Pre-Op & After Care Cropping Questions

[Edens_Daddy]

So tomorrow morning (6/8/15) my Dobie is getting her ears cropped by Dr. Jezbera
Heres a pic of her yesterday...

I had a few pre op and aftercare question

When should we stop letting her have food?
Is water OK?
Is there any other pre op procedures or quid lines to follow?

Now for after care...
Is there anything I should I should or have ready/prepared for her?
I want her to be as comfortable as possible.
Any signs or anything watch out for?


If there's anything else that I'm forgetting/advice please let me know... This is first time taking care of a cropping.

Thanks in advance for all advice and info!!!

 

[JanS]

Our dogs have all been done while they're at the breeder, but the vet should have given you some preop instructions.
As a rule, if anesthesia is involved they make you stop food and water after midnight the night before.

Now for after care...
Is there anything I should I should or have ready/prepared for her?

They pretty much rest until the anesthesia wears off so some nice clean bedding or a clean comfortable place to rest is the biggest thing.
After the sedation wears off, watch out because they go right back to normal. She might try to scratch the ears since they generally come home with a cup of something similar so you want to watch so she doesn't scratch her stitches out or anything

I guess things to watch for would be popping out a stitch or swelling/bleeding in the area, but I'm sure she'll do fine.

Like I said, I'm sort of shooting blind because ours have all been done while they were with the breeder, but those are just general guidelines for any type of procedure.

What a cutie!

 

[AresMyDobie]

No food the night before but water was ok for us. Nothing the morning of the surgery. Pick the food up at a normal hour. Can't have anything pretty much after ten pm if I can remember right.

lol lots of cotton balls and qtips for after
We got a donut blow up collar that was the greatest thing ever. Saved him from rolling on his ears or being able to scratch
Lot of neosporing triple antibiotic
Lol and try not to stress out. She's gonna look like frankenpuppy so don't freak out.
We cleaned morning and night with hydrogen peroxide. Don't press hard when cleaning.
Don't pick of the scabs. Soak them off if they are coming off don't force them off.
We used a exercise pen for him to sleep in till he was in post because it had no top.
If you have other dogs keep her away till healed
And once again try not to stress out to much !
[DOUBLEPOST=1433707830][/DOUBLEPOST]

No food the night before but water was ok for us. Nothing the morning of the surgery. Pick the food up at a normal hour. Can't have anything pretty much after ten pm if I can remember right.

lol lots of cotton balls and qtips for after
We got a donut blow up collar that was the greatest thing ever. Saved him from rolling on his ears or being able to scratch
Lot of neosporing triple antibiotic
Lol and try not to stress out. She's gonna look like frankenpuppy so don't freak out.
We cleaned morning and night with hydrogen peroxide. Don't press hard when cleaning.
Don't pick of the scabs. Soak them off if they are coming off don't force them off.
We used a exercise pen for him to sleep in till he was in post because it had no top.
If you have other dogs keep her away till healed
And once again try not to stress out to much !

I would call and ask what the food and water rules though I don't remember all that well what we were told.
[DOUBLEPOST=1433708094,1433707762][/DOUBLEPOST]

No food the night before but water was ok for us. Nothing the morning of the surgery. Pick the food up at a normal hour. Can't have anything pretty much after ten pm if I can remember right.

lol lots of cotton balls and qtips for after
We got a donut blow up collar that was the greatest thing ever. Saved him from rolling on his ears or being able to scratch
Lot of neosporing triple antibiotic
Lol and try not to stress out. She's gonna look like frankenpuppy so don't freak out.
We cleaned morning and night with hydrogen peroxide. Don't press hard when cleaning.
Don't pick of the scabs. Soak them off if they are coming off don't force them off.
We used a exercise pen for him to sleep in till he was in post because it had no top.
If you have other dogs keep her away till healed
And once again try not to stress out to much !
[DOUBLEPOST=1433707830][/DOUBLEPOST]
I would call and ask what the food and water rules though I don't remember all that well what we were told.

Here he is after surgery and with his donut

[DOUBLEPOST=1433708128][/DOUBLEPOST]

No food the night before but water was ok for us. Nothing the morning of the surgery. Pick the food up at a normal hour. Can't have anything pretty much after ten pm if I can remember right.

lol lots of cotton balls and qtips for after
We got a donut blow up collar that was the greatest thing ever. Saved him from rolling on his ears or being able to scratch
Lot of neosporing triple antibiotic
Lol and try not to stress out. She's gonna look like frankenpuppy so don't freak out.
We cleaned morning and night with hydrogen peroxide. Don't press hard when cleaning.
Don't pick of the scabs. Soak them off if they are coming off don't force them off.
We used a exercise pen for him to sleep in till he was in post because it had no top.
If you have other dogs keep her away till healed
And once again try not to stress out to much !
[DOUBLEPOST=1433707830][/DOUBLEPOST]
I would call and ask what the food and water rules though I don't remember all that well what we were told.
[DOUBLEPOST=1433708094,1433707762][/DOUBLEPOST]
Here he is after surgery and with his donut

Size medium for the donut

 

[Edens_Daddy]

I was planning on stopping food around 8 or 9 tonight...

We have 2 other dogs(both min pins) do you think they will be OK with her?

 

[JanS]

We have 2 other dogs(both min pins) do you think they will be OK with her?

They should be unless they bother her otherwise. She'll be fine and bounced back to normal before you know it.

I don't think you need the doughnut in most cases unless they won't leave it alone. I do keep one on hand just in case though for any procedure.

 

[Gretchen_Red]

No advice! Breeder did ages ears as well! Good luck!

 

[Gretchen_Red]

I HATE autocorrect! Wish I knew how to turn it off!

 

[Archer]

I HATE autocorrect! Wish I knew how to turn it off!

It's under settings, general, keyboard
[DOUBLEPOST=1433786258,1433785856][/DOUBLEPOST]I agree they don't need a doughnut or E collar unless they are bothering their ears.

Also don't let the vet throw extras at you that you don't need. Pain meds for 1-2 days are appropriate, but they really don't need anything else. Even supplements aren't worth it at this point. They can be used later if the ears have trouble standing. I've heard of people being sent home with sedatives and Prednisone post op. Not needed unless there are complications, or your puppy won't leave her ears alone.

General rule of thumb for ANY surgery (human or dog) is no food or water after midnight the night before.

My girls were done by the breeder, but I was present. Archer's we chose to have done by a vet of our choice as at that time I didn't want a long show crop. I would not go that route now. If only I knew back then. Afterwards these guys are pretty stoic and go right back to bouncing around like nothing happened after the anesthesia wares off. It's impressive and just shows that it's not as barbaric of a procedure as some people think. They won't send her home to you until she's fully recovered from the anesthetic as there are too many risks (at least they shouldn't)

Watch for excess bleeding, swelling, extreme redness and any significant colored dicharge (clear is ok and part of the healing process). Don't clean the ears or pick the scabs until the sutures come out as this can promote infection. If you have any concerns we are here to help!!

Best of luck to her!! Can't wait to see her crop

 

[Edens_Daddy]

Thanks for the replies guys,

Well we went in at about 9 this morning and we are home and hanging out already...
They didn't send me with any extras except for 4 days of pain pills(8 bucks)

When they brought her out I was amazed at how well Dr. Jezbera did!! I can't wait to see the final final result!!

here's a pic before we went in

And here she is after

 

[AresMyDobie]

Looks great

 

[JanS]

Awesome! I'm glad everything went well and I can't wait to see her ears either.

 

[Gretchen_Red]

I feel like you should hold her up to the sky like on Lion King and sing!

 

[Archer]

Glad things went well. They are going to look great