Help a fellow parent please....
 

We are first time Yorkie parents. She's tiny (3lbs) and we just got her spayed on Monday and have literally been holding her for 24 hours ever since (my husband is on vacation this week and we've been switching off). Can anyone share how long their baby needed to limit their activity? She REALLY wants to play and is sooooo hyper. She only has inside stitches and I'm so afraid she will tear something. Any advice would be much appreciated!

Welcome to Yorkie Talk. You can let her have some activity. I would limit jumping and too much running. Keep an eye on her incision.

I have boys and neutering is less invasive, but I had to keep Max from his daily walks for about 10 days. He was ready to play the day after surgery, but an attempt at jumping caused a little bruising in his surgical area. He didn't try to jump again for a few days.

Yes, it's difficult but important to keep them from too much activity. I was told that jumping can cause herniation when the belly is healing on a female. It was torture keeping our little one quiet. We let her play with her toys after a couple days but no rough play, no walks and NO jumping. If she is licking her wound put a babies onesie on her. Good luck!

Have you tried a play pen?

Some folks here have used a stroller - can keep them close to you but limits activity.

I crate my girls with chew toys and just turn up the stereo when the whining gets on my nerves. lol Most of the ladies I've had spayed were larger dogs, though (cattle bred Kelpies - so extremely active). Crate time with raw bones and bully sticks. I had one that needed melatonin to settle, you may want to ask yur vet about something like that. I don't know how to get a dose small enough for a Yorkie.

Hmmm never thought about that. Evie will be the smallest dog I've ever had spayed. I better start planning - she's not even quiet in her crate (she hops like a bunny on crack lol) Bounce, bounce, bounce.......

Turning up the stereo can be mean and hurt the dogs ears if turned up to loud. Bully sticks can also break teeth.

Thank you for the welcome! And thanks for the advice and sharing. My daughter said the same thing.....if she jumps once she won't do it again...I'm just a bit over protective maybe..

We have had her in a onsie to be proactive since bringing her home. She's only tried to investigate the area once but has since left it alone. We'll try to keep her in a cuddle mood for another day and then hopefully slowly re-introduce her to light playing. Thanks for the advice Shelbysmom! :)

Yes, we have a play pen for her but she is very jumpy....even does what looks like a cha cha! LOL She's been in our arms 24hours since he surgery...I'll try to slowly introduce her to light play tomorrow Thanks for the suggestion!

I've never heard of that! I think I like this idea...thanks!!

I wouldn't be able to do that....and the last time Lexi was in a crate was ONCE when I was cleaning. She got so worked up about it that I now do cleaning when my husband is home so he can play with her while I clean the house. Yes....I'm an enabler lol


I also have always had larger dogs...this one is so small and does require quite a different set of "rules" so to speak. I'm learning myself. At this point....all 3 lbs of her runs the show....I can't help it...I'm done for lol


Thanks for your suggestions though :)

I would get a play pen or larger kennel so she can move around, but not run or jump.

My late Jilly was 3 lbs. and 6 1/2 when I finally had the guts to spay her. I think I kept her from jumping up or down on the doggie steps, porch, etc. for about a week or so. As she was an inveterate chewer at the time(before she choked/almost died trying to swallow the end of a rawhide chewbone), I kept her busy working on rawhide chew sticks and rubber toys she loved to destroy(she could have a toy in pieces inside 10 - 15 minutes despite her tiny size), had her find hidden treats around the house. She could walk around and sniff the treats out and each hunting episode kept her busy for about 10 minutes at a time. I spent a good deal of time sitting with her out front, in her carrier or in my lap, on the front porch and watching the world go by.

I crated her right here in the den when I couldn't hold her or be involved with her and forced her to rest far more than she liked the first few days and would drop treats through the top of the crate from time to time. She was pretty compliant, though, despite the fact that she wasn't best pleased being crated so often but would curl up and sleep for the most part. After those first 4 or 5 days, I lessened her time in the crate but still lifted her up and down from the furniture, etc., for the rest of the week or so. Even though they aren't happy having their activities confined, as humans aren't when we have to spend time in bed recovering, it's the only thing to do sometimes and usually they give up and rest in their crate. It's better than tearing things loose, getting a hernia or forming cysts in the incision and only lasts about a week and then they are done with it for good.