This is a bit late (she got her stitches out 4 days ago), but I wanted to share Pooka's story of getting spayed. Just wanted to give a real good detailed account for those about to go through the same thing cuz I still felt I didn't know what to expect.

I had bought Pooka one of those inflatable collars off ebay. Her neck was 13" around. The medium said 10"-13" and the large was 13"-whatever inches and you should always go with the bigger one, and we also figured we could use it as she grew up.

Well it got here and then we're like "you know, I can't believe we bought a LARGE for our corgi puppy" It was huge. BUT corgi's just have big necks and it actually fit well enough where she could run and stuff. She just didn't like it and would get stuck when she put her front paws through it.

My mom's mini dachshund is around 5 years old and never been spayed so we made an appointment to get them both done. My mom said she'd had several female dogs spayed and none had ever needed a collar.

Pooka was so happy to see Capri come that morning (had to drop them off at 8AM). My dad had to go, so I was in charge of driving them both to the vet on my own.

When we got to there, Pooka was so excited and barking at the other dogs in the waiting room. Capri, on the other hand, much older and wiser, knows the smell of a vet office and was cowering/shaking by my feet. I was trying to hold Pooka since she was going crazy, but she wasn't having that and they had a big guy in scrubs comeout and take her from me T.T [weeooo]. And then she was gone, she watched me, smiling as they carried her around the desk and out of view into a room. So cute, so pretty. I hoped she wouldn't hate me when it was over. My friend at school said her dog snubbed her for 2 weeks afterwards. I had a feeling that people just mistake a dog being in pain and uncomfortable and not wanting to be messed with as "being hated". Capri was next, she's very small and easy to handle but didn't put up a fuss when they took her, just shaking the whole time.

At 9:30, the vet called me ("noooo!") first thing "They're fine, BUT..." when they had shaved Pooka's belly, they said they found.... a bunch of pimply like inflammations all over her. They wanted to know if it was ok for the vet to examine and send home meds (extra fee). I was just like... wait what? I check her all the time, I'm always lookin at her underside. I hadn't that morning but... could not imagine why she'd have an infection down there. I tried to tell them she had a bunch of flea bites, or was it a reaction to the anesthetic. They convinced me it wasn't either of those and I just let it go. I STILL don't know how she got it.

At noon I was able to call and ask how it had went. They were fine, [phew!]

We could pick them up from 1-5, but I liked leaving them there under medical supervision so my mom and I went at around 4PM. We had brought crates for them and I just couldn't imagine how they'd look when they would come out. I figured... wimpy, ears back, not wanting to do NOTHING.

They brought out Capri first, and she looked still anxious (cuz she was at the VET, duh!) but her tail started going the moment she say my mom and was happy to be handed over. I was worried for when Pooka came out, that she'd see Capri and get all excited and want to jump around, but no. Pooka looked fine when she came out, she just looked...slower. Not hyper.

She wanted to come right to me and she really didn't want to go into her crate. So we just carried them (I was thankful they had us do all the paperwork before bringing the pups out) out to the cars, wrangling the crates along as well. My mom said Capri stopped shaking THE INSTANT we stepped out the door. We had brought separate cars cuz my mom had to go pick up my sister from school, so it was good bye.

I took Pooka home (luckily a very short drive) and she whiiined sitting in the passenger seat, she'd lay down and then sit up, stretching her neck to look out the window, not wanting to move too much.

When we got home, she would look at my wimpy and wanted to lay on pillows, but if ever I was on the floor, she wanted to cuddle, big cuddle! I had to try to not walk around the house too much, cuz she still wanted to follow me. She was just in pain, I could tell, I suppose the pain meds had worn off. I thought it was cute that she wanted to cuddle and didn't hate me. Zachary observed that she is very bonded to me, probably more so than other people's dogs.

Right when we got home I decided to let her pee in the yard, even though you're supposed to keep them inside. She went right away so I was able to take her in. She didn't poop for... 2 days I think.

They gave me pain meds to give her and I looked them up online. NSAIDS for a dog with rare, but serious reactions I would keep an eye out for. I wanted to wait until later to give her one, as it was every 12 hours and was planning on 8PM, but couldn't hold out and gave her one at 7PM. and DANG, I probably should've given it to her sooner. She was finally able to sleep and sleep she did. In her crate, of all places (she normally doesn't like it too much but I think she wanted quiet and dark). I had noticed she would lay on a pillow and look around and just look restless, and realized then, DUH, she was in pain and wanted to sleep so bad but couldn't. OOPS!

As for eating, she would drink water, slowly. And she would lick peanut butter and yogurt, slowly. I then decided to mix some of her canned food with a little milk/yogurt and mix it up real good to make a puree. She ate a good bunch of spoonfuls of that and I was happy and didn't make her eat anymore. OH, sticking a pill in a gob of peanut butter is how I give Pooka pills, no problem.

The next morning, I gave Pooka another pain pill and her first antibx (once a day). She was a bit better, just slow, again. But not AS slow. I would play tug of war games with her, but not fetch. Made more canned food puree for her. The cat was jealous. That afternoon we left to go visit Zachary's family 2 hours away. I had asked the vet about a car trip and they said it was ok. I figured she'd be not-moving for 2 hours, and that couldn't be bad. She got another pain pill that evening, and then one the next morning, but then NO MORE.

And THAT's all the really important stuff. Her stomach pimples (a staph infection) cleared up, and I checked her stitches every day. It felt hard and like a deep lump, but Zachary said it was just scar tissue, not swollen. It still feels the same way, no change, so he's probably right.

She never had to use her gosh-dang collar. The vet said its mostly male dogs, she my mom was right. Now we have it and I'll probably try to sell it on here, cuz even if she has surgery in the future, she probably won't pick at the stitches. I'll have to consult with my hubby first. (I figured... when I was buying mine, I wouldn't mind a nice cheap used one, maybe someone else wants one ;))

(here is a picture of Capri's stitches on the 10th day for comparison)

I think it helped, actually, making it less traumatic for Pooka to have someone she new and loved (Capri) there.