Duke's Neuter

[Swissies4Me]

Well, the big guy is going under the knife in two weeks. We're going to go ahead with a neuter, scrotal ablation, stomach tack, and a good look at the spleen (we'll have it taken out if it's not looking good). We found out for certain that the cataracts Duke has are genetic. Somehow his Dad passed his CERF with cataracts? Anyway, after finding this out, Duke will not be bred and for his health we're going to go ahead and proceed with the neuter.

Any advice, tips, tricks, etc that I should know about before we go in or during recovery?

[moondog]

Good luck Duke I have no advice, Baron still has his bits, but hopefully not for long!!!

[sam.i.am]

Oliver was good as new pretty soon after his bits were removed. He was very sleepy for the whole evening after he came back from the vet, but other than that, he was fine.

I just ask that my vet does a heart monitor throughout the whole surgery and pre-op blood work. I think some vets give this as an option and others do it no matter what. Mine does it as a standard, but I always ask just b/c it makes me feel better.

[ALDOGMOM]

Be prepared for bruising and some swelling...Lots of licking....
Otherwise, he'll be fine.

Our vet does pre-op bloodwork on all surgical patients.

And thank you for not breeding him...(((hugs)))

[Swissies4Me]

Thanks for the info and support. Since he's getting his stomach tacked while he's under for the neuter, I know the recovery will be quite a bit slower than just a neuter. Our vet does do bloodwork beforehand and he will be monitored for the entire surgery. I really like our new vet, even more so since after today when we discussed Duke's neuter. He and a tech went over their procedures and walked me through exactly everything they do and use and took the time to thoroughly answer my questions. I really appreciated it and it made me much more comfortable about the whole thing.

[sam.i.am]

Oh, that's excellent.

We had a more complicated spay for Delilah because we were concerned about some of her internal anatomy and she did take a bit longer to feel good after her spay due to the surgeon needing to move around her innards. But, even with that longer surgery for her spay, she was feeling pretty good within 2 days. Luckily none of my dogs have messed with their stitches, but I did put a tank-top on Delilah so that her belly was harder to reach. I don't know what to do with a boy dog who tries to get stitches, but I'd have a plan in place in case he tries to mess with the stitches.

[Yeti_Girl]

All I remember is the gas...the bad gas...one of the pain meds for both our neuter and tack caused this. P.U.! Besides that, neither required a cone for us and after 4 days we were calling the vet to see if we could take him on slow walks. I do remember a little redness and bruising after the tacking but our vet said that is 'cause our boys are big and strong and they really have to yank on them.

Good luck Duke! Sorry about the CERF.

[SapheraGirl]

I've only had girl dogs so I don't know much about the neutering. My husband had a vasectomy...but that's completely different LOL! However, Saphera had her tummy tacked without complications. The scar was pretty large and I remember some scratching when her fur began growing back. Also, a rash with the fur growing back. But honestly, she was ready to play long before I was ready for her to do so. I have a few pics of her scar if you want me to send it to you.

Good luck Duke. MWAH

[bren]

The only thing I remember with Tek was lots of licking. And swelling. Gross swelling.

Good luck to Duke!

[Swissy Mom]

I don't really remember my previous boys having had issues with the neuter. We have never tacked anyone (yet.) Even Shiva, who was intact until age 7, recovered pretty quickly. Odds are it will be harder on you than on Duke. Good luck to both of you!

[mezmerelda]

It's been so long since I've had a male fixed - last was Gryffin, and he wasn't tacked at all. I remember his recovery being very quick but I'm sure it would have been slower w/the tack.

I think I remember Terry mentioning that she withheld pain meds from Daisy so she'd feel it and be a bit less active. I wish I had done that with Indy a little sooner because it was very tough to keep her quiet after 24 hours. But otherwise, we had a stoned, happy Swissy who was very good and didn't lick at all. I had one of the inflatable collars ready for her plus a big t-shirt, but she never needed either.

Good luck with it. I hope Duke doesn't miss his bits too much! I didn't realize he had cataracts, either. Those aren't fun at all.

[krb0471]

Good luck and quick healing! Basja says "hi" to Dukester and might be a bit glad he won't be as "friendly" if they ge to see each other again!

[Baroooo]

We had Ptoby neutered at 5. Scrotal ablation wasn't suggested and I never thought to ask. I knew it was going to be fun when the vet said she'd castrated smaller colts. Anyway, we used DMSO gel to help with the swelling afterwards - not on the incision itself, but around the scrotum where gravity drew all the fluid and swelling. It helped immensely. Ptoby really wasn't phased by any of it. The recovery with a tack will be a little slower, but the biggest problem we've had is keeping a dog quiet the required amount of time. Valor was trying to fly around the yard his second day home. They are amazingly stoic and make the best of their situation.

Good luck Duke.

[Terry]

he will do great. Dogs are much better patients than humans! After Daisy's surgery for the first 24 hrs I kept her medicated but she started playing I cut the pain meds out during the day. She needed to know to be careful. I still medicated her at night so she would rest well.
Good luck!

[Cole's Mom]

Good luck Duke. I think I was more nervous than Cole. He was soooo groggy when he got home and was back to himself the next day. Used the ecollar but he was a good boy and never licked

[Swissies4Me]

Well, today's the big day! Dropped Duke off at 7:30 this morning. I should get an update sometime around noon and should be able to pick him up around 3 or 4. He was so happy and excited this morning, he was talking and barking to all the girls at the office and hamming it up for attention, the big goofball!

[mezmerelda]

Little does he know...LOL!

I'm sure he'll be fine. Probably nice and stoned when you bring him home.

[Yeti_Girl]

I love that he was flirting with the girls. We'll expect full dope head photos. LOL!

[SapheraGirl]

Oooh, giant big ear rubs for Duke!!! Plus, a sloppy get well soon lick from Saphera!

[Itsapyr]

Jasper didn't had a tummy tack but he came home...looked between his legs like "damn" then went on his merry way. he never even slowed down.