Hi fellow dog owners,

I've set the date for my dog's big C (castration) this Friday and I am having trouble looking at him in the eye.

Appreciate any tips on post-op care besides the usual "keep him quiet", "no running around"?

Cheers

PS: if anyone's interested, the castration is 300 CHF and the vet's located in Hongg. Price includes post-op follow ups, medication and removal of stitches - I was surprised that some vets charge extra for those.

Hi, there isn't really too much to post op care other than keeping him quiet and not letting him run around. It's a good idea to feed him something bland that evening, like boiled chicken and rice in case his stomach has a reaction to the anaesthetic, and try not to let him lick the wound too much afterwards, get him one of those lampshade collars if you're not going to be around to watch him. I'm sure the vet will tell you all you need to know when you go to pick him up afterwards anyway.

Also do remember he's probably going to be fairly sleepy for that evening and act as though he's drunk, which is always funny to watch.

The vet will provide the lamp shade collar wouldnt he?

My vet back home provides that post-op, but dont want to assume that here.

I don't know, I would assume so, but they are likely to charge you for it. If they don't offer you one (I know some vets in the UK don't), request one, they are really useful for if you can't be there all the time, although I would move any breakables out of the way of the dog when it's wearing it, they tend to be quite clumsy when wearing one.

In regards to the lampshade...

If you find your dog hates it, won't wear it, gets depressed, etc., two things you can do as an alternative:

Topic spray, an bitter tasting antiseptic spray, available from your vet. Most dogs will not lick or pull at stitches if the wound is sprayed with Topic - and it helps keep the wound clean. Of course, ask your vet first if this is appropriate for your dog.

Onesies/Panties. No kidding. If your dog is bothering the wound, a pair of boxer shorts (for a larger dog) or a baby onesie, or a child's one-piece swimming suit covering the stitches is a great thing. Obviously, you will need to cut the back seam open a bit for his tail, and if there isn't already a front opening as in boxers, do so so that he can urinate. Or take the clothing off while you walk him on leash. Yes, it looks ridiculous, but better than an opened wound. Onesies/bodies/Swimsuits are more secure than boxers, but harder to get on and off.

A long t-shirt, tied in back or stitched to make leg openings, will sometimes work, but I prefer something more secure for a male neutering op wound.

Other than that, most dogs bounce back quickly - the hard part is keeping them relative inactive whilst healing. My 14 year old with a bad heart was just neutered - and was bouncing around again like a youngster in two days.

Hope all goes well with your guy - it's the right thing to do... but of course we all worry until we get the 'he's fine, come pick him up' phone call.

Give the little guy an extra cuddle from all of us here.

Our positive thoughts go with your doggie, Summerrain. Ouchy.
No advice to add here but our best wishes.
(Black beauty here will get her op in a couple of months.)

I have two great danes who got fixed at the same time thankfully. The elizabethan collars we got were better than the lamp-shades b/c they could see around and lie down comfortably (they couldn't lie down w/ the regular cones). However I did only use those when they were not being watched (as in same room as me) or at night, and we didn't make them where the cones out on walks just leashed them up b/c they were so embarrassed, I figured they didn't need that ontop of surgery. I found some stay still toys and a new chew a day to distract was the best method, kept them busy licking/chewing something besides the stitches. I don't know what they have to offer here but in the states they have interactive toys puzzles you stuff w/ other toys they have to pull them out and ones where you put there own food in it and they chew it out both worked great. Just prepare yourself its going to stink for the first few days and you will feel bad but its the best thing for the dog, health wise and all. Oh, make sure that he can get to his water when no ones home b/c thats another issue w/ the cone. He prob. won't need it after a few days. What ever you do make sure you use the cone at night or when no ones home my brother didn't do so and two nights after the surgery his dog pulled some stiches out and had to go back and hold the poor dog down w/ out any meds and have it stapled shut again, ouchie and added 2 extra weeks of recovery. Also a pair of men's boxer's might help (tail out the hole) but it might just call more attention to the area, distraction with toys and chews is best! Good luck, I'll be thinking of you. : Heather

thanks so much meloncollie for the tonic spray and bathing suit tip. I was actually wondering how I would get around the lamp-shade collar problem at bed time as he sleeps in his crate then. He has some weird nightly rituals (turning around in circles and a spot of digging!) which might be a little bit of a problem with that thing around his head in the crate. Problem solved!

Damn I shoulda gone to the vet - mine cost 800chf from my doctor

I can only agree.

My girl was 5 months old when we took her on sterilization. She was very little and she could not even raise her head up with that lampshade. She was very sad and depressed so we throw lampshade away and sewed some kind of dress for her.

She looked pretty and she loved to wear it But we still needed to look after her especially during the night, because she wanted to find stitches and lick them.

Best wishes to Oskar

I find that prices REALLY vary here in Zurich. My usual vet charges 250 CHF but she is on holiday till end August, this vet referred by her charges 300 and another 350. 800 chf is a little much?!

well it *ahem* wasn't for a dog was just trying a little humour

although i think 300chf is well worth it - we always got our dogs neutered
no unwanted puppies that way too - too many strays otherwise

hope your dog copes with it well!