Just got my new little doggie girl fixed. Need some fast advice.

So...long story short, we got a new puppy (YorkiPoo) in October. She was born in June and just today, she visited the vet to get fixed.

She's home and sleeping right now. I feel so bad for the little thing, she was so groggy when she got home.

Right. So. My problem. My mother picked her up and brought her home. She has Vetprofen and Baytril for five days. Not a problem. They put this bandage around her I guess to keep her stitches stabilized until she heals.

I asked my mom how long it needs to stay on and she had failed to ask. It's 8:22pm here and the animal hospital isn't open. I'm not sure if it will be open again until Tuesday, otherwise I'd call and ask my question.

Anyone have any idea how long the bandage needs to stay on? She goes back in 10 days to get the stitches out and I know we're supposed to keep her calm for the next several days but neither of us know about this bandage and how long she needs to wear it before we can (or should) take it off.

It's kind of freaking me out because it looks like it's on so tight. My logical mind suspects it's not. She's got fluffy hair and she's not a big dog so the bandage is mushing down the hair and fluffing out the rest of it, making it look like it's strangling her. And she's not acting like it's uncomfortable.

So...anyone have any ideas? Two days? Five? The entire ten until I take her back? Would just like to know and not wait the eternity (Tuesday) to find out by calling.

Thanks.

veinglory said:

The bandage is not holding anything in with a spay, so there is no harm in taking it off. The function of a post-spay bandage is to discourage licking the wound. You could put it back on more loosely if you need to for that.

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Oh! Whew! So glad to hear that. I just had horrific visions of all kinds of horrible things happening by taking it off before some magical time/number.*



*I've had animals that have already been spayed by the time I got them, but never been through the process from start to finish with one before.

Liralen said:

I've had a couple of bitches spayed and they were never wrapped, so I wouldn't worry. The hard part is keeping them quiet for several days after the initial grogginess wears off.

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And as she's an active dog already? hooboy.

Liralen said:

My vet tends to discourage over-use of pain meds. He wants them to not be in pain, but to not mask it so much that there's nothing to make them stay settled quietly.

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Hmm. Interesting point and thank you. I was sort of the same mind but didn't know how off I was. Being a first time from-puppyhood-to-adult parent is haaaaard.

I have another dog but she came to us as an adult and she's been a one dog household apartment dog for 16 years. And her temperament from the puppy is 180. She's my Old Southern Lady.

Liralen said:

discourage jumping, which usually sounds easier than it is

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Yep. This morning has already been a challenge.

Canotila said:

If you want the bandages off and still discourage licking, a long t-shirt does a nice job. If she's really small, you could put a child's shirt on her or even a baby onesie.

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You know, she's just big enough for a onesie. I'll have to have a friend dig one up. Thanks for that tip.


Today is the day we've planned to pull honey so I may leave the bandages on since I won't be able to keep an eye on her for the licking. After that? I feel more confidant to take it off now.



I want to thank everyone for allaying my fears that I won't be unzipping my dog and having her guts splayed everywhere and doing irrepairable damage to her.

lorna_w said:

congrats! I needed those big weird collars with my dogs, or it was "tear out the stitches and need to go back to the vet" time. When does the avatar photo switch to the new pup?

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Heeee...it's hard to get a good image of her because she's all black. I'm not skilled with a camera.

But I will shamelessly take every opportunity to show off images that I have managed to get.

Here's Lexi after her first haircut of the season.

Here's Lexi and her kitten, Beauregarde Esperanza Oolong Socks. edited to resize.

Lexi pre-haircut and the Old Southern Lady, Lucy.

An update:

The bandage came off last night and she's been really good about not licking too much. She has the desire to leap off of things which I take means she feels better. We try to catch her before she can launch.

She's on the road to recovery!