His E-Collar

Chow Chow is back home!

Hubby and I picked him up last evening from the clinic and he was happy to see us when the nurse released him from the cage. He was wagging his tail excitedly and let us pet him.

The vet, Dr Megumi Kodera, printed out her instructions for us on the post-surgical care for Chow Chow. It reads:

"Your Dog Chow Chow has been castrated. This procedure involves surgery in a very sensitive area and therefore needs care for sometime after the event. Unfortunately Dogs do not always understand that they must rest so we need you to assist us with Chow Chow's recovery.

When you pick Chow Chow up from our clinic he may be a little drowsy. This is quite normal following an anaesthetic and surgery. The drowsiness should reduce over the next 12 - 24 hours. There will be some bruising, the same as human, so he should not be expected to be completely normal for a few days.

Keep Chow Chow in a quiet, warm place. No food, water or medication is to be given on the day of the surgery. He may be fed and watered normally from the next morning.

Most Dogs will have recovered fully within a few days. Unfortunately this does have some disadvantages in that Chow Chow may start jumping, running around and generally trying to do everything that he can to upset the surgery and/or sutures. Please try to keep Chow Chow as quiet as possible for the next 10 days.

Generally there are very few complications after the operation. However, there are some signs to watch for that may indicate a problem:

1. Dull and listless (especially after the first 24 hours)

2. Excessive redness, irritation or discharge around the suture line

3. Swelling or lumpiness around suture line

If you notice any of these signs please bring Chow Chow back to The Animal Clinic, Sunset Way for a review.

Note: Chow Chow has had internal, dissolving sutures put in. He does not need to return unless problems occur."

We got him an e-collar so that he will not reach for his wound. He was a little disorientated when we put the e-collar on and he had a bit of a problem moving around. His head was kept low and the e-collar kept bumping into things whenever he tries to move around the house. I believe at some point he was frustrated with it but Chow Chow is still a good boy and didn't whine for us to remove the e-collar for him. We only took it out during meal time and when he goes out for his walks. Hopefully, his wound will heal very quickly and we won't have to make him wear the e-collar for more than 3 days.

This is how Chow Chow looks with the e-collar, his 'costume' for this Halloween. :P

Sleepy Chow Chow slept with his e-collar on. My poor baby, get well soon!