My six month old Jack Russell cross has been spayed today. Can anyone advise me as to how best to care for her to ensure a speedy recovery? I know she isn't to jump, or climb stairs. She has a checkup in three days time, and is to have her stitches removed in ten days. Should I put on her Elizabethan collar (which makes her really miserable) or take a chance, and let her sleep overnight without it? When will her appetite return? She hasn't urinated since we came home, should I be concerned? (No poos either, but I'm not so worried about that). Any advice would be really gratefully received.

You'll probably find that she'll be up and running around in no time just give her a bit of TLC and peace and quiet at the moment. One of my russell bitches went to ground 4 days after her op!

Sarah
Don't know much about post op care for girls but am an expert on toilet habits ;) and my Dobermann dog didn't wee after his op until very last thing at night and even then, hardly did. He was fine overnight and didn't poo for about 2 days (which for him is a very rare occurrence. I panicked but I'm told this was perfectly normal (ish). Remember, i'm presuming you she didn't really get fed on day of op and the aneasthetic (sp?) does funny things (although, in our case, it didn't even make him calmer on the evening he came home from the op :D )
Beth

Our Rottie bitch was dopey for a day and then after that she was fine, I was amazed at how quick she recovered = did not seem to bother her at all
Lorraine

Thanks for the advice, everyone, Rosie finally went to the loo yesterday afternoon, some 28 hours after her operation! She is recovering well, and hopefully when I go for her post-op checkup tomorrow, everything will be fine.

Missy was spayed yesterday, and I was advised to give her Arnica c30 (one or two (doesn't matter) every hour the
first day - and 3 or 4 times a day as required after that) It certainly seems to have helpped her - she wee'd as soon as she got home, and has already poo'ed twice. Did your vet use several stiches? Or one long 'purse stich' (I think that's what it's called?) Missy has one long stich, which doesn't seem to bother her at all as there's nothing visible on the outside - very neat piece of work :-)