they simply said "sure." And I was ready to argue with them too. If they didn't comply with my request, I would have taken him elsewhere.

Again, thank you for all the responses. I'm relieved. And I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks overnight stays at a vet are a bit ridiculous!! (unless truly needed and someone stays overnight to monitor them) :animal-pa:animal-pa

I have females and was able to pick mine up the same day - and with females it's a bit more invasive -

you can ask to pick him up - especially if no one is there to watch him - he's better off at home with you so you can monitor him - plus he'll be happier too - they get scared staying overnight no matter what the procedure- some require it but I can't see a neuter being a reason for them to keep him - it's done all the time and in most every case the dogs are fine and bounce back quickly ----

good luck ! I'd def tell them you want to pick him up if all went well - they're stronger than we think and you'll feel so much better having him with you

:D I posted at the same time as you - glad to hear you're going to get him

In some cases vets will do this because you pay more for an overnight but like I said - a neuter is very common. They even have mobile spay neuter services that charge minimal fees (I've never used one but some people just can't afford the vet charges) - and they never 'keep' the dogs -

He should be just fine with you at home !

I'm so glad you are bringing your boy home tonight.

I threatened my vet that I would be standing outside pounding on the door if she didn't let me bring my boy home. :p The techs backed me up. Thankfully Max shrieked like a madman and the vet called me to pick him up EARLY, lol. Max wanted to come home to use his piddle pad. Poor guy was holding it in the cage for hours after his surgery.

aww. yeah that would probably be Bowser haha. one time Bowser was at the groomer and they called me to come pick him up and when I got there he was already barking like crazy in the back. the receptionist asked me who I was here for and I replied "the dog that's barking." :D

An update, my vet called me not too long ago and left a voicemail stating his surgery went well and he's recovering right now. :):) I can't wait to pick him up later!!

Normally, spays are kept overnight, because spaying is a major abdominal surgery, and the dog should really be confined until the next day, the vet checks the incision and approves the dog to be discharged. Some problems can occur like swelling, sutures coming out, dog not responding as expected, high fever, reactions to meds or sutures, etc. They also feed the dog and make sure the dog is walking and peeing okay, and doesn't vomit.

Neuter is a minor surgery, and not as immediately life-threatening if something should go wrong. Neuters are not normally kept overnight, with the exception of a cryptorchid, where only one testicle has descended. Then, if an exploratory is needed to find the elusive testicle, it is then a major abdominal surgery, with similar risks to a spay surgery, and the dog should stay confined overnight.

If the owners are fully aware of the risks involved, most vets won't have a problem sending the dog home, if they feel the owners are attentive and responsible, and fully appreciate the issues that are involved.

If my pet needs an overnight stay, I use a 24 hour hospital, one that is staffed by a tech and a vet throughout the night.

That's great news! Glad Bowser will be in your loving care tonight.

Just wanted to add: Even though I am a Vet Tech, I realize that the best place for my pet to be after major surgery is in a staffed hospital, bc if something does go wrong, the pet doesn't get further traumatized by a car ride back to the vet, the pet is there already and can receive immediate treatment.

But what if no one is there at the hospital where he is being kept?

I second DvlshAngel! :D

Bowser is laying next to me right now, safe and sound!

But thanks for the info, kjc. I probably wouldn't mind keeping him overnight IF there was a vet and tech there.

Glad you are able to bring your girl home. :)

That's a tough call. I could probably keep my dog alive long enough to get him to the vet in the event of an emergency, and I also know how important it is not to allow them to get too active right after surgery.

It also depends on the individual dog. If your dog goes balistic when left at the vets, that dog will be better off at home, and most vets won't argue with that.

Most dogs after surgery, will opt to sleep it off and rest comfortably in the hospital when I worked there on night shift. We had an ICU for very sick animals and Post-ops. If any animal became obnoxious to the point of disturbing the others, they were moved to another wing in the hospital, to allow the sick animals to get their much needed rest.

So if my dog is on the quiet side, and there is too much going on in my house for them to be isolated and quiet, I may opt to leave them in a hospital, unattended, in a cage, where they cannot do too much damage to themselves. A rubbed nose is minor compared to intestines bulging through a torn incision, if the pup gets loose and takes off running, or bounds up the stairs.

With small Yorkies, I would take them home, if a staffed, 24 hour hospital did not exist in my state. With fasting, and then recovery, they need to be monitored for a good 24 hours after surgery, for hypoglycemia, body temperature, respiration, and many may need extra help clearing the anesthesia from their bodies. I would wake them every 1-2 hours, let them out to walk around, offer small amounts of food and water, time to pee, and then back to bed, and repeat until they really have their wits about them and are no longer woosie or wobbly. Keeping them on a heating pad set on 'low' can help recovery, but must be checked frequently so they don't overheat.

Sorry, no easy answers. There is risk involved, either way.

When I neutered Coco he wasn't left at the vet overnight. It's completely unecessary for the dogs to be left overnight. Maybe you can suggest bringing him in in the morning and picking him up in the afternoon...personally I don't know I wouldnt leave Coco alone at the vets overnight with no supervision :S