Spay and heat cycles

[MichiH]

We are at 2 weeks now and Pepper is still lactating. When will this end? I do think her not eating was due to me removing all toys. She was depressed I suppose, because she was mothering them.

Otherwise she’s fine, just extra sleepy, but we keep our activity the same and that makes her happy.

 

[MichiH]

Her surgery suit arrived today and was not a good fit. I ordered an XL and Pepper isn’t even huge. It was too short and too tight on the chest.
Vet did mention it may rub the incision area and now I see how that could happen. If it were bigger there would be extra room for her to grab it to chew it.
Not sure it would be effective and I think going the e collar route to leave it as a reminder will be my best option.
Just my experience so far, but wanted to share it.

 

[JanS]

Vet did mention it may rub the incision area and now I see how that could happen.

I have heard that before but others say it has worked for them. Like I said, I never needed the e collar with either of our spayed girls but it's good to keep on hand anyway.

 

[MyBuddy]

Her surgery suit arrived today and was not a good fit. I ordered an XL and Pepper isn’t even huge. It was too short and too tight on the chest.
Vet did mention it may rub the incision area and now I see how that could happen. If it were bigger there would be extra room for her to grab it to chew it.
Not sure it would be effective and I think going the e collar route to leave it as a reminder will be my best option.
Just my experience so far, but wanted to share it.

Good thoughts there on rubbing the incision if too small. I don't think I would have thought of that until I put it on. And if it's too big I can see them being uncomfortable enough to start pulling at it. And even too big might rub on the incision. Yeah, I don't think I'm going with that either, even though I know some people had it work for them.

I have an inflatable neck collar that I bought when Annie had the cut on her foreleg but she still got around that at times. I like the one that @JanS posted better. I have to go look at it again but it looked much more comfortable and looks like it would work better.

 

[MichiH]

Good thoughts there on rubbing the incision if too small. I don't think I would have thought of that until I put it on. And if it's too big I can see them being uncomfortable enough to start pulling at it. And even too big might rub on the incision. Yeah, I don't think I'm going with that either, even though I know some people had it work for them.

I have an inflatable neck collar that I bought when Annie had the cut on her foreleg but she still got around that at times. I like the one that @JanS posted better. I have to go look at it again but it looked much more comfortable and looks like it would work better.

Yeah I didn’t even think of the suit being a bother, but I don’t think it’ll work for Pepper. So I’ll return it today.

What did @JanS post? I may need to buy that too. I’m definitely not buying the vets cone they want 30 dialers haha.

 

[MyBuddy]

I think some people do it that way but I personally don't believe in them at all. If I use anything it would be the Bite-not.
BiteNot™ I do keep one on hand just in case but do not use it unless absolutely necessary.

The link is Bite Not

I think this one would work better than the inflatable one that I have.

What did @JanS post?

 

[JanS]

Good thoughts there on rubbing the incision if too small.

That and I've heard that you don't want to cover the incision since air can't get to it and you could wind up with an infection. The vet sends them home with nothing covering it so I'm guessing that's the way they want it.

The link is Bite Not

I think this one would work better than the inflatable one that I have.

It worked great when we needed it for our GSP and it's so much better than the bulky cone in their face. I bought an inflatable one as a "just in case" when Albert was neutered but we didn't need it and it never held air from the day I got it.

 

[MyBuddy]

It worked great when we needed it for our GSP and it's so much better than the bulky cone in their face. I bought an inflatable one as a "just in case" when Albert was neutered but we didn't need it

Yes I hate those cones and I'm sure all the animals do too. Nothing like tunnel vision LOL but seriously they can't even walk with them or eat, they look ridiculous and they're always in the way. Anything is better than the cone. The inflatable one I got just wasn't enough to keep Annie from bending her head around. That collar one looked like it would work better. And again, even better than the inflatable one as far as being bulky and in the way.

Yeah I never used anything on Buddy after his neuter either. It was never a problem. A large incision on their stomach might be different with a spay. I'm sure it starts to itch. Did Olive touch it at all?

 

[BGpa]

Ya, we bot the cheapo cone of shame off Amazon for like $9 and it worked fine on BYB Bonnie unprogrammed early spay at 14 mo...

The vet left the stitches uncovered and we watched and said NO, and redirected when she wanted to pick at it, I think iirc we took cone off after 3 days and it was fine.

Each dog is different.

 

[JanS]

Did Olive touch it at all?

She had zero interest in touching it so that was good.
It honestly looked good to me the day after, considering she had the gastropexy too.


And 2 weeks later.

 

[MyBuddy]

She had zero interest in touching it so that was good.
It honestly looked good to me the day after, considering she had the gastropexy too.
View attachment 155732

And 2 weeks later.
View attachment 155733

Can we have a picture now? I always wondered if it would look completely gone or not. Does it look like it was never even done?

 

[JanS]

Can we have a picture now? I always wondered if it would look completely gone or not. Does it look like it was never even done?

This is from right now. The gastropexy (left side of the photo) adds to it quite a bit and I doubt it will ever look like it was never done.

 

[Rits]

@JanS I see Olive has an extra lucky nipple like Ripley does too

 

[MichiH]

@JanS I see Olive has an extra lucky nipple like Ripley does too

So does Pepper in that same area too!

 

[MyBuddy]

They get quite the incision. as someone who is a little squeamish about stuff like this it's not going to be fun. Just ask @Ddski5 Don LOL When Annie had that cut on her four leg I was a bit treating it.

 

[MichiH]

They get quite the incision. as someone who is a little squeamish about stuff like this it's not going to be fun. Just ask @Ddski5 Don LOL When Annie had that cut on her four leg I was a bit treating it.

Agree, I get really weird about that stuff, creeps me out.

 

[MyBuddy]

Agree, I get really weird about that stuff, creeps me out.

Hopefully your husband is like mine and will help keep you from going off the deep end! LOL I always go by what he thinks because I know I'm going overboard. He keeps me grounded and checks my fright!

 

[JanS]

I see Olive has an extra lucky nipple like Ripley does too

LOL I guess she is Ripley's niece.

 

[MichiH]

Hopefully your husband is like mine and will help keep you from going off the deep end! LOL I always go by what he thinks because I know I'm going overboard. He keeps me grounded and checks my fright!

Haha yes, mine always has to bring me down because I will go off the deep end quickly.
And like yours, mine is always right and I know to trust what he thinks and says. I still go nuts and what if him to death

I told him we are a good match because if he were just as crazy we’d have a problem! lol

 

[JanS]

So I looked up false pregnancy in spayed dogs and apparently it can happen after spay, within the first cycle after. Olive was spayed in mid May, her heat was due at the end of July, and now at the end of September she has been nesting. Maybe it's not a false pregnancy and it's just chilly, plus she has never had one before, but I guess it is possible. Just putting it out here for future discussion.