I feel so bad because I feel like we’ve hurt her, though I know it’s just part of being a responsible pet owner. She came here a little over a month ago and she’s just starting to trust us. I took her to the vet yesterday for “the surgery”and I don’t know if she’s in pain or not, but she’s definitely not happy. She came home with pain meds and I’ve given them to her but she can’t run or jump so I started out with her in the crate and she had an “accident” in there, which wasn’t surprising, but it was a mess to clean up so I put down a puppy pad and put her in the kitchen with the gate up. She’s not happy!
She also has one of those collar/halo things and the vet recommended attaching it through her harness to keep her from getting the collar off. Yep . . she got the harness and the collar off . . three times. I’m about to give up on her wearing that thing.
Rita
Coming home in the car, she could not keep her eyes open and she toppled over a few times. Bless her sweet little heart!
I’m feeling really bad that we did this to her but . . I know after the next 6 or 7 days are past, we’ll be happy to have it all done. Not only for Rita’s sake but I was afraid if she went into heat, dogs might come from who knows where and get interested in the chickens while visiting Rita and chances are, the dogs might be big old ranch dogs so . . we did the right thing but I’m feeling pretty sad about it.
It’s hard seeing such a sweet little girl in so much misery. She’s miserable from the collar, probably from the surgery, and the fact that she’s locked in the kitchen.
We did the right thing, right?
PegD says
Of course you did!!! Mama guilt is a terrible thing. Rita will be good as new in a few days. It was the right thing to do.xxxooo
Judy H says
Absolutely the right thing. She’ll be much better, even by then end of today, and tomorrow will be even better. She won’t have to worry about any dogs chasing her down and bothering her, and will be healthier, too. You’ve reduced her risk of cancer and other problems.
You did the right thing. Maybe you would both feel better if you cuddle her for a little while.
Karen says
of course it was the right thing to do – not everyone is responsible so if you let your dog outside at all there will always be a worry – others are not always responsible and there are constantly wandering dogs in the countryside.
Karen says
Of course you did the right thing. She’ll bounce back before you turn around twice. Dogs have a knack for looking at us with those puppy eyes and making us feel guilty! She really just wants a lap.
LINDA says
I AGREE, JUST GIVE HER A LITTLE TENDER LOVEN CARE AND EXRA LAP TIME. IT ALWAYS HURTS MOM MORE THAN THE KID.
Sherry V says
Absolutely did the right thing. Not only are you protecting the chickens but you are also helping to prevent canine health problems.
All pet parents go through the same thing. You are completely normal.
Deb P says
Of course you did but with a tender Mama’s heart, it is hard to watch but I will bet even tomorrow she will be feeling alot better. When we adopted our Lucy, she came right from the vet after surgery and spent 2 days laying on me, bonding time. Maybe this will be good for you both, lots of cuddling and she might not miss Vince so much…
Judy D in WA says
Maybe Vince should take some time off work to just hold her and tell her how what a cute yiddo girl she is. 😉 Cheer up Momma, she will be just fine.
helen-mary says
If the cone of shame (ha ha) doesn’t work, you can make her wear a baby’s onesie.
susan says
Yes!! There are so many Chi mixes in my area that need homes. All my dogs are spayed/neutered–it is the responsible pet parent thing to do. She will feel better in a few days. 😉
Sherrill says
Yes, I had to have my boy done just a couple of months ago. The vet sent home pain pills, antibiotics and the cone (which I was told to leave on TWO WEEKS!!). I faithfully gave the pain meds and antibiotics but that darned cone only lasted a couple of days. Naturally wouldn’t fit in the crate so that made sleeping quarters an issue. I watched him like a hawk so no messin’ with the incision area. But after a few days, he was fine and she will be, too. We do feel guilty but it’s for their benefit.
Rosalie says
Of course you did the right thing. Our female dogs are older now, but when they were spayed we did not use a cone and had no problems. If the cone is part of the misery, see what she does without it. She may leave her stitches alone and thus doesn’t need the cone. A little licking never hurt, but if she bites the sutures…then you have problems.
Donna says
The baby onsie worked for us. She’ll be fine and so much better in a few days. Just love her and let her sit with you while you knit. (A good excuse for more knitting time).
Dottie N. says
It’s always so hard to see our pets in pain and double guessing if what we’ve done (had done) to them is right EVEN when we know it’s right. In a few days, she’ll be back to her Rita self and you’ll be sharing more of those cute/sweet Rita pictures!
Dianne says
Poor Rita. Yes, you did the right thing. She’ll be fine in no time.
Toni Wood says
I have never understood why the cones aren’t made of clear plastic. Then they animals could see through and around.
rusty says
You can always turn the cone around; with it facing the other way she probably still won’t be able to get to her stitches, and she can see around her:))
Diana in RR,TX says
She’ll be fine. Our girls barely bothered their incisions without the cone. But she wants you to feel bad so she gets some extra TLC!
Teri Jordan says
Our dog had to be operated on and the cone on his head was the big issue. He couldn’t eat or drink….I took it off and put an old t-shirt on him and tied a big not on the top to pull it up and what a much happier dog….he didn’t bother the stitches at all…..
Gwen says
I have read of several who picked up one of the u shaped travel pillow in WalMart or the drugstore and attached ribbons or velcro to the sides to close and used that instead of the cone. Thick enough not to reach the incision but much softer and more comfortable than the cone.
sharon says
there are soft cones you can get at petco or petsmart that are not as tough as the hard plastic cone you are using – and by the way you did what all responsible pet owners do, and its best for her and you all.
JudyL says
Unfortunately, we don’t have a petco or petsmart within 2 hours of us and, had I thought about it, I could have got something softer while in MO but I didn’t think about it. She’s made it through now and I hope we never need the cone again! Thanks for the info.
Sharon in Michigan says
Give her extra hugs and kisses! I feel bad too and Rita isn’t even my little doggie!
Kathleen says
Definitely the right thing!!!! It would be the wrong thing not to do it.
danielle says
Absolutely! Too many chi/chi mix pups in kill shelters as it is…..she will be fine and it will all be a memory for you and not her soon. If you can watch her closely, forget about the collar – you just dont want her licking open any stitches. When our guy was neutered we gave up on the collar after the first day – just watched him and didnt let him lick – and he stopped wanting to lick after about a day or two
Deb Miller says
Ah, the “cone of shame”! (The movie “UP”, if you haven’t seen it, it is excellent…) I have seen it multiple times and I don’t have kids!
It is ALWAYS the right thing to do. A serious pet peeve of mine…
They “say” they aren’t supposed to move around, and it is good, but I could never make it happen. And I have mostly had females. As we ALL know, when you start feeling better, you start doing more! Doctors be damned! I say, do what you can, the best you can. Some things, ( like husbands) are out of your control…! You are a very good mom, don’t fret…
Dorothy Schreyer says
Of course you did the right thing…yes we hurt for our babies when in pain. But, she will forgive you and be her old self in a day or so. Our little girl slept on my chest the night after she had her ‘surgery’.
Theresa says
Think of it this way– Rita will have a couple of bad days in exchange for a longer, healthier life and more years to cuddle with Vince.
Jackie says
We’ve quit using a collar like that with Cody. He’s anxious and it bangs into everything. We instead use something that looks like a floatation device. It’s round and you blow it up. Odd thing is that he doesn’t mind resting his head on it like a pillow. It does the job too!
Jackie says
You certainly did, she’ll forget all about it once the cone is off, after the first couple of days post op it’s the cone they hate more then anything. Your great parents!!
Marcia Hron says
Poor, sweet Rita . . . yes, I know how you feel. My hubby and I had our little 6 month old shitzu spayed 16 days ago. We felt so badly about causing her the pain, but within 3-4 days, she was quite active and back to her sweet self. We gave up on the “collar of shame” (as they call it) on the second day because it made her so uncomfortable. Although she “licks” a lot, she actually left the incision alone and all was fine.
Linda says
Aw. What a little sweetheart. You did the right thing.
Lee Ann L. says
Yes! You did the right thing since you were not planning to get pups out of her. Unspayed dogs are known to get mammary cancer later on in life due to hormones raging in the body. She most likely will live a longer and happier life. And, she’ll thank you for it in the long run (after she heals from surgery).
carol says
Judy, you did the right thing. You are a loving human and she will be much happier
every “heat season” to not be going thru that anymore. And Speck will appreciate it too.