Question:
: : Hi,
: : Our 2yr old JRT was spayed yesterday. The vet kept her overnight beause she was slow to recover from the anesthesia, she was vomiting and somewhat lathargic.The vet advised us that this is not common but that she would be ok. She is very sluggish today but is eating normal.
: : Not to ask a medical question but in general and from your experience with JRTS do these dogs react this way after being spayed or neutered? We"ve never heard of any cases and regret having her spayed. We weren't breeding her anyway so now it feels that this was a bad decision.
: : Your input or suggestions will be very comforting.
: : Thank you,
: : Liz and Manny
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: Dear Liz and Manny,
: One of our girls had a difficult time coming out of anesthesia after she was spayed; she too was lethargic and vomitted and spent that night and most of the next day at the vet. Within 48 hours of her surgery, Jade was acting completely normal (!) and we spent the next 10 days trying to keep her from jumping and running around like a maniac so she could heal properly.
: Your vet is correct -- this is not a common problem. Jade's litter sister, Jasmine, had no problems at all with the anesthesia. I understand why you feel badly about your decision to have this elective surgery; I'd rather Jade wasn't ill after the surgery either. Except for blood tests to determine adequate body functions, there really is no way to tell how a dog is going to react to the anesthesia.
:
: Keep an eye on your terrier; monitor her food intake and her elimination. And don't hesitate to call your vet if you feel that something isn't "right" with your girl -- the lethargy continues, she stops eating, she has problems when she pees/poops, etc.
: Please let us know how she is doing...
: Best,
: Leslie
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Hi Liz and Manny,
Same here. Two days later, maniac again. I think Robin's issue was with the type of anesthesia used during her spay. The vet used both isolfuorine gas and a ketamine injection. She was nauseated, but still eating and EXTREMELY pathetic.
Since that time, Robin has been put under with isolfluorine gas only for several things-- a severely broken tooth and two foot injuries-- and her reaction has been nothing at all. She wakes up a little groggy, but is back to her old self within 15 minutes. Literally as if it never happened.
Ask your vet what kind of anesthetic he used, so you can make a note of it. Hopefully your little one will not be as accident prone as Robin, and you'll never need it again, but if you do, you can mention this previous problem to the attending vet and maybe he can use a different anesthesia or give her something to help her out with handling it.
Long term, you won't regret having her spayed. It is literally the very best thing you can do for your baby. She will be over this faster than you can imagine right now (although if at all like my drama queen will milk it for all it's worth-- my husband carried her up and down stairs for 3 months), and she will be much healtier and live longer because you loved her enough to do this.
Hang in there! It gets better!
Heather
