Okay, let’s talk about this because I’ve been there. That feeling when the vet says your dog needs something done, and it involves anesthesia? Yeah, my stomach dropped too. It was for my old girl, Daisy, needed some lumps checked out, and there was no way around putting her under.
The Lead-Up and My Worry
The days leading up to it were rough, mostly for me, I think. Daisy was just her usual happy self. But I kept thinking about all the ‘what ifs’. She’s not a puppy anymore, you know? The vet was great, explained everything, but still. That word ‘anesthesia’ just sounds heavy.
The main thing I had to do was manage her food and water. This part was crucial, the vet really stressed it. No food after midnight the night before. That was the rule. Easy to say, harder to do when she gives you those puppy eyes by her bowl in the morning. I had to be strong! Just hid the bowl. Water was okay for a bit longer, but they said to pick that up too, around 7 am on the morning of the surgery.
I remember double-checking those instructions like five times. They said it helps reduce risks, something about not aspirating food if they get nauseous. Made sense, but didn’t make the worrying stop.
Surgery Day
Dropping her off was the worst part. Handing over her leash to the vet tech… ugh. She looked back at me like, “Where are we going?” I just felt like a traitor, even though I knew it was for her own good. The clinic staff were lovely, really reassuring, told me they’d call as soon as she was awake.
Waiting for that call felt like forever. Every time my phone buzzed, my heart jumped. I tried to keep busy, tidied the house, went for a walk, but my mind was just stuck at the vet’s office.
Picking Her Up and Aftercare
Finally, the call came! She was awake, groggy, but okay. Relief washed over me like crazy. When I went to pick her up, she was definitely out of it. Whining a little, unsteady on her feet. They wrapped her in a blanket, and she just seemed so fragile.
The vet gave me the post-op rundown. Said she might be sleepy, maybe a bit nauseous, maybe not want to eat right away. That was expected.
Here’s what I focused on once we got home:
- Keeping her comfy and quiet: Made her a soft bed on the floor so she wouldn’t try jumping.
- Small amounts of water: Offered little sips frequently. Didn’t want her guzzling.
- Food later: As instructed, I waited till evening and offered just half her normal dinner portion. She wasn’t super interested at first, which worried me again, but the vet said that could happen. She eventually ate a little bit later that night.
- Watching her closely: Just kept an eye on her breathing, her incision site (once she had one from a previous procedure), and just her general vibe.
Honestly, the first night was a bit nerve-wracking. She was restless. But by the next morning, she was already looking brighter. Still sleepy, but more like herself. The nausea thing thankfully didn’t really happen for us, just a lack of appetite initially.
It took a couple of days for her to get back to her usual bouncy self, but seeing her recover, knowing the procedure was done and she was okay… well, it was worth all the worry. It’s tough seeing them go through it, but preparing properly and following the vet’s advice really is the key. You just gotta trust the process and be there for them when they come home.
