Annie is in for her spay

[JanS]

knowing how our dogs can become obsessed, is that she would continue this after recovery.

That could be a concern for sure.

 

[MyBuddy]

Tell me again the date of her last heat and the date of spay? Just curious.

She started her last Heat January 2nd.
Her Spay was March 26th.

I think it may also possibly be like a toddler holding onto a comfort item, likr a nuckie, or baby blanket long after infancy. Also harmless, imho.

Actually that sounds about right to me.

I would treat the toy obsession just like a false pregnancy - take it away. Since Dobermans tend toward these compulsive/obsessive traits allowing them to practice it will only make it worse. It seems harmless and somewhat cute, but I personally think it's not healthy for them.

Anesthesia does weird things to all of us, even our dogs.
Hopefully after 5 days things will be flushed out of her system.
Very likely that she does not know what she wants but she knows something has changed for sure.
The females are so intuitive regarding such things.

I'm not really concerned about the toy thing being an obsession. I do feel it's similar to what @BG1 said about it being a comfort. Yes, she has it with her a lot. But there's also times when I'm outside and she is playing with her rope or taking a short walk with me, without the toy. So I don't feel like it's a real obsession. It's just that it's different than what we've seen in the past.

And yes, @Ladydi, I feel the same way that she doesn't know what she wants. She just knows that something's different. Like I say, I've never had a female go through a spay. And when I did it was many many years ago with a Pomeranian and I don't remember any kind of problems with that. I didn't even think they would notice a change or feel differently. But I've never had a hysterectomy either so I don't know if there is some kind of big change that they feel so quickly. I just had no idea. So all these little things I'm picking up on are just different and surprising I guess. She still has some diarrhea. It's not as often and I have seen some a little more solid but it's not back to normal yet. I did buy some slippery elm that will be coming tomorrow.

 

[Ravenbird]

I'm not really concerned about the toy thing being an obsession. I do feel it's similar to what @BG1 said about it being a comfort. Yes, she has it with her a lot. But there's also times when I'm outside and she is playing with her rope or taking a short walk with me, without the toy. So I don't feel like it's a real obsession. It's just that it's different than what we've seen in the past.

If you aren't concerned about it then that's all that matters. I took your previous posts and multiple photos of it that you were concerned that it was becoming an obsession, so I offered an answer. According to your dates provided, it's the false pregnancy level of hormones.

She started her last Heat January 2nd.
Her Spay was March 26th.

So if she had a heat of about 21 days, then it would be about 62 days past heat which would be the whelping time of hormone activity when she was spayed. It stands to reason that her hormones are just doing their thing, and hopefully they will go back to neutral since the spay removes that "clockwork" that goes on in their bodies.

 

[MyBuddy]

if she had a heat of about 21 days, then it would be about 62 days past heat which would be the whelping time of hormone activity when she was spayed

Oh really? I thought I planned that out perfectly. I remembered about the welping time and all that and I thought I was passed it! Well, darn it! Then I miscalculated. Darn it. I was trying to avoid that period of time. It was actually the first I ever heard of that. Mainly because I've never really had a female to spay so I didn't have to worry about it. Oh well. Now that she's spayed and going through this I suppose we just have to wait it out. Like you say, the Clockwork has been removed! LOL

She never acted like it was a baby. Like she was hoarding it or protective of it. Or not allowing someone to take it. We just noticed it because it was in her mouth longer than normal. Other than that I'm not noticing anything else. Except the diarrhea. LOL she's still a little on the soft side.

 

[JanS]

she's still a little on the soft side.

I guess she's only a week out from the spay so if it's gradually getting better, that's a good sign.
How are her incisions looking?

 

[Ravenbird]

Oh really? I thought I planned that out perfectly.

I don't think it's a big deal, it made sense to me when reading about it, so I'd shared it here on the forum. I'm sure Annie is well on her way to recovery and all will be fine.

It does seem to me that as a group when we share what our dobermans go through and react to, there are so MANY things that come up that are breed related. Like the diarrhea after spay. 3 out of 3 in the last couple of months? Who ever even heard about that?

 

[MyBuddy]

I guess she's only a week out from the spay so if it's gradually getting better, that's a good sign.
How are her incisions looking?

Incisions look good. I was surprised that it was only an inch long with both of them.



This one is the spay.


This one is the tack. And the tack did develop a little hardness or swelling around it, just like the doctor said it might. But no big deal. He said it will go down on its own. It was just something to be aware of.


Stools are improving! So that's a great sign!

 

[JanS]

he tack did develop a little hardness or swelling around it

Olive's did too but it did go away. They're looking really good!

 

[Two Dobes]

She looks great! I am big on photographing the 'healing stages' to make sure it is getting better....'hovering'

 

[Ziva23]

Okay, I'm going to need some love right now! LOL

I dropped off Annie at the vet's office at 8:00 a.m. this morning. Thought there would be some tears on my end but she was just so crazy excited that all I can do was laugh! She doesn't go a lot of places and I think that's going to have to change!

When I went to the front door a little boy about my youngest grandson's age, opened the door and she just about lost it over him! She loves my grandson so much and she gets so excited! So when she saw this little boy and a couple of other people in the room, she was just crazy! I almost couldn't hold her! When it looked like the girl was going to hand me something to fill out, all I could think about was, please put us in a different room!! lol and she did.

And she has a Doberman of her own! She said, "Come on, crazy, let's go!" LOL She said my Doberman does the same thing. So happy to see everybody. I said, this one is going crazy! We just kept calling her, Crazy.

So she's getting a spay and a stomach tack and there were a few questions that were a little eye-opening. Like, if she needs to be resuscitated for any reason, do you want that? I'm like, um yeah, she's only 2 years old! Resuscitate! And also if they find something else while she is open, do you want them to address it right then and there or do you want a phone call. I said yes, please call me. If it's something serious I'm sure I will want you to take care of it but I would appreciate a phone call first.

Then the doctor came in and spoke with us and went over a few things. One, I did not know that they actually do two incisions. One small one for the spay and then another small one that I think he said was on the side a little bit? Under the last rib? For the tack. He said sometimes if the dog is very rambunctious it could get a little bit of a swelling at that site. But he said it will go down on its own. And stitches are all the dissolving kind. He said the incision for the spay was small. Probably 3- 4 inches maybe? He showed me with his fingers. LOL When I told him I didn't know there was going to be two incisions he said if we did them both in the same incision area the incision line would be three times as long.

I'm okay with everything he's saying because I have only heard good things about this guy. People come from all over the country to him from what I hear. The receptionist told me the furthest somebody had come from was Hawaii! I don't know if it was for a spay or what but that's incredible! So I feel very confident he's going to do a great job.

And Annie barely looked back at me when he took her away. She was so excited to see the other people that she went willingly and without a problem. Only coming home to an empty house brought sadness. But I know it's not permanent and already I can't wait to pick her up!

He told me she will probably be the first one done. Referring to that clientele again, he said I have some people coming from far away so I like to get them done and back on the road as quickly as possible.

I had a phone call from the girl yesterday confirming our appointment and going over a few things. She made it sound like I would pick her up around 3:00 or 4:00. Well, as it turns out, today just might be another one of those stormy days like we just had with all the hail and the tornado. I discussed that a little with the doctor telling him that I hoped to pick her up before everything goes to hell and he said she will be the first one done and you should be able to call by noon to see how she's doing. She may not be able to go home at noon but at least we can give you a better time on when she is able to go. And hopefully it will be earlier than later. So I was happy about that.

Right now she's probably on the table. Or actually maybe even done! So far I have not received a phone call and he said, no news is good news! When I talked to the girl yesterday I asked her about getting her back into my car. I said, can she jump back into the car? Or do we have to pick her up. Picking her up just seems a little scary. With the surgery and all, how do you handle that? But she said it would be no problem to have her jump up there. She should not have too many restrictions. I'm like, what? Really? She said, not really. I told her I figured I would be hand walking her for 2 weeks and she said no, she should be fine. Just not as rambunctious as she was this morning, I'm sure LOL She also said they will send home some icky tasting application to put on the incision. I said, oh wow, that would be awesome! I think that's my biggest concern is her licking that.

So here I wait.......

My girl went in on May 1st for spay and gastroplexy. Her incision was at least 10 inches of not more. We kept her quiet in her rate in our living room as much as possible first few days. Her medication was supposed to help subdue her a little but the trazodone had little impact. I came out in the morning on day 3 and her whole stomach area was bloody and wet. Back to vet and they put an extra couple staples in. They said vlood and fluid can collect between the skin where it was sutured. We thought she pulled her stitches but they said everything was entact. We are past 5 weeks now and she is just like new. I am curious what your surgeries cost. We paid $1845 for both at once.

 

[MyBuddy]

My girl went in on May 1st for spay and gastroplexy. Her incision was at least 10 inches of not more. We kept her quiet in her rate in our living room as much as possible first few days. Her medication was supposed to help subdue her a little but the trazodone had little impact. I came out in the morning on day 3 and her whole stomach area was bloody and wet. Back to vet and they put an extra couple staples in. They said vlood and fluid can collect between the skin where it was sutured. We thought she pulled her stitches but they said everything was entact. We are past 5 weeks now and she is just like new. I am curious what your surgeries cost. We paid $1845 for both at once.

Well, you had a little bit of a scare, didn't you? I certainly would have freaked out if I woke up and found Annie was bloody! I'm glad everything worked out fine for you. Back to normal! That's what we like to hear.

Annie was very , very sleepy that first day. But she perked up fairly quickly. Almost too quickly sometimes, I thought. Couldn't keep that girl down too long! LOL But of course she's doing fine now too. As if nothing happened. And I am breathing a sigh of relief that it's over and done. She is our fourth Doberman and second female. Our first female was already spayed when we got her. So this was the first time I had to go through something like this and it was a little nerve-racking, to say the least. But I'm glad it's done and she's doing well. Our bill was actually a little less than yours at $1,495 for both the spay and the tack.

 

[Ziva23]

Well, you had a little bit of a scare, didn't you? I certainly would have freaked out if I woke up and found Annie was bloody! I'm glad everything worked out fine for you. Back to normal! That's what we like to hear.

Annie was very , very sleepy that first day. But she perked up fairly quickly. Almost too quickly sometimes, I thought. Couldn't keep that girl down too long! LOL But of course she's doing fine now too. As if nothing happened. And I am breathing a sigh of relief that it's over and done. She is our fourth Doberman and second female. Our first female was already spayed when we got her. So this was the first time I had to go through something like this and it was a little nerve-racking, to say the least. But I'm glad it's done and she's doing well. Our bill was actually a little less than yours at $1,495 for both the spay and the tack.

Interesting on the cost. I live in Washington State in a blue city so no surprise it was more. The low end of my estimate was 1200 to high of 2,000. Her incision was at least 14 inches. They did more than just a tack, I think. Seems like they did an extensive attachment.

Glad it all worked out. My girl is 100% as well.

 

[MyBuddy]

Interesting on the cost. I live in Washington State in a blue city so no surprise it was more. The low end of my estimate was 1200 to high of 2,000. Her incision was at least 14 inches. They did more than just a tack, I think. Seems like they did an extensive attachment.

Glad it all worked out. My girl is 100% as well.

I'm in illinois. Another blue state. I thought this vet was rather reasonable considering some of the prices I've heard on here.

 

[BGpa]

I'm in illinois. Another blue state. I thought this vet was rather reasonable considering some of the prices I've heard on here.

$1150 here two years ago on basic spay. This in n San Diego county with indy vet who we've been very happy with for 20 years. I did price shop to say I did and that was in the same to slightly higher elsewhere range inc a past dobe breeder/crop vet.

I'm sure its much higher now at a VCA or SurgiVet type place.

 

[MichiH]

$1150 here two years ago on basic spay. This in n San Diego county with indy vet who we've been very happy with for 20 years. I did price shop to say I did and that was in the same to slightly higher elsewhere range inc a past dobe breeder/crop vet.

I'm sure its much higher now at a VCA or SurgiVet type place.

Yes, 1400 ish for just a spay. Plus, diarrhea after, due to pain meds so 500 at the ER. No one will do a stomach staple which is odd.

 

[JanS]

No one will do a stomach staple which is odd.

I think I heard the reason for that quite some time ago but I can't remember what they said.
Phoebe had staples after her exploratory surgery and the removal was easy but that was a whole different case.

 

[Ravenbird]

Yes, 1400 ish for just a spay. Plus, diarrhea after, due to pain meds so 500 at the ER. No one will do a stomach staple which is odd.

Ashas was less than $450 and that included a CBC blood test which was $142 of that.

 

[MichiH]

Ashas was less than $450 and that included a CBC blood test which was $142 of that.

Wow! Crazy the price differences.

 

[MyBuddy]

I think I heard the reason for that quite some time ago but I can't remember what they said.
Phoebe had staples after her exploratory surgery and the removal was easy but that was a whole different case.

I love the dissolving stitches! Both on Annie and on my horse. It made it so much easier. Don't have to go back in for removal and I didn't have any problem with them dissolving.

 

[Spocksdad]

I love the dissolving stitches! Both on Annie and on my horse. It made it so much easier. Don't have to go back in for removal and I didn't have any problem with them dissolving.

We adopted our Lola at 11 mos. from Houston Area Doberman Rescue (HADR) where she had been spayed shortly before. They used internal dissolving stitches and surgical incision was healing great. Then after a few days she started to chew on the incision scar, becoming inflamed, requiring another vet visit. Was advised by vet that the dissolving stitches can cause itching irritation. We ordered a "Suticle" from Amazon which she wore inside house (rear flap snapped up) and outside for potty & walks (rear flap opened, rolled up) No problems after this routine implemented.

Lola in "Suticle"


Rear Flap Rolled Up for Walks & Potty (Meeting Fiona 1st Time)

which