Paris had her spay yesterday and also claw cut right back so she was looking pretty sorry for herself last night. Vet gave me tin of Royal Canin as advised she needed to be fed something only light. She didn't seem to fussed about eating so just offered half a tin and she ignored it so thought would try again this morning.  This morning she is a lot brighter but again not interested in food.  The unthinkable crossed my mind that perhaps we had at last found a food she doens't like, so plonked some leftover brocolli and potatoes over the top and she ate those and left the RC.  Problem is that I have Rimadyl to give her but she also refused that (she likes worming tablets so ).  Just polished off some shepherds pie with tablet hidden inside but tablet's been turfed out the bowl literally :D

How essential is it to give her the Rimadyl do you think?  Personally I think for a normally bouncy dog like mine it might be as well for her to be reminded not to jump to attention every couple of minutes (although she certainly isn't doing that at the moment anyway).  On the other hand I would hate to think of her as being really uncomfortable with pain.

FWIW I do not allow my dogs to have Rimadyl, if they have ops etc they get Arnica.

If your dog will not take tablets just open mouth, shove tablet to back of throat, shut mouth and stroke neck until you see a swallow, simple.

I wouldn't give rimadyl either - far too many serious side effects.

Maddie had her op last Monday (5th) and she wouldn't eat the first day either. Started her on her own food Tuesday night, just smaller amounts until she was up to eating properly. Never had any painkillers to give her, wasn't told about any neither. Had to take her back the other day as swelling had occured both sides of the stitches and it had to be drained. Looks like more drainage to come tomorrow when she has the stitches out :( Although she is a very hyper active girl she never really showed any signs of wanting to 'jump' around till yesterday, I think she knew she shouldn't :)

Dee

If she's bright in herself, I wouldn't bother. No point giving them unnecessary medication, especially something like rimadyl. When my girls were spayed, the vet gave me no painkillers and the way they acted, you wouldn't even know they'd had an operation -weren't even groggy from the anaesthetic.

Mine too. My dane had no painkillers and was eating and out for a walk the next day!

I would discuss with your vet.  Sometimes antiinflammatories are given not just for their analgesic qualities but because the vet has noted excess inflammation following the operation that they wish to minimise.  The risks in short term use seem very slight to me and the vet can advise what to look out for in terms of adverse reaction but your dog has probably already been given one dose post operatively.  I would not give herbal arnica either without discussing with your vet first, arnica thins the blood which is not always appropriate following surgery particularly if there has been any difficulties achieving haemostatis.  Homeopathic arnica of course will do no harm :)

I'd already crushed the tablet up and mixed it with a drop of gravy before anyone replied so deed done.  Was a bit concerned about the responses but decided not to worry myself further with looking up the side effects as already given her the tablet. I've just been out for couple of hours and left her in the her crate and she is noticably more lively since then, so will ask the vet at her post op check tomorrow whether further medication is really necessary.

No need to look them up, here they are:

Decrease or increase in appetite
Vomiting 
Change in bowel movements (such as diarrhea, or black, tarry or bloody stools) 
Change in behavior (such as decreased or increased activity level, incoordination, seizure or aggression) 
Yellowing of gums, skin, or whites of the eyes (jaundice) 
Change in drinking habits (frequency, amount consumed) 
Change in urination habits (frequency, color, or smell) 
Change in skin (redness, scabs, or scratching) 

oh, and one final one that your vet didn't tell you about: DEATH

Your vet should have given you the "Dog Owner Information" leaflet for Rimadyl. This is a quote from the overview leaflet that ALL vets should read: Owners should be advised of the potential for adverse reactions and be informed of the clinical signs associated with drug intolerance. Any vet who doesn't advise a client of any possible side effects or other warnings on the product information leaflet is in breach of the RCVS Guide to Professional Conduct.

They say that death only occurs on rare occasions...it wasn't rare enough for me!

Hmm sounds like some of the side effects from the medication I have myself ;)

Not seen any adverse effects so far so like I said already I am not going to worry about something I can't change now.

i dont understand how alot of you have said your dogs havent had painkillers after their spey- they get an injection of painkiller whilst under anaesthetic- being speyed is painful! The cost of the painkiller is usually inc in spey cost. :)

Rimadyl if given- then should be given, all meds can have bad side affects. But alot of our clients rely on rimadyl for the happiness of their dog! They are sometimes tasty to some dogs- others- not so! try to put it in cheese etc, or just pop it dont the neck and close mouth and rub gently- or as you've done- crush it in food ;)

if your bitch hasnt had painkillers when speyed- they will be in pain and cry alot- i hope your dogs did have painkillers?

oh chez swa- why did they sell you special food? they should of just told you to feed her a light meal and dont worry if she doesnt want it. We just advise to let her decide- if she hasnt perked up after 36 hours then give us a call, hows she doing now- any swelling?

My dog had no painkillers AFTER her spay - I didn't say anything about what painkillers she had DURING her spay - that wasn't the question :)

Hi chrisjack

She's great, can't believe her fast progress. I nearly had a fit when she jumped up at the window sil (on hind legs).  Licks wound now and then but stops when I tell her to so she's being really good.  I think her foot is bothering her more than the spay area.

The vet didn't sell me the food, it must have come in the cost of the spay because it's not on the bill.  They gave the food because it is light. I've binned it now and given her normal kibble (not as much as usual) and some garlic chicken from our dinner.

Thanks, she I am really pleased with her and she must be ok because she keeps wagging her tail.  I think she's enjoying the extra attention

thats good- getting a dog speyed is an invasive op, its good that you are aware of the problems that could arise- ie- excessive jumping etc.
Glad she's getting back to normal self, the only advice i have is just to keep an eye on her for a week or so :)

take care both of ya x

I meant after the op aswell, none to come home with :)

My Vet gave Metacam in preference for pain relief.

my older boy who has sadly now gone to Rainbow Bridge  was on Rimadyl for a long time I really dont think we would have had him for as long as we did except for the medication he was on  it made his life happier and more bearable in fact he was on pheno and also pred (short while) he rattled....he lived to the rip old age of 15 and a half .
imagine having a hysterectomy and being sent home without any pain relief ...I'm sorry

Roni

Ditto. My arthritic sheltie made it to 19 but we wouldn't have had him for the last couple of years without Rimadyl managing the pain from his arthritis. I used Metacam on him and on another dog post-op but didn't find it as effective. Now my oldest has back problems which sometimes flare up and she gets Rimadyl when that happens. So far no side-effects in any of them. No doubt Rimadyl can cause serious problems but for the majority it doesn't and it works very well.

It's like any medication, they all have side effects to some degree or other.  My mum is on Tamoxafin (sp?) which is the drug prescribed for 5 years following cancer treatment and yet that is known to cause cancer in some.  You have to weigh the pros and cons and decide what the risks are.  Asprin is a killer to some people.  Medication I have has side effects so what do you do?

Just got back from vets and he is very pleased with Paris.  I told him she didn't like the Rimadyl and so she'd only had one and he was surprised but said so long as she wasn't in any pain which is obviously isn't not to bother with them

Exactly Chez swa therefore it is up to us all individually to decide what we think is best for our dogs.

I know loads of dogs who have had no problems with Rimadyl, I just choose not to use it on my dogs; it is down to personal choice and what the owner feels comfortable with.

>imagine having a hysterectomy and being sent home without any pain relief ...I'm sorry

Hmmm... I trust my vet to know what he was doing. And, for what its worth, I wonder if vets prefer them to be slightly uncomfortable to stop them jumping around straining their stitches?

I can assure you that my dane was perfectly fine following her spay - and was fit and ready to rock and roll 24 hours later. Somewhat different from a woman who has had a hysterectomy with pain relief! I don't think the 2 are comparable :)

I agree with Chloe, you cannot necessarily compare the two operations because structurally we are differing animals. The main issues with hysterectomy/oopherectomy is the abdominal muscles and the strain on them which are not reproduced in the dog as they are walking on four legs not two and the stresses are different.

Niether of my two bitches had pain killers other than arnica and if they had not been restrained would have been perfectly happy to gallop about the next day.........

Restraining is the problem.  I am keeping her on a lead but she is intent of dragging me around.  I can't believe she only had the op 2 days ago, I don't know why I got myself in such a stew about it now.