Hello all,
My eight year old rescue border collie bitch was spayed yesterday. Her wound is nice and clean with no discharge, she is eating a light diet willingly and drinking well. I have her on cage rest with regular outings to the garden (where she is passing urine and stool normally). My only slight concern is her level of discomfort. Having never been through this before, I am unsure as to what is normal and to what should be a concern. She seems to want to sit down after a few steps and takes a little encouragement to get back up on her feet again. She will sit down and then want to check her rear end. I have checked for any discharge from the vulva, of which there is none. She is extremely quiet and is happy for  me to pop her back in her crate away from the other dogs where she lies looking very glum. There is no other signs of discomfort apart from her quietness and always wanting to sit down after a few steps.
I understand that she is less than 24 hours out of a fairly major operation and I am also completely aware that I am extremely neurotic about my dogs health! I think I just need some reasurrance that this is all normal after spaying.
Many thanks for your time

Hi Guest,

She's had a major op, so you just need to be patient, keep and eye on her and the wound, let her have plenty of rest and don't force her to move about too much.

You will see her becoming more active within a week or so. Keep in her in the crate for a little while, but ideally somewhere like the kitchen on her own behind a baby gate, so that she doesn't feel locked out of the action in the crate.

Let us know how she progresses.

All the best,
Patty

Don't worry too much. I had my bc spayed last October and it really knocked it out of her. She came home and just pretty much slept for a few days then was quiet for her normal self for about five days. The anaesthetic can have different effects on different dogs and they're bound to be sore. They are pulled round quite a bit with a spay.
Just let her be quiet. She'll be fine in a week.

did the vet send her home with any kind of pain relief (often Rymadyl or perhaps Metacam?)

One of my bitches refused to walk - I discovered it was because she feel the stitches pulling everytime she walked, so she thought she'd just lie down for 10 days! After a few days of encouragement she got a bit better, but she wasn't happy until she had the stitches out.

Ooh yes, I remember the feeling of those stitches. :( I couldn't stand up straight till mine had been taken out.

Worse than that, one of my GSD bitches got up the next day and did a full stretch!!  I was cringing!!

Sarah.

One of mine jumped a fence after 2 days She was fine ;) Though another one didn't want to move until the stitches were out. It affects them differently so just be guided by her. :)