post sterilization

[laurasarual]

My 6 months old female dog got her operation 2 days ago, since we got her back she barely moves, she did not eat anything and she only had a few sips of water. She is lying down all the time, opens her eyes when I talk to her but otherwise she does not react to anything. She used to be extremely lively before the operation. Is this normal to be like this for 2 days already?

[Love4himies]

I have not had experience with dogs, but have a lot with cats and this does not seem normal. Please contact your vet as soon as you can.


Good luck and keep us posted.

[bendyfoot]

Mild lethargy and appetite loss for up to 48 hours is "normal" but not typical. What you're describing is definitely NOT normal, and warrants a quick trip to the vet. I would be worried about infection. Have you checked her temperature for fever?

[laurasarual]

She does not seem to have fever, her temperature is normal. Her belly where she has the stitches seems ok, too. I was planning to call the vet tomorrow to ask for advice. I am thinking she might be in pain, since the few times she moved from one place to another she had trouble getting up. Maybe some pain killers might help...( I read some some vets prescribe them for 3 days after the surgery).. anyway I will check with the vet soon. It's just too sad to see her like that.

[Karin]

What breed is she?
Has she been overly pampered?
I have been a vet tech for a long time but I was was suckered into the "oh poor me" routine for a week post spay by a poodle 20 years ago. Believe me, they can work you over!
There should be no pain. You may be feeling the majority of it right now.
When Annie was spayed in 1988, I had to carry her outside, hand feed her on the couch, boyfriend carried her to bed at night. After a week, we thought, "OK, we need to go fishing".
We came home from a lovely day on the water, Annie met us at the back door, growled, then we entered to see the flooring, shower curtain in the bathroom, drapes in the living room ripped to shreds, along with various other damage. She also crapped on John's side of the bed.
All we could do was laugh. Don't mess with the power of a poodle.

[laurasarual]

She is a pure bred malamute. Therefore pretty difficult to carry around. I did carry her back in the house when she went outside to do her business and then she just lied down in the snow.
I would not say she is over-pampered...I pet her now and then and talk to her, but I am behaving normally with her. To make sure she does not dehydrate I fed her some water with a spoon.
New developments: during the night she almost finished her bowl of water, but she vomited it all out, there was a lake in the kitchen, and there was some goowy brown-yellowish thing with the water she vomited. It was smelling bad. I am sure it was not pee, I heard her vomit.
She still did not eat anything, but she seems a bit more awake than yesterday. She reacts more when I talk to her. But she only lies down in one spot and every few hours she goes lie down somewhere else.

[Diamondsmum]

awwww Poor baby.. So this is Day 4 of her not eating? I would definately call the vet. esp with the vomit.

she is ok

[laurasarual]

Thanks for the comments.
I called the vet where she had the operation this morning, and she said I should bring her for an exam, but I could not take an appointment until Tuesday afternoon. I hope she will be better by then. She said painkillers won't help seeing that she vomits...
It's not been yet 4 days, she had her operation on the 22nd, we brought her home on 23rd in the afternoon.
She vomited again the water she drank with the yellowish stuff. Now she's lying outside in our backyard in the snow, but awake. I think some fresh air would do her well, seeing that she's a malamute and she loves the cold temperature.
(Of course I won't let her there for long, I suppose she shouldn't get too cold)

[laurasarual]

I'm taking her to emergency at 2300 54e Ave in Lachine QC

[Maxine]

to you and your baby, I hope she'll be okay

[Rottielover]

I hope she is going to be all right, DMV is a great hospital

[Bina]

I'm crossing my fingers for this puppy......my own Bouvier was spayed and very ill afterwards.
I called the vet and my darling Bouv passed away 3 days after the spay....

[hazelrunpack]

for your pup, laurasarual!

[chico2]

OMG,I hope she'll be ok
Bina,so sorry to hear about your Bouvier,I always thought spaying was quiet routine,with no complications.

[laurasarual]

Thanks to all for the good wishes...
We had to leave her at the hospital...apparently her imune system started to work in overdrive following something she might have received during the operation. The operation itself seems to have been ok....probably she is allergic to something.
Arrived at the hospital, she was extremely week, the doctor showed us her gums which were very very pale, and she explained that her white blood globules killed her red ones.
She will get a transfusion, followed by medication, and the doctor will keep us updated on her condition. The bill so far : 1500.
We had the choice to give up on her, but she is only 6 months old, I think she deserves a chance.
On the way to the emergency I was hoping they would say that there is nothing wrong with her, that she's just tired from the operation ... but it was not to be...

[bendyfoot]

I'm very very glad that you took her to the emerg vet and didn't wait until Tuesday. She really didn't sound well at all. to you and your pupper, I hope she feels better soon!

[Diamondsmum]

I 2nd what's been said

for the puppy

[Mat&Murph]

Aww I hope she is ok!! and good thoughts to you and your pup

[Bina]

Originally Posted by chico2

OMG,I hope she'll be ok
Bina,so sorry to hear about your Bouvier,I always thought spaying was quiet routine,with no complications.

Yes, it's devastating to lose a young dog this way.....apparently she had some internal bleeding.:sad:

[Bina]

Laura, best wishes with your pup.....DMV is expensive, but very good.

[hazelrunpack]

I hope this does the trick for your girl, laurasarual. It sounds like she's in very good hands.

for a quick and complete recovery and a long and healthy life! If prayers and good wishes can do any good, you have all of ours here!

[rainbow]

Lots of for you.

And lots of for your little girl.

[laurasarual]

After the transfusion she lapsed back....we went to visit her before being put down. She's gone.

[diandpat]

OMG such a sad sad ending

I am so sorry for you and your family. Poor baby :sad:
sweet pooch

I hope it was helpful that at least you were able to be with her in the end

[chico2]

Oh noso very sorry,I was hoping for some good news:sad:
Nothing much will probably make you feel better right now,but we are here if you need to talk,yell or just get some sympathy..
little baby

[Love4himies]

I am so sorry to hear about your pup.

sweet pup

[Rottielover]

I am so sorry for such a loss. She was so young. little one

[rainbow]

I am very sorry to hear you lost your little girl. :sad: My deepest condolences to you and your family.

[laurasarual]

Thank you for the replies.
It is devastating to loose her. I had 3 months with her ( we got her at 10 weeks from a reputated breeder), and she was the best dog I could have ever wished for, and beautiful, and loving (of course she had her share of chewing the internet wires and shoes, and even the couch )
And all that from a routine operation such as spaying...The condition she had is AIHA :
http://www.napoleon.org.uk/health/anem.htm
It seems to have been hereditary (and Malamutes are one of the breeds which is most prone to it), but it seems the vets are not exactly sure what exactly triggers it. Once triggered there is a 50% survival chance, it seems my Isis was an unlucky one. I find it unfair...it's supposed to be most frequent in middle-aged female dogs, not in puppies. I was expecting her to stay with us for 10 years or more.
There are still her footprints in the snow in the backyard, and her food bowl, and her toys...I really miss her...

[Bina]

OMG, this is so sad.....
When I lost my Bouv after her spay, she was 3 yrs old and in the prime of her life.
Let's hope that your story may help other dogs in this situation, thanks for sharing.
My condolences go out to you.