A couple of weeks ago, I rented a room in the house where I have my office (editorial office of WDJ) to a super nice 19-year-old guy who has an adorable, three-year-old mixed-breed dog, MJ. You’ll start seeing her picture in WDJ; we always need new models! But one of the deals I made with MJ’s owner was that MJ would get spayed. He said he had been meaning to get it done – especially after MJ had an accidental litter of puppies last summer – but as a full-time student who works, he had lacked the time and means . . . the surgery hadn’t risen to the top of his priority list yet.
I really like this young man and I really like his dog. I donate money to my own local shelter and foster puppies for them frequently. It was a no-brainer to offer to pay for MJ to get spayed.
As it worked out, my tenant was working at a summer camp during the first two weeks of his residency; I offered to dog-sit MJ during those weeks, and get her spayed at that time. He was happy with the arrangement, and will return the favor in a few weeks by dog-sitting Woody for me when I need some help.
At the veterinary clinic, I was asked whether I wanted to pay extra for pre-surgical blood work for MJ, and whether I wanted to pay extra for a “pain pack.” I declined the blood test; she’s a young, very apparently healthy dog. I did ask for a heartworm test, however; my tenant admitted that there have been some lapses in her prevention medication. (Fortunately, she turned out to be negative for heartworm, and I purchased a year’s worth of preventive medication for her, too.)
I said yes to the “pain pack.” I think that whatever is available for pain should be administered to any dog undergoing spay or neuter surgery. It actually really surprised me that any sort of pain medication would be considered optional! At my local shelter, all the dogs who are spayed receive an injection of meloxicam, which gives them 24 hours of pain relief post-surgery.
When I picked up MJ after her surgery and not long before the clinic closed for the day, she was still pretty dopey. I was given five carprofen tablets, and told to give her one a day for five days, starting as soon as I got home.
I did give MJ a carprofen tablet when we got home, and understood it would take a while to kick in, but she seemed to be in so much discomfort, it made me physically uncomfortable. I’ve watched spay surgeries before; they are not a small undertaking! I felt really bad for her. I even carried her up and down the stairs a few times that evening when she indicated she had to go outside and pee; she would stand at the top (and then the bottom) of the stairs but was clearly reluctant to attempt negotiating them herself.
The next morning, after the carprofen had taken effect, she was more comfortable, but still seemed like she was in more pain than other dogs I’ve fostered post-surgery. I called the clinic to ask whether the “pain pack” I paid for included an injection of pain medication. The receptionist put me on hold so she could check MJ’s file . . . but then sort of waffled. “We sent you home with medication to give her for pain; are you giving her that medication?”
“Yes, of course,” I said. “But did she also receive an injection of pain medication?”
Finally, the answer I got was that they “usually” do, but for some reason they hadn’t! Oh, the poor girl! No wonder she was so sore.
Fortunately, the rest of her recovery was smooth. By the next day, she was able to negotiate the stairs (albeit slowly) and by day five, I was having to keep her and Woody separated so they wouldn’t play. Her incision looks neat and healed nicely, and I’m glad to know there are no more accidental puppies in her future, wherever that finds her and her young owner.
I understand that the use of analgesics following spay/neuter surgery was uncommon decades ago, but in recent years, I thought their use is considered standard procedure. What is your experience? Does this differ in different parts of the country?
My 10 year old just got spayed 2 days ago, and also had 3 memory tumors removed from 3 separate tits. I chose to do it all at once to minimize anesthesia, since she had also gone under for tta surgery in January. My poor girl isn’t handling her surgery very well she screamed when I got her in the vehicle to go home, and refused to move to get out. I had to get a neighbor an we carried the bed she was on on all sides to bring her in. Very upsetting. It’s been 2 days and she’s still She’s in alot of pain, and I’m giving th max dose of carprofen and gabapentin around the clock. And I was told she was given an injection of carprofen at the vet. Spoke to vet today on the phone Dr believes her symptoms are just from pain ( panting, trying to change positions alot and some times shaking) ( whining has stopped though, thank God) but I’m a nervous wreck. I feel like she handled her tta surgery ( all repair where they actually cut and repositioned bone) better than this.. I trust my vet, but I’m just so sick from the hole thing. I’d love a second opinion. I know my girl is quite a bit older, but it sounded like it took a good 3 or 4 days for the major pain to end?
My eyes are welling up with tears my animal just got spayed and had a tumor on her leg removed and was given im guessing a generic of carprofen, plus is on 50 mg tramadol once a day. I cant imagine that poor animal only going home with carprofen, it seems like tylenol for dogs. My furbabies surgery was on thursday, its now saturday and she is still uncomfortable.
I foster for my local humane society and my female chihuahua went in yesterday morning for her spay surgery. I was very surprised to find out they were not sending her home with pain meds. The poor dog cries whenever she moves and will not get up to even eat or pee. I feel like they try to save money by not offering meds and it’s very wrong.
If you to tell them that’s she’s in clear pain because she’s crying, won’t they give you something for the pain? I mean it’s worth asking
My 13 month old toy aussie was spayed on Friday morning. I paid for all the pre-surgery blood-workup and all pain management meds. I was given 3 caroprofen and told to give her 1/2 of one twice a day. She threw up the first two doses. By Saturday night she finally kept a dose down. It’s now Monday, and I have no more meds for her. However, she keeps having these random episodes of jumping up, crying, and running around when she is trying to lie down or is already lying down, like something is sticking her. She is wanting to jump up and down on my couch and bed and doesn’t cry when she does that, even though m trying to stop her. She’s a stubborn aussie, and thinks she is invincible. I’ve put in a request for meds, but cannot get them until tomorrow. Any suggestions for how to handle her jerky jumping up and running frantically around?
My two schnauzer’s , one neutered and one spayed yesterday .The female is having pain and wont move around much at all ,I have to carry her outside to go pee or poop. The male is getting around good . I heard that a pain meds Rimodyl or Torbugesic is a good pain med for dogs, But you have to get it from a Vet.