Well, my doggy is back home now and feeling very sorry for himself.

I wonder if anybody can tell me what to do / expect in the next few days now.

How long before his pain eases?
Is there anything I can do to relieve his pain?
Is it safe to go for short walks?
Should I sleep with him for a few nights?
Is it okay to feed him as normal?

This is my first dog, and therefore my first castration experience. I am so worried about the little fella. I can't find anything in dog books or magazines telling me what I should expect, so any information would be gratefully received.

My boy did have a little problem after his op...well, two very big problems actually! He started swelling up and looking very red so the vet gave him a week to see if it was just post-op bruising then put him on antibiotics. This did the trick, and now you'd never know they were ever there! :D If you're worried about how he looks I'm sure your vet will be able to reassure you.
The effects of the anaesthetic will take a day or so to wear off - he'll probably sleep a lot for the first day, not be bothered about food (offer it to him but don't panic if he doesn't want it - his appetite will return), and probably take a day or two for his bowels to get back in full swing. Your vet should have advised you if there was any need to cut out or down on normal exercise.
If you don't sleep with him already, I wouldn't do so for this. :)
He won't remember he had 'em and he won't blame you for taking them away! :D
LynnT

So (excuse me for sounding daft but, as I said, this is my 'first time') will the balls still be there after this? At the moment he has two red raw lumps which are very painful when he moves - so painful that he wimpers, poor boy.

I didn't collect him from the vet - my hubby did, but he said the vet didn't really say much, and my hubby was too worried about getting doggy home safely and letting him rest.

I feel SO sorry for him.

Castration means they take the testicles (balls) away! It is not a vasectomy like nice husbands have, lol! If he was young he won't even really have andy scrotum (bag) either. when adults are castrated some vets still leave the scrotum, so the do still looks at a quick glence to be entire.

Well, he still has balls, and large red ones at that. He is only a year old. I am so confused, and like I said, I can't find any information in books / magazines about it.

So will his large red ones disappear?

Hi Beany Baby,
The two lumps are just post op swelling and will go in time. My lad was done and a while after all lumps, bumps and spare skin had gone just leaving a nice taut area.
Sara :)

What I mean is, he looks the same as he did before, only his balls are now red.

I understood what you meant Beany - Sam was the same and at first I wondered quite what had been removed. I seem to remember he looked very swollen, red and bruised and I felt really bad for subjecting him to it :( It did go down though and he seemed less worried about it than I was.

To put your mind at rest why not ring the vet for a quick chat about when the swelling should start to go and so on. I can't really remember how long Sam stayed swollen so can't advise. He had to wear an Elizabethan collar as he did lick his operation site and unfortunately ended up with wet excema which made things worse for him. Your vet shouldn't mind a call from you and will hopefully be able to put your mind at rest

Sara :)

Okay, thanks. And yes, I was wondering exactly what had been taken away.

I've just rung home (I'm at work at the moment) and apparantly he has been nosing around in the garden like he used to and has been eating a little. He is currently having a nap, but seems in quite good spirits, although a little sore.

Thanks for putting my mind at rest though. It's true that I am probably much more worried about it than he is.

The vet will have just made an incision in the sac and squeezed them out
What's left of the sac will gradually deflate and eventually shrivel away over a period of weeks/months. My dog was right as rain after a couple of days and never bothered the wound after a couple of sharp 'NO's.
The only trouble is he's had to find something else to do in the evenings when he's chilling out instead of spending ages proudly admiring them :)

lol@Lara :D
LynnT

Beany Baby - just saw your post on the cruel thread and it reminded me about your lad.

How is he now - are things reducing in size and is he getting back to normal now in spirit ?

Sara :)

Aw, thanks very much for the concern.

Well, things are getting back to normal now, thank goodness. He has perked up a lot and is back to barking about the garden, flinging his toys about, dancing in the park (well, he looks like he's dancing when he wipes his feet and kicks up the grass) - all the things that we find so delightful. The op doesn't seem to have altered his lovely little personality at all. Thank goodness. The only problem remaining is that he finds stairs difficult, and also can't jump up onto the sofa etc. It obviously stretches him just that bit too much and must hurt him. I can see he still feels the pain because of the way he lays and also this morning I think he tried to interfere with his stitches because suddenly I heard this yelping and wimpering and when I looked at him he was in a frenzy. A bit of comfort and lots of cuddles soon sorted him out, but he had a little mope for about half an hour, feeling sorry for himself, before he perked up again.

Yes, thankfully, my little boy is recovering nicely. Thanks.

pleased he is coming along well :D

Oh, and I forgot to mention, a certain part of his anatomy is shrivelling up rather nicely now, thank you very much. (poor little soul).