Ozzy's at the vet ... he's getting neutered today. I'm so nervous.

[BattyDem]

:scared:

I know, it's a "routine" procedure, but after dealing with all the health issues of my poodle, who I lost last February, I can't think of anything as "routine" - I'm totally stressed out. :-(

On top of that, I'm dreading the "cone" that he'll have to wear for the next 10 days! He will spend all day and night trying to get it off ... I just know it. Ozzy tends to be a bit ... um, how should I put this ... nuts! :D

[badgerpup]

1. Didn't know dogs needed a cone after the procedure...

My cats never did...and if you've ever been 'kissed' by a cat, you know about their sandpaper tongues!

A lot of people here have had very good results with Rescue Remedy and Bach flower remedies to help with dealing with 'nuts' behaviors...especially when a furkid is really stressed, e.g., moving, surgery, new human baby or new furkid in the house- or other things that interfere with their routine and cause them distress (and possible behavior issues and might affect their overall health).

Do check them out...for Ozzie's sake and yours!

Ozzie (and you) will be fine :hug: and you are one loving and responsible human companion!

[BattyDem]

2. Not all dogs need the cone.

My poodle didn't ... but he did end up pulling his own stitches out a day early, LOL!

I have been kissed by a cat and it amazes me every time! After years of being slobbered on by dogs, it's so nice to get a kiss and not have to "towel off" afterward. :)

Thanks for the info about Rescue Remedy. Most of it's just "puppy" nuts - he'll grow out of it eventually. However, we are having some separation anxiety issues and if we don't get them resolved soon, Rescue Remedy may be the way to go. I'll check it out. :-)

Thanks for the hug. :hug: I'm sure he'll be fine - he has a wonderful vet - it's just that I'm still not over losing my poodle last year and the idea of anything hurting Ozzy or happening to him upsets me terribly. I can't wait until 3:00pm - that's when I can call to find out how he's doing. :-)

[roody]

24. You can take the Rescue Remedy too.

[BattyDem]

25. After 10 days of ...

trying to keep an 8 month old schnoodle calm and quiet, I may need it! :crazy:

[roody]

26. I'm glad he is doing well. What a doll!

[undeterred]

3. My dog was neutered about a month ago.

It was very routine. He was quiet for a day or two and showed some interest in the incision area, but I never even thought about getting a cone for him. He actually seemed to forget about it after a couple of days.

If you can distract him maybe you won't need one either.

[BattyDem]

4. Maybe I'll try taking it off ... but I'll watch him very closely.

My only concern is when I'm sleeping because that's when my poodle pulled his stitches out. Luckily, it happened nine days after surgery so it wasn't a problem. Up until that point, he didn't touch them at all - they probably got itchy, LOL!

Maybe Ozzy will surprise me and be good about it all. I doubt it ... but anything's possible. :D

[undeterred]

5. My dogs stitches were on the inside.

So there was nothing for him to grab onto and pull. No return visit to take stitches out either- they dissolve.

[BattyDem]

6. Inside? No outside stitches at all?

Wow ... how did they manage to do that? I wish my vet used that procedure.

[undeterred]

7. None at all.

Well I can't really picture it, but here's the thing- they no longer take the testicles "off". Instead they take the testicle (glands) out and leave the surrounding skin. I think the extra skin makes it easier to put in subcutaneous stitches, like you were sewing something inside out that will later be turned right side out.

At first the dog has an empty sac hanging where his testicles were, but it shrinks up in a couple of weeks. This link shows the procedure:

http://www.thepetcenter.com/sur/dneut.html

[BattyDem]

8. Thanks for the link.

:hi:

My poodle had that procedure - the surrounding skin was still there, but the glands were gone. But he did have 4 or 5 stitches. Of course, that was 12 years ago, so maybe they've perfected the technique. Come to think of it ... my vet never mentioned a cone, I just assumed Ozzy would have one. Maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised when I pick him up. :-)

[undeterred]

9. I hope so.

I fostered an adult dog this summer before I got Ollie and I had him neutered too. When I picked him up I was surprised to see the 'sac' still there. But I figured it was a different style of surgery. He had no external stitches either and he never bothered the surgical site.

I really don't know when vets started doing it the new way or if everyone does. I have a feeling that the 'quick and dirty' method of taking off the whole thing- sac and glands- is still practiced - its probably faster and cheaper. But it does require external stitches.

[InvisibleTouch]

10. An alternative to the cone...

...which can really be awkward for the dog, not to mention he bumps into things with it: look for a big soft doughnut-shaped collar he can wear around his neck. A friend's dog used this for a few weeks while stiches were healing, and it was a wonderful alternative to the cone collar. He could easily move around with it, curl up to sleep, didn't get caught on things. And it still completely prevented him from reaching his stitches.

Here's one source that has them for sale:

ProCollar Inflatable Elizabethan Collar for Dogs

[BattyDem]

11. Thank you!

I believe I saw that at the pet store before the holidays. I think I'll go get one before I pick him up tonight. :-)

[BattyDem]

12. Just spoke to the vet ... Ozzy's fine!

:bounce:

I can pick him up at 6:00pm. :-)

[InvisibleTouch]

13. Glad to hear it!

The first time I had a dog's teeth cleaned, I was nervous too, even though it's entirely routine. But it involves anesthesia, so you never know. I wanted to hang out at the vet's office during the procedure, even. But he was fine.

[BattyDem]

14. Thanks again for telling me about that collar

It just saved us from a very stressful 10 days!

We got home, put the cone on and he freaked out ... then he looked sadder than I've ever seen him look. It broke my heart! :-( I took it off of him, put the inflatable collar on and he's doing very well with it. Of course, he's still not thrilled about wearing something, but at least he's not sad and stressed. He's comfortable and was able to doze off for a little while. :-)

If you didn't mention the collar, I never would have thought of it. Like I said, I saw it in the store before the holidays, but was in a rush and didn't really look at it closely. Since then, I completely forgot about it. I just spoke to the vet and told him I was using it and he said, "Oh great! I haven't tried them yet and I was wondering if they actually worked. Let me know." :-)

[AZBlue]

15. That is a relief!

It's "routine" but anything can go wrong - it is surgery after all.
I'm so glad he's ok!!
:D

[BattyDem]

16. Thanks!

:hi:

[MountainLaurel]

17. Glad your boy is OK!

:party:

[BrklynLiberal]

18. Great news...

[Eurobabe]

19. Awww, he's a cutie

Here's vibes hoping he comes through with flying colors. :hug:

[BattyDem]

22. Thanks!

:hug:

[Lorien]

20. Ozzie sure is adorable

I'm sure he'll be OK. He'll be safer than if he wasn't neutered. The collie I had as a child was un-neutered for several years and he just kept escaping from the backyard or house! We'd find him a half mile from home searching for any bitch he could find (he couldn't help it)! During one of his escapes he was struck by a car and had to have a steel plate replace part of his hip, poor guy. Once he was fixed he had no desire to wander away from home, Hmmm..now that I think of it I can think of a few men I know who should be neutered too...

[BattyDem]

23. LOL!

:rofl:

[BattyDem]

21. Thanks for all the well wishes!

:hi:

Ozzy's doing fine. He's adjusted to the plastic cone and the inflatable ProCollar. I use the ProCollar during the day, when I can keep an eye on him, because he has the ability to twist his body like a sideshow contortionist, LOL! With a little effort, he can get to the stitches. Even with the cone, he can still get to the stitches if he twists in just the right way, but it takes longer and far more effort to do so. That's why I use the cone at night, along with a sedative, so I can get some sleep without worrying that he's going to rip the stitches out.

I did have to give him half a sedative pill about an hour ago because he was starting to jump and run around. I'm glad that he feels well enough to do so, but that was causing some swelling, which the vet really wants to avoid. So ... he's sleeping now. I feel bad about sedating him, but I don't want any problems. Everything's been fine so far and I don't want to take any chances. The vet wants him to be very calm and quiet, at least until Monday. Let me tell you ... it's not easy keeping an 8 month old Schnoodle calm and quiet, LOL!

[Eurobabe]

27. Glad to hear he is doing well

sounds like he'll be running around in no time. :hi: