Post by Dom on Dec 1, 2006 10:37:00 GMT -5
After a few weeks trying to get Elsie's blood levels within range for surgery, she was finally ready Tuesday for spaying. Her white blood cells were slightly elevated but the Vet said that is common in dogs with heart worms. She came through surgery without complications. The Vet wanted us to leave her over night but we didn't. The Vet's office doesn't have any staff at the hospital between 6 pm and 7 am. Both my husband and I felt better keeping her at home then taking her back in the morning for them to check her temperature.
My husband did have a few choice words for the tech after we inspected her stitches that night. She had razor burn so bad around her legs that the top few layers of skin was coming off and was red and swollen. The tech said they sent the clippers off for sharpening and didn't realize she received razor burn until after the surgery. They did give us a cream and the area is at least not swollen anymore.
We tried to use the Elizabethan collar to keep her from licking the area but she would ram into something with it and just stand there motionless until we helped her move. Sadie was excited to see her but didn't know what to think about that collar. Every time Elsie would turn toward Sadie she would jump back like Elsie was pointing a water hose at her.
The collar didn't work out to well. Not only would she not move with it on, it would get snagged inside her crate. My mother found a old stretchy tank top she had and we put that on her. Elsie is now sporting a new striped print when walking in the backyard Not like the neighbors don't think we are crazy anyway. It serves its purpose though. She can't bite or lick the stitches. The spaghetti straps go around her shoulders and keeps it from sliding down. We conected the two straps with a safty pin over her shoulders to keep it secure. It is just long enough to reach the front of her back legs. Elsie doesn't like it much but she tolerates it better than the collar.
My husband refuses to walk Elsie in her tank top. It is probably a good thing because the Vet doesn't want her to move around much. My husband also told me not to get ANY ideas about buying her outfits after I said "AwwWww she looks so cute"
We got her micro chipped but I don't see the point of putting the cheap tag that came with the documentation on her. Sadie's lettering wore off in 3 months. I am going to order a tag from an online source that I absolutely love. I found them online a few years ago and the collar tag I bought then still looks brand new. I like it because it slides onto the collar and won't snag something and fall off. The stainless steel is good quality and the engraving is deep. It would take some effort to actually bend it with your hands. I only have experience with that tag they sell so I don't know the quality of the others they offer. I would think they are made the same way. I hope they offer enough space for the Pet recovery service and my Vet's name and phone numbers. If anyone is looking for good quality tag check out Bomerang pet tags online. I don't want to post a link because I am not sure if that violates the rules for the board.
Sadie is handling everything really well. I was worried that Sadie and Elsie were going to try and rough house like they normally do. But Sadie has been keeping her distance and only gets close enough to sniff her from time to time.
Elsie seems to be getting around better. I couldn't tell you if she is pain or not. She has always been a very quiet dog. We did get 5 days worth of pain medicine so we are giving her that just in case. We are using Rescue Remedy to keep her calm. I just have to figure out how to keep my husband from taking it so there will be some for Elsie!
Her stitches come out in 10 more days.
My husband did have a few choice words for the tech after we inspected her stitches that night. She had razor burn so bad around her legs that the top few layers of skin was coming off and was red and swollen. The tech said they sent the clippers off for sharpening and didn't realize she received razor burn until after the surgery. They did give us a cream and the area is at least not swollen anymore.
We tried to use the Elizabethan collar to keep her from licking the area but she would ram into something with it and just stand there motionless until we helped her move. Sadie was excited to see her but didn't know what to think about that collar. Every time Elsie would turn toward Sadie she would jump back like Elsie was pointing a water hose at her.
The collar didn't work out to well. Not only would she not move with it on, it would get snagged inside her crate. My mother found a old stretchy tank top she had and we put that on her. Elsie is now sporting a new striped print when walking in the backyard Not like the neighbors don't think we are crazy anyway. It serves its purpose though. She can't bite or lick the stitches. The spaghetti straps go around her shoulders and keeps it from sliding down. We conected the two straps with a safty pin over her shoulders to keep it secure. It is just long enough to reach the front of her back legs. Elsie doesn't like it much but she tolerates it better than the collar.
My husband refuses to walk Elsie in her tank top. It is probably a good thing because the Vet doesn't want her to move around much. My husband also told me not to get ANY ideas about buying her outfits after I said "AwwWww she looks so cute"
We got her micro chipped but I don't see the point of putting the cheap tag that came with the documentation on her. Sadie's lettering wore off in 3 months. I am going to order a tag from an online source that I absolutely love. I found them online a few years ago and the collar tag I bought then still looks brand new. I like it because it slides onto the collar and won't snag something and fall off. The stainless steel is good quality and the engraving is deep. It would take some effort to actually bend it with your hands. I only have experience with that tag they sell so I don't know the quality of the others they offer. I would think they are made the same way. I hope they offer enough space for the Pet recovery service and my Vet's name and phone numbers. If anyone is looking for good quality tag check out Bomerang pet tags online. I don't want to post a link because I am not sure if that violates the rules for the board.
Sadie is handling everything really well. I was worried that Sadie and Elsie were going to try and rough house like they normally do. But Sadie has been keeping her distance and only gets close enough to sniff her from time to time.
Elsie seems to be getting around better. I couldn't tell you if she is pain or not. She has always been a very quiet dog. We did get 5 days worth of pain medicine so we are giving her that just in case. We are using Rescue Remedy to keep her calm. I just have to figure out how to keep my husband from taking it so there will be some for Elsie!
Her stitches come out in 10 more days.