Neutering Issues
I feel like the worst doggie parent ever. TT_TT I took Winston to get his rabies vaccine, his microchip, and his neuter surgery on Friday. I promised him everything would be okay, but really I think it was only me worried for him. He had to be at the vet's office by 9am and he couldn't eat after midnight, so he was a little upset he missed breakfast lol. Anyhow, I brought him in and dropped him off. I spoke with the vet receptionist for a little bit and she reassured me he would be fine. Which I figured, but was just being overly protective. He's my baby, after all. I mean, I've never heard of dogs or cats having complications from being spayed or neutered.
So at noon, I called to check up on Winston and they said he would be ready to go home at 4. When I came to pick him up, they gave me a cone and told me he had been chewing/licking at his stitches so he needed to wear it. And they sent me home with Amoxicillan (sp?) and some sort of pain killer, which I've been giving him twice a day as instructed. He hates the cone. It makes me feel really bad, but the few seconds I took it off, he was trying to lick himself. -_- He won't walk around or even move with it on though, I feel so bad for him. I have to admit though, I can't help but laugh when he bumps into the wall and coffee table... ^_^;; It was funny watching him fight with the wall for a few minutes.
Anyhow, this morning I looked at his stitches because he was whining a lot after he ate and went potty. They looked really funky and we noticed he had funk/blood or something dried to the inside of his hind leg thigh. I panicked and called our vet, which is supposedly an animal hospital, but all I got was an answering machine. They had no emergency number to call. I was so upset and worried so I called Banfield and drove over there. Their vet checked him over and told me his stitches were infected and he had an abscess. The vet also said that they wanted to switch him to a different antibiotic, something like Clavix or like that. Well, they left the room and a few minutes later came back with what they wanted to do. Some sort of surgery to relieve the abscess and redo his stitches. All in all, they said it was going to cost $460! So I asked if they had a payment plan, which they don't. The only thing they could offer was applying for a credit card through them, which I know I wouldn't get. So I resolved to take him back to our original vet tomorrow. But I'm really worried about Winston.
He seems okay, I mean he's still acting relatively normal, considering the cone. He's gotten to where he'll walk around a bit and glare at me every so often. He really hates it, I guess. I'm wondering if anyone knows how I can talk to my vet about this. I mean, I really cannot afford another procedure. We just paid for his surgery and microchip, which came out to $225. I just really feel bad. I promised Winston he'd be okay but he isn't! I guess mainly I am really angry with my vet. Unjustified as that seems, I trusted them to take care of Winston. I think I'm really mad about how I couldn't get ahold of them during the weekend and how there isn't an emergency line for things like this. Am I just overreacting?
So at noon, I called to check up on Winston and they said he would be ready to go home at 4. When I came to pick him up, they gave me a cone and told me he had been chewing/licking at his stitches so he needed to wear it. And they sent me home with Amoxicillan (sp?) and some sort of pain killer, which I've been giving him twice a day as instructed. He hates the cone. It makes me feel really bad, but the few seconds I took it off, he was trying to lick himself. -_- He won't walk around or even move with it on though, I feel so bad for him. I have to admit though, I can't help but laugh when he bumps into the wall and coffee table... ^_^;; It was funny watching him fight with the wall for a few minutes.
Anyhow, this morning I looked at his stitches because he was whining a lot after he ate and went potty. They looked really funky and we noticed he had funk/blood or something dried to the inside of his hind leg thigh. I panicked and called our vet, which is supposedly an animal hospital, but all I got was an answering machine. They had no emergency number to call. I was so upset and worried so I called Banfield and drove over there. Their vet checked him over and told me his stitches were infected and he had an abscess. The vet also said that they wanted to switch him to a different antibiotic, something like Clavix or like that. Well, they left the room and a few minutes later came back with what they wanted to do. Some sort of surgery to relieve the abscess and redo his stitches. All in all, they said it was going to cost $460! So I asked if they had a payment plan, which they don't. The only thing they could offer was applying for a credit card through them, which I know I wouldn't get. So I resolved to take him back to our original vet tomorrow. But I'm really worried about Winston.
He seems okay, I mean he's still acting relatively normal, considering the cone. He's gotten to where he'll walk around a bit and glare at me every so often. He really hates it, I guess. I'm wondering if anyone knows how I can talk to my vet about this. I mean, I really cannot afford another procedure. We just paid for his surgery and microchip, which came out to $225. I just really feel bad. I promised Winston he'd be okay but he isn't! I guess mainly I am really angry with my vet. Unjustified as that seems, I trusted them to take care of Winston. I think I'm really mad about how I couldn't get ahold of them during the weekend and how there isn't an emergency line for things like this. Am I just overreacting?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Markley on
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You can get one of those blow-up neck collar things at the pet stores....Seanna tolerated that a lot better. Also, I don't know because I haven't looked at your puppy--but it could possibly be a seroma, which is just a fluid collection pocket after surgery. Not an infection, but sometimes they do need to drain it....I think you're probably ok to wait until tomorrow as long as he's eating/drinking OK....but take his temp too--normal should be 101-102...
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Permalink Reply by Tori on
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Yeah the Banfield vet checked his temperature, which Winston was not too pleased about, and he was at 103? But they said it was probably because of the car ride, since we live a good thirty minutes from a Petsmart.
Oh yeah, Winston is just as eager to eat his food. Not even the cone keeps him from munching down his cookies. It made me feel a lot better. He's pretty smart and can manage to get his water with the cone on, which surprised me. I guess I'll pick up one of those cushion collars. He really does make all these faces like we're torturing him with this cone.
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Permalink Reply by Chris West on
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Wait and talk to your vet first before getting mad. We just had our outside female cat fixed. She was ok for about a week, but then all her internal stitches busted and she got a HUGE hernia. I took her back to my vet and they had to redo all her stitches. They only charged me for her antibiotics. They were really nice about saying it might or might not have been their fault, but they did not make me pay to fix it. Since they are the ones that did the surgery, you may get lucky, and they may fix it for free or for a very nominal fee. Good luck! And don't worry, Winston still loves you and does not hold you responsible. After he is better, he will forget all about this incident.
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Oh that's good news! Yeah, I don't think I'm really mad so much as I'm worried. I suppose I'll just keep on loving on Winston until tomorrow morning and see if the vet will fix him up. I can handle a nominal fee or antibiotics, but not some four hundred dollars. To be honest, other than his cone, Winston seems content to snuggle in my lap or in his bed. I'm just glad he isn't nearly as concerned as me. Haha.
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Permalink Reply by Rebecca Marie O'Bryan on
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i also had trouble with teddys neuter:( it has taken him much longer to heal but thanks god he is now. it sounds like what happened to your pup, teddys incisions made some sort of bubble type thing and would bleed every now and again. i had it done at the SPCA as they charge less but as a policy if something goes wrong or if your are worried if the neuter went ok or have questions, take him to where you got him fixed at because they MOST likely not charge u anything or just for some antibiotics. i had to take him in several times and not once did they charge me for pills or exams.
for the cone i do recommend the one Jennifer said and also dont worry he will never think or blame you for this:) its not your fault
i hope he feels better soon!!!!
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Permalink Reply by Robyn - Halo's Mom on
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Most vets will re-check a surgery no charge, or they should!! If he's on antibiotics, there really shouldn't be infection, especially since they started him on them right away. You can also try a cool compress to reduce any swelling, just don't make it TOO cold, or TOO wet. It may take a little longer to heal, but if it's a seroma, they usually reabsorb on their own. Good luck, hope he's better soon!
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Permalink Reply by Melissa and Franklin! on
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when talking to the vet the big thing I would stress is that he has had the cone on the whole time. If they sent him home with antibiotics it is likely that he started chewing the stitches and messing with the surgery site while he was still at the vet. They RARELY routinely send a pet home from a neuter with anibiotics. I'd call and tell them the site looks weird/inflammed and he's been wearing his cone, giving antibiotics and pain meds as prescribed, etc and see what they say. I have worked at a vet for years and to me it seems like this IS their fault for allowing him to reach his incision in the first place, and I'm guessing if they had watched him wake up from surgery and immediately put the cone on he would not have this problem now. Usually they will realize their error and fix it for free or just for the cost of supplies. Mistakes happen but they should not charge you for their mistakes. Also, you can try to warm compress the area for five or ten minutes tonight and call the vet in the morning. Since the incision isn't totally closed a warm compress will help the puss and goo ooze out of the openings.
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Permalink Reply by Julia on
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Please remember: dogs really don't understand about promises. He won't hold it against you that you didn't "keep your word." All dogs have to go through this, and if his was a little harder than most, well, he won't blame you. He will know, though, that you took care of him. Really. I asked my dogs if this is true, and they agreed. They still love me. Despite everything.
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