Expert: Delores Beck - 4/24/2011

Question
QUESTION: hey i hav a 10month old female english cocker spaniel n she has umbilical hernia....d vet said d surgery for hernia has to be done now or later....so he said its better v do it now....he also said dat he will spay d dog along with the surgery of umbilical hernia....the surgery is tomorrow.....i wanted to kno dat will der b any side effects or after effects of getting ger hernia treated by gettin d surgery done? i am really scared so wanted to know if d surgery will cause any health hazards or nythin later on......n also will spaying good?i heard dat dogs get lazy after spaying?does it have side effects too?please reply as soon as you can
thank u sooooooo much in advance :)

ANSWER: Your vet is doing the right thing.  Makes no sense to have to use anesthetic again.

Make sure you ask him when you take her in about pain control post surgery.  He may suggest an NSAID (like Rimadyl or Metacam) but using Tramadol is far safer and just as effective.  You should keep her quiet at home until her stitches come out in a week or so.

You might also ask your vet for a "cone" (he'll know) to prevent her from getting at those stitches, which can get itchy.

And no she won't get lazy or fat if you feed her properly and exercise her daily.  That's just an old myth.  And yes, spaying is the right thing to do and prevents cancer later in life.
I hope she hasn't had a first heat yet.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: thank u soo much for ur advice :)
but my dog had her first heat a month ago.is it bad?does dat cause any kind of damage?

Answer
I'm astonished your vet didn't advise to do this before her first heat but no, it doesn't cause a problem.  It's just far better to do it before.

And after surgery, watch her carefully for signs of infection like redness or swelling at the incision site.  Be SURE and ask about pain control...this is the doggie equivalent of a hysterectomy.  I like Tramadol because it's an opiate and the NSAIDS like Rimadyl or Metacam, etc. can do liver and/or kidney damage.

You are her advocate...so speak up and ask questions.

I highly suggest putting a cone on her because the stitches can be irritating and dogs can just rip them out.  Ask your vet what he has to reduce the irritation & itching to make her more comfortable.