Can anyone tell me what to expect?

[alclemmo]

My little Zoey is getting spayed today. She is 7 months. For some reason... I dreaded doing it, but knew that it had to be done! She is getting the laser procedure, which is by far the best way to have it done!!

We dropped her off this morning. We get to pick her up around 4:00 this evening. The laser procedure allows them to come home the same day. It is a little more expensive, but if you can afford it... it is well worth it!

I was wondering if anyone could tell me maybe what I might can expect... today or in the near future.

Will she be in a drugged state most of tonight?

Will this change her personality or behavior at all?

She has been a serious jumper and nipper! I would love for this to disappear as a side effect!! LOL

Would love to hear from your experiences!

Mandy (and Zoey)

 

[Cami]

I don't know anything about the laser procedure. Both of my girls had the traditional type of surgery and were home the same afternoon. Raine did have some sort of laser done on the incision AFTER the procedure to help with pain management and recovery time. I don't know if I noticed a difference between her and Cami's surgery.
In both of my girls cases neither of their personalities were affected in any way, shape or form. The lunatic-side of their brains remained intact!

Cami was groggy for about 3 days but she never did do well with anesthesia or pain medications. Raine was sleepy that night and for about 1/2 of the next day but after that it was game on and I tried desperately to keep her calm so the incision would heal properly (it did). She didn't pay too much attention to it so never had to wear any device to keep her away from it. Someone was home with her pretty much 24/7 and could easily distract her if she got curious about the incision for the entire two weeks the sutures were in. Pain meds were on board for 3-5 days (can't recall exact time line). They didn't really make her sleepy though but she was more easily entertained "quietly" during that time. Neither girl ever acted as if they were in ANY pain from the procedure but they MUST have been (or one would think). Raine was a bit slower and more methodical in her stretching but that was about the only sign we got. Maybe a bit sore verses really painful.

We utilized raw bones, stuffed Kongs, interactive toys and indoor training sessions to keep her mind occupied so she didn't have a desire to be her normal Boxer self. It worked about 40% of the time and the other 60% would find her running and jumping much to my dismay.

She wasn't interested in drinking for about 3 days (IV fluids) so don't get too concerned if you notice a similar side effect. Took her at least 2 days before she went poo and about a week before she was "back to normal" in that area. She is a food hound and having to withhold previous nights snacks and her breakfast the day of surgery threw her for a loop. She DID gobble up her dinner the night of surgery but we split it up to only handfuls and feeding by hand over the course of a few hours.

The worst part (IMO) is trying to figure out a way to keep them calm for 2 weeks. Wishing Zoey a speedy recovery!

**For what it's worth. Raine was spayed at 7 months of age and is now 20 months old. She STILL jumps like a crazy girl and nips during play (hubby's fault).

 

[alclemmo]

Thanks Susi!

Thanks so much Susi, for sharing Cami and Raine's experience with me!

I was just so curious to know what to expect. I didn't want to panic if she acted really different.

I know the vet will advise me when I pick her up, but I wanted to hear from another boxer lover what to expect! You gave me some good information!

Sounds like Zoey may have a similar personality to Raine... so I probably won't be lucky enough for the jumping and nipping to magically disappear! LOL Also... I can attribute that to "my husband"! MEN!! LOL

 

[MissDeja]

I had déjà spayed at about 7 months as well. She had a bad reaction to the anesthesia and vomited the night I took her home and the next morning. She also lost her appetite for the first 24 hrs. The vet told me that this is normal.

I agree with the reply above that it was difficult to keep her calm for the following couple weeks. It took déjà a little bit longer to heal because of her need to jump on the couch, with a running start. Lol.

Good luck, and keep us posted with the recovery!

 

[Gatorblu]

Arabella was a bit older when she was spayed. She came home that afternoon. She slept for the most part and I don't think she ate until the next morning and then is was maybe a 1/4 cup of food. After being home 24 hrs she was pretty much back to normal. All the drugs had worked out of her system by then. I took her off the pain meds after the second night home. I was hoping that a little discomfort would slow her down, the pain meds sure weren't! If it did slow her down it wasn't by much. She too, is a highly active dog. She never bothered with her stitches. The biggest challenge was keeping her calm. I don't think I did a very good job at that, but she healed well all the same.

 

[EllieKem]

Emma had laser surgery when she was 8 months old. The only difference I noted from my other friend's experience is that she did have a little quicker heal time and when you look at her scar it is almost invisible. On her friends I can clearly see the scar but thats about it for the most part. These days I think the proceedure has become so well done that the laser doesn't make as much of an impact like a major surgery would. IMHO that is...

Boxers are such difficult dogs to keep quiet that I'd be surprised if anyone was able to keep their fur kids as "quiet" as we'd have like after the procedure. They kept Emma overnight and I picked her up on a Friday. She had about three days worth of pain pills and was only sleepy the first day and the next morning. By the day after I had to put up baby gates to make sure she didn't go upstairs. I did carry her around a bit for the first week but that was me going a little overboard. I did keep her away from the dog park for the entire two weeks and it killer her and me by the next week she was ready to play and run and going a little bonkers in the house with only walks on leash. That's when we started to play "hide and seek" with her toys and bones. It does help tire them out by making them problem solve.

It'll be fine and I'm sure you have a good vet that would be there to help should anything seem odd. ** Oops, I forgot to add that it did NOTHING to change to her personality or actions - Still the same old crazy, silly, back talking boxer that I sent to the vets two years ago!

 

[alclemmo]

Zoey's Recovery!!

Thanks everyone for all the advice and well wishes! Zoey's surgery went very well.

It was funny... when we picked her up from the vet... she came out and was so excited to see us. She was doing the kidney bean and everything! We were thinking... hmmm... she doesn't seem like a puppy that just had surgery! But then... when we got to the car and put her in the back... she laid down... and we didn't hear much of a peep out of her again!

She laid on her bed in front of our fireplace... and was the SWEETEST puppy all night!!! LOL

And then... morning came!! LOL Completely back to normal, hyper puppy!! Man... I was so hoping to get at least one more peaceful day out of this thing!!! LOL

But for her sake... I am glad that she recouped so quickly! Things are back to "boxer normal" around here!