Both my boys are being neutered tomorrow and I was extremely confident about it, but, now, the day before it's all going to happen, I'm getting really worried. I've heard horror stories of dogs going in to be neutered and never wake up due to the anaesthetic. I know I'm being morbid but this is the first time they've ever had an operation so I am extremely worried about never seeing them again!

I know it's too late now to cancel the operations and even if I did, it would have to be done some time in the future.

I was just wondering if someone could give me some statistics...perhaps put my mind at rest or let me know the awful truth...

I think that you have it a little out of perspective :) For males, neutering is a relatively minor operation, although all operations carry risks. Usually, they are almost back to normal the next day, albeit a bit sore :) What is more pertinent is why you are having them both neutered and any possible future problems :)

Daisy

We're having them both neutered as I have no intention of bredding/showing from either and our vet recommended us to have them done on the same day so they go through the same hormone changes together (and I have very good trust in him!).

I think most of my talk is just rubbish as I am very worried! But, hopefully all will be fine.

Thank you anyway!

Hi, I posted a very similar worry couple of days b4 I had my baby boy done ! "to snip or not to snip" !
I was almost going to cancel it the day before - but went ahead with it and couldnt believe how simple it was and how lively my boy was just a few hours later !!

Like you - it was the putting him to sleep bit that worried me the most. The vet nurse re-assured me that they have progressed so much with anaesetcis now, they used the same one they use on geriatrics, its very light and my boy came round so quickly without any drowsiness or sickness.

When I picked him up from vet, he was jumping up me and barking - tail going like mad !
That night he kept sleeping - next day was totally back to normal.

Try not to worry - like me, you ahve amde your decision and should keep to it.
Hopefully, your babies will be just the same as my boy - and a couple of hours later you will be wondering what you were so worried about !!!

I got bailey done and i felt the same. When i picked him up it was like picking up the kids from their first night at the pup. He looked as though he'd had a few kept looking back thinking he'd left something behind but he was fine and his temprament never changed either. I got bailey castrated as he had a retained testicle and thought well he's going under get both removed now i have another male westie different breeder and another retained testicle so needless to say he'll be the same although at 5 months its still too early but something to watch for. Good luck.

Well, the boys went in this morning and I nearly cried when leaving them! Luckily, the vet who did it phoned me at approximately 1.30pm rto tell me that the operations went fine! Alpha had a slight complication in his op as he became allergic to something and spots started appearing around his groin!

I'm picking them up at 4.45pm. Can't wait to see them!

I'm glad i'm not the only one who had all those worries!

Keira

I had my boy neutered a week ago.
On picking him up from the vets he was in a very sorry state and completely out of it, I expected him to be at least semi awake so it was quite distressing to get him.
He was comatosed in the car and I had to carry him up to our bed where he stayed until 3am until he came around.
He was very upset and was unable to walk for the first 24 hours, I stayed by his sided texting everyone I knew to find out if it was normal.
By the following morning he was almost back to hs normal self but abit sluggish and uncomfortable.
A week later, he is back to his normal self and hasnt chnaged one bit!

Pleased dont worry, it was scarey but he was fine!

I'd recommed someone helping you bring them home!

Don't worry! Dad's driving and I'm sitting in the back with them.

I'm a bit worried about Alpha with this allergic reaction though. Apparently he was given an antibiotic injection and is being monitored closely at the moment, plus both dogs are coming up with something nicknamed "Clippers rash" so i have two dogs with very sensitive skin!

I'm also being given a bottle of ointment with different measurements to put on their food each day and they're both going on a course of painkillers too. I guessed that they'd be on painkillers but haven't heard about the ointment before. I'm sure it will all be explained hen I pick them up. Another depressing thought though...they're both going to have to wear the buster collars apparently...i can imagine valuables becoming completely worthless if this is the case!

Just want to say thank you for everybody who has given support and advice. It was nice to see people who felt the same way as me as to begin with there were not too many good conceptions of having my dogs neutered, let alone on the same day!

My last dog had several operations and never had any bad reactions to any of the aneasthetics. He was very sleppy and when he did feel like eating, I gave him some boiled chicken or scrambled eggs.

Don't worry, your boys are in safe hands. good luck for tomorrow,

Hi Sarah,

Sorry, the boys have already had the op. They're both ok. If you have a read of what I've already written you'll see that Alpha had some sort of reaction to the anaesthetic that wasn't completely normal but I have ALOT of faith in my vets!

Have bought some liver for them this week which I should really go and cook! (Have to let them know I'm not going to do this to them everyday!)

oops. sorry, missed that bit, must be me going mad after chasing breeze round the garden, fresh air has gone to my head.

Glad to hear they are okay, I am sure they will be pampered tonight.

Well, I've cooked the liver, cut it up and covered it with the neatest covering of foil anyone has possibly seen and i'm literally counting the minutes and seconds until i can leave the house to go and pick them up. Trying to find something to pass time is so hard when you are so consciously aware of the clock!

27 minutes to go until I leave...any suggestions for what I should do?!!

If it was me, I would get there earlier.... The worst part of the day is waiting to hear from the vet after the op, then comes 2nd is having to wait to get them home.

I'd be even more agitated if I got there earlier because i'd have to sit around in the waiting room seeing other people with their dogs and making me jealous! :D The appointment is due at 4.45pm. It takes 10 mins to get down to the vets so if I leave at 4.30 then I should get there five minutes early. Still thinking of things to do...
I know, I'll read a book and update everybody this evening after the dogs have settled in back home!

You need to feed the boys soemthing light like fish or chicken today the liver can wait for another day as it wil be too rich. |:D

Hee hee, I had to laugh when you said u were almost in tears when u left them at the vets - THAT WAS ME !!! I was so ashamed, I ran out quick !!  I was also watching the clock....and was trying to be busy, but failed to concentrate on anything but ringing the vet and then getting down there !!

My dog didn't have any pain killers or a bucket for his head ???? but he really has been fine.
He had it done on Friday and has been jumping around like a looney since !

They do say, only feed them something light - and only if they are looking for food, as they often feel sick after the operation. I left my boy till after 6pm and gave him roasted chicken, just a little.

Best of luck.

Well, the boys came home yesterday and i'd never seen them in such a state. Alpha (the youngest) was whining, crying, yelping and sleeping but Byron was the worst. He wouldn't move. Looked completely drugged and at 2.30am this morning he started whining.

Fed them both bits of liver with dry food last night, only half the amount as the vet said to. He also said it was fine to give them liver. Byron ate all of his and wasn't sick but Alpha picked out the liver and ate some dry food!

The painkillers start today. Have to give them it with their food as it's in liquid form. Byron's still out of sorts but Alpha seems fine. We left the buster collars off last night as I slept downstairs with them. Only managed to get a total of 45 minutes sleep in the end. They're currently being walked around the garden by their leads (which, understandably, they don't think much of!).

They're now wearing the collars and damaging everything they go past. Alpha is half blind anyway, so you can imagine what he's like with a huge lampshade on his head!!!

Other than that they're both fine. They're going to have a check up on Thursday and a week on Friday the sutures come out.

And, neither are off their appetite! So all is going well except for Byron's extremely sad behaviour. He keeps acting like he's done something wrong and we're punishing him for it! - Poor thing!

Im sure tey will be back to themselves in no time.

Strange though, my boy wasnt given any painkillers or a Elizabethan collar??? He had an umbilical hernia op at the same time???

Well, they had their post op with the nurses today. Byron's fine but Alpha's got to go back in on Saturday as he's had a huge allergic reaction to the painkillers! He also has a thing called Clippers Rash which has made all the wound site area sore, red and swollen.

They're both being kept on the buster collars as Byron can't leave himself alone and Alpha makes the sores he's got around the wound and the sore on his leg where the anaesthetic was given even worse!

Trust me to have the most awkward dog!