Hi everyone, i had my bitch spayed 3 days ago but she is UTTERLEY miserable.  Her baviour is so out of character; she is off her food, crying and whining alot, pawing at the carpet and more alarmingley than ever she wants to be alone in her bed instead of being with the family. The wound seems fine, there arent any stitches to come out the vet uses intradermal dissolving sutures, but her boobs seem really swollen.
I was so concerned that i took her back to the vets yesterday even tho her post - op appointment wasnt s'posed to be until next friday ( 7 days after her op). They didnt seem at all concerned and almost treated me i was like an over anxious mother. He took her temperature which he said was normal, checked her over and said the wound was healing beautifully. when i mentioned the boobs he said they were slightly swollen before the op, but its probably just a hormonal thing. I told him she has been excellant with the wound but has been licking her privates alot. He said there was a slight discharge there and would prescribe anti biotics but only really as a precaution. They then told me that she could just be one of those dogs that reacts badly to an op and not to mollycoddle her but to try and treat her as normally as poss.

I am trying to do this but she is so not herself. What do you all think? I would welcome your views (with bells on!).

Deb

Did you have her spayed midway between seasons or before hwer first.  If the latter it sounds as if she may have been just about to come into season, and hence the moodiness, and discharge.  Mid way between seasons she could be suffering from a phantom preganancy.  Vets usually so not like to spay a bitch in that conditon as often it takes longer to subside after spaying than if allowed to go normnally.

It was 10 weeks after her first season. do you think she is/was having a phantom pregnancy?

It is day 5 and she is still the same; not eating and just wanting to be in her bed. Do you think i should take her back? im really really worried about her?
Deb

Hi Deb,

I too had "sad" problems and others - see http://www.champdogsforum.co.uk/cgi-bin/board/topic_show.pl?pid=397044#pid397044
I felt very very mean for putting her through the hassle - was worth it in the end though. Turns our her problem was from an earlier c section scar tissue irritating her bladder. I am sure you your girl will be ok soon - especially if your vet thinks so - she sound like she needs some extra TLC without mollycoddling her. I found that Lou liked a warm hot water bottle to put her tummy on - seemed to stop her being so tucked up. I suppose some bitches bounce back quicker than others - I was suprised because lou is a boxer full of beans and it was very unexpected that she was so down after her op.
Hope your girl soon pirks up.
Aimi x

Deb,

I always say that if you are in any doubt at least ring the vets for advise and they will probabally advise another vist. It well worth your piece of mind.
HTH

Thaniks for that. I do too.

If she had swollen Mammaries then it is moe than likely she is having a Phantom.  If the vet has rules out any infection or problems with the op them you need to get a bit tough with her so that the symproms subside quicker.

Take away all comfort objecxts, her bed included if she is moping about in it.

Be very jolly hockey sticks with her, and do not console her as it will make her worse.

the normal advice with phantoms is to increase her excersise and reduce the protein in the diet for a little while until all signs of milk ar gone.

What you are telling the dogs body is that this is not a good time for having puppies as there isn't enough food or anywhere peacerful to have them.

My GSD was spayed two weeks ago she was very sorry for herself. She did not go off her food but was very quiet and subdued. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise as both me and my husband had the a nasty bout of flu at the same time and just would have had difficulty coping with her at her normally very bouncy self. Now two weeks later she is just the opposite and if anything more bouncy than normal. I was worried prior to the op that we would not be able to keep her calm to allow for healing. Remember that it takes us humans 6 weeks to recover from such an op.

Hi and thanks so much to you guys for the support and responses. Brainless yu were so right!!! I took her back to the vets this aftanoon and saw a different vet who confirmed a phantom pregnancy (milk in the boobs etc). I was relieved in a way tho' cos i was worried it was something to do with the op. Am taking your advice Jollyhockey sticks and all ;-)

have you had bitches that have had phantoms? any more advice or pearls of wisdom would be really appreciated!

I have had freinds whose bitches hae had bad phatoms (dobes and Springers) fortunately my own have rarely had anymore than a bit of swelling and a bit of mopiness, but I keep a busy household and they don't get much chance to mope about. :D