Is spaying my dog worth the pain? She's so sad after surgery.

Hello. It can take up to 24 hours for all the sedation to work through her system, so she is very likely still a bit under the influence. I would like for you to look at her gums, the tissue just above her canine teeth, to see if she looks nice & pink. If her color is pale, greyish or bluish, get her back to your vet immediately. You can certainly lay with her, & if she is just on a cold floor, I would try to get her on something warmer. The pain medication is just indicated for once a day, so you can not give her any more just yet, nor can you give any aspirin, Tylenol or Alleve. Your veterinarian may have something else on hand if it looks like she needs more, but most patients are feeling much, much better by the next day. Keep her warm & in a quiet place, & she should do just fine. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Daisy! Is Daisy on pain medications. She sounds painful to me. I would call and ask for pain medications or for additional pain medications. She should be on an anti-inflammatory (rimadyl, previcox and deramax) at a minimum. They can add tramadol and/or gabapentin. If you are worried and are not happy with how she is acting then definitely take her somewhere to be evaluated. They can check her temperature, her gums and her pain level. I hope this helps and I wish Daisy the best!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Yes, it is fine to spay a 6 year old dog. It is the best way to prevent further pregnancy and to prevent an infected uterus (pyometra) which is life threatening. The only negative at this age is that the surgery will be more difficult and she is at a bit of a higher risk for bleeding. I would also be sure your Vet does a good exam and gets blood work before surgery to be sure she is healthy. It will also take her a bit longer than a young dog to recover. She will likely be acting like herself with in 3 days but will be fully recovered at 2 weeks like younger dogs. I wish you the best!

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Typically a combination of drugs is administered prior to the procedure. I typically like giving the pre-medication 15-20 minutes prior to the procedure. This should not set her back and once she is out of the unfamiliar vet clinic, she should be fine. You can ask the veterinarian to pre-medicate her prior to the procedure so that she is not so stressed out. It is not necessary to keep dogs that have been spayed overnight. All of my spay procedures go home that exact same day. If you feel she will be too stressed out while there, I would be more apt to have you keep Sie at home for the post-op recovery period. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Hello. I can understand your anxiety, & there are some studies to suggest that some breeds are better off being neutered after a year or so of age, but for the most part, there is no danger & there is no greater likelihood of advanced disease in these animals. I always remind people that many women need to have hysterectomies for various medical reasons, & while the vast majority of these surgeries happen after puberty, there is no known significant increase in cancer, Alzheimer's, endocrine disease, etc. in these women. You will be hard-pressed to find any veterinarian who has been in practice longer than 20 years who will say there has been an uptick in medical problems in neutered animals. Pets are living longer & healthier lives because of this, & while we are still not making a huge dent in the pet overpopulation program & the number of puppies & kittens euthanized each year, we are trying. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi there. Different individuals can respond to anesthesia differently, just like humans. In my experience, it's not uncommon for some pets to be wobbly, confused, or otherwise "out of it" for up to 24 hours or so after an anesthetic event. As long as she's responsive and doesn't seem to be getting worse, this is likely normal. If she's still shaky and crying by tomorrow morning, I would recommend giving your vet a call as she may be painful and need some additional medication to help with this. For tonight, you can sit and snuggle with her if she seems to want this, or leave her alone if she doesn't want to be touched. Make sure she has food and water available if she wants it. Monitor for any bleeding from the incision site, pale gums, or increased weakness or acting less responsive, as these could indicate a more serious problem that needs an ER visit.

Yes, absolutely normal ! We all would want some pain relief if we had a similar surgery. I am happy to hear that Ella has improved and is better in herself .The most painful days are the first 3-4 after surgery, remember to try to keep her rested until you have your final post op check up and any skin sutures, if present, are removed.