Anyone who has read my publications knows that my family is raising two Staffordshire Terriers, and if you are interested, you can read hereToday I'd like to tell you about the dachshunds my sister keeps, but she lives in the Krasnodar region. She's been raising dogs for many years, and currently runs her own (official) dachshund kennel. All of her charges have won championship awards—they've traveled everywhere!
Her first dog was Farina, and she's already a veteran because she's very old. Here's this beauty (if I'm not mistaken, the photo was taken in 2022):
She gave birth to many puppies, as she was spayed at around 9 or 10 years old. Today we'll talk about one of her daughters, Bagheera:
She's 8 years old and a champion, too. Her sister shared her awards:
Why did I decide to tell you? Because she was recently spayed, and this sensitive topic worries many people (I often come across similar questions on forums). People are especially interested in how to care for a dog after surgery and whether there will be a scar.
I'll tell you in order:
- The girl was taken to a veterinary clinic, where she was given anesthesia.
- Then the doctor asked to leave Bagheera and return for her at 5 pm.
- When they picked up Bagirka, she had already recovered from the anesthesia, so she was very happy to see her owner.
- The dog was carried in people's arms both to the car and in the car itself. It was always wrapped in a warm baby blanket, as it can get cold after the anesthesia.
- The doctor recommended wound treatments (this varies from person to person, so there's no point in describing medications), but the general rule is to avoid using alcohol-based products. 3% hydrogen peroxide or chlorhexidine are ideal.
- The girl was placed in a dog cage and covered with a blanket.
This is what the seam looks like:
And this is how Bagheera slept and walked:
As you can imagine, both a protective collar and a blanket are necessary. Many people think that a blanket alone, which protects the incision, is sufficient. However, a dog with free access to clothing can easily chew the blanket and then reach the wound, which is contraindicated. This is why a collar is also used.
As for the scar, this is what the suture site looks like a month after the surgery:
My sister says there won't be a trace left in six months because the fur will grow back. So, don't be afraid to spay or neuter your dog; it's not dangerous. Just follow the vet's instructions and your dog will be fine.