I got both of my B's spayed a month ago today WOW! And Topaz took it much worse. The Vet gave me specific instructions as well as pain meds for both of them. She was much more difficult since she is actually having organs removed and her incision was much larger than his. So her sutures had to be watched carefully. She also warned that their hormones get wacky and so be careful for personality changes but they DO return to normal after a week.
Day1-Topaz was too sleepy to go outside & wanted no food
Day2-went outside but no potty & only a few bites of food. She only wanted to be on my lap no daddy & DEFNITELY no C3 (he's her best buddy)
Day 3-went outside still VERY moody & only a few bites of food
Food is very important for their recovery so we went back to the Vet to help us make her eat something.
Day4-finally ate a full meal of prescription diet & went potty normally. Still moody!
Day5-picky eating (only wet food no kibble at all) & was moving about very gently. Starting to get more playful now but was possessive about her food & nyla bone
Day 6-eating more & was now trying to jump around but yell when it was too much
Day7-10 was much more normal & much less moody..unless C3 accidently ran into her with his lamp shade (poor guy!) By the time the stitches were removed she was absoultely back to normal.
I think mine was the worse case scenario so I hope this will help prep you. And good job going with a private vet vs. a clinic. Make sure you know someone who's had their dog spayed with the vet too because I have heard of vets who do hack jobs with stitches.
Good luck & best wishes for Mali
we avoided a hack job by avoiding the spay clinic, we've used our vet for when our previous B was so sick with cancer, diabetes, and various other serious problems. We trust him so very much… the only reason I thought of getting her spayed elsewhere before is because I am a poor college student (haha) and my funds are limited. Thankfully my vet's clinic is so awesome they're letting me make two payments instead of one lump payment.
With what seems a higher risk of problems at a clinic, you are probably saving money and avoiding pain (for both you and the dog) in the long run…good choice!
Hopefully I can add this info here. Joey is being neutered in January at 13 months. I will also have him microchipped and am thinking about getting one dew claw, that grew back, removed all at the same time so he only has to go "under" once. I am a bit nervous. Anyone with words of wisdom?
It is always easy to say 'neuters are no sweat'…but when it is YOUR dog, it changes everything 
I am sure everything will go smoothly. His recovery will be incredibly speedy...it doesn't even seem to slow them down for a few hours
Duke was neutered the very day I found out he is Basenji, in July. He was 6+ mos old. We dropped him off about 9am and picked him up after 3pm the next day. I was worried about him the whole time he was gone. I called the office and checked on him 3 times when he was there. Vet didn't think he would need a cone or pain meds! He was happy to come home. We had to keep his activity level low for two weeks - a big, tough order and to keep an eye on the wound for excessive redness and swelling. Stitches came out after 14 days. We were assured if he was picking at the stitches that they would lend us a cone, but when we spotted him licking - we'd go "UH-UH-NO-NO" and he'd stop - never used a cone. It all went very well. Glad it's over - my husband didn't want to do it to him. :eek:
I want to get a micro-chip for Duke.
Duke has his dew claws. I think they have to be removed at birth - too late for removal.
Curious, why they had you leave him over night? Typically unless a problem they come home same day, both for a spay or neuter…. and many practices do not have anyone there overnight.....
I believe it is less stressful for them to be at home... IMO
Curious, why they had you leave him over night? Typically unless a problem they come home same day, both for a spay or neuter…. and many practices do not have anyone there overnight.....
I believe it is less stressful for them to be at home... IMO
I asked the same question - The answer was because keeping the dogs over night is their regular procedure to restrict any activity after the surgery and for post surgical observation. I expected him to mope in pain - but he acted like "lets play" soon as he saw us. We of course followed orders - only let him out on leash to do his business so he would not run-run-run like I know he would have. Instead he went zipping around inside the house like nothing happened. 
My husband ached for him anyway. 
Interesting… Thanks for the update... however, honestly, I would never leave a spay/neuter at the Vets overnight unless there was a problem during surgery.... again, just IMO....
Obviously a vet who has never met a dog like Nicky. When he had the flu at around 2 years old, our vet at the time wanted to keep him overnight on IV fluids so he wouldn't get dehydrated. They called 2 1/2 hours later to say, "We gave him sub cutaneous fluids, you need to come get him now." Upon pick up we were told when no one was in the room with him he would chew through the IV and then when the put an Elizabethan collar on him he chewed that too. He went through 5 IVs and 2 E collars.
Our current vet who did his neuter last year, had him come in early for bloodwork. They called me an hour ealier than expected to say he was recovering quickly from his anesthesia and I should come and get him now. They told me, he had to spend his entire morning doing charts with the vet because he refused to be in a room by himself and would howl loud enough for the neighbors to be concerned. Once he started waking up the howling started again. My vet feels that dogs do best at home overnight. The owners are home watching them and they are more comfortable and relaxed. This is definately the case with Nicky who has been banned from the boarding kennel and in general is just miserable away from his pack.
Yes, I sure remember that story about Nicky… LOL... and my Vet that sees quite a few Basenjis in this area have agreements with everyone... when they call to tell you to come pick them up, you have 15 minutes to get there... (VBG).... and my Vet too considers them better off at home for recovery... even when my Kristii had a liver tumor removed last year and was "split" stem to stern, she was only in overnight, next morning as soon as they watched her eat, I was called to get her... and this surgery was done at a very large 24/7 clinic that my regular Vet refers too...
I guess my point is to really question "why" they would keep a spay/neuter overnight? I think it is pretty pointless and just adds money to the bill.
I do not know what the average cost of spay or neuter is - we paid $140 for Duke's. I asked how much extra I am paying for the "overnight". They said nothing extra - the fee for neutering is $140 and the overnight is a service inclusive with the neuter. They strongly advised the overnight for reasons noted in my last post. But, since this procedure isn't a yearly event, I would not be aware of normal protocol. Your suggestions make sense and is good to bring awareness on behalf of new owners of Basenjis since they are a strong feisty breed.
The story about Nicky cracked me up. He is a real noise maker at the vet. Well - thinking back to July 15th the day of his neuter and discovering he is a Basenji, I called the vet's office early next morning around 8 am to check on him. They told me he was doing very well . . . I can come pick him up. (their normal pickup time was supposed to be after 3 pm.) The gals in the office all gave me compliments about him and how cute and sweet he is. I bet they say that to ALL dog owners. I wonder now if the OK for early pick up was because of his Basenji-ism or because that was my 3rd phone call.
Well after a few postponements, Joey will be entering "The World of It" next week. His neuter is scheduled for "same day take out" including his dew claw removal and microchip. The surgery is all done by lazer. I took Joey in last week for his presurgery appt/first time appt and they all commented on how he was so social and low key compared to other basenjis they knew. I learned that they have treated Bs before. Before I could open my mouth, the vet tech and vet were chatting all about Bs. I feel comfortable with leaving Joey in their hands. Oh and one thing I forgot to ask…how much? When I find out, I will post. Maybe this will shed some light on Jill's costs.
Well after a few postponements, Joey will be entering "The World of It" next week. His neuter is scheduled for "same day take out" including his dew claw removal and microchip. The surgery is all done by lazer. I took Joey in last week for his presurgery appt/first time appt and they all commented on how he was so social and low key compared to other basenjis they knew. I learned that they have treated Bs before. Before I could open my mouth, the vet tech and vet were chatting all about Bs. I feel comfortable with leaving Joey in their hands. Oh and one thing I forgot to ask…how much? When I find out, I will post. Maybe this will shed some light on Jill's costs.
Joey,
I have a question for you…Your boy is a little over a year and you are having him neutered. My breeder recommended me to wait a year before I have him neutered. Here's the question and it is going to sound strange. How do you keep them from humping things. Will they continue to even after they are neutered. I have never owned a boy dog and am concerened that I will have to deal with that. Any suggestions? Sorry if this sounds aquward.
Why do you have to wait until they're a year old? I was told that the earlier the better but not until the testicles were fully desended. I'm not a vet, but that is what was recommended. Duke was neutered at 6 months. No problems. He did hump - everytime he played and greeted, people, toys and dogs - But not after the neuter. Occasionally during play, he'll do a dominant thing (atleast I think).
I got Max at about 3 mos old I think. I had a two yr old spayed female german shep mix at the time. When he started humping her, my vet at that time told me to take him by the scruff of the neck and shake a little and tell him no to teach him that this was inappropriate behavior (he said that's what mothers do to their puppies to stop improper behavior–well--they don't say no--but the taking by the scruff of the neck. After a few times of this--he did pretty much stop humping, and I did have him neutered at 6 mos as soon as his testicles had descended. I never had any problems with him humping anything. Does anyone have an opnion on the shaking by the scruff of the neck??--not hard mind you. This was 16 yrs ago I was told to do this. I've never been around a mom and her puppies to see how they treat the pups.
A lot of breeders suggest a year old, because you can be sure the dog is done growing. There is some research out there that indicates neutering a dog prior to its growth plates closing can change the structure of the dog. And there is also some research that indicates neutering a pup before their urinary tract is fully developed can lead to problems later with urinary tract infections and blocked stones….but IMO (I'm no vet!) six months is adequate to prevent those issues in Basenjis. I feel it is important to neuter pet males before they get in the habit of urine marking everything in site. I am not an advocate of very early spay and neuter though (as in desexing at 8 weeks).
I never had a problem with Joey humping anything nor urine marking. I got Joey when he was 10 months and he was not neutered as the breeder was showing him. The breeder did say not to neuter him until he was a year and fully grown. This is why I have waited. He may have humped at the breeder, but I have not seen him do it since we have had him. He meets other dogs, but has not played with them off leash (we don't have a fenced yard) so I don't know if that has anything to do with not humping or not. Maybe Joey was trained by the breeder not to or it's something else. Just dont't know.
Here is a a link to a good article about why spay/neuter is best left until after a year old. It is from the perspective of those who do performance events with their dogs but explains the structural effects early spay/neuter has. http://www.caninesports.com/SpayNeuter.html
I have not found humping to be much of a problem niether with my male nor with my mom's two males. I also have never had a problem with urine marking. My boy was actually easier to housetrain than the girls and doesn't even like peeing in our yard.
I have seen many dog moms grab their pups by the scruff with their mouth to correct or to travel 
I've also read a dog training book that also uses this method if the dog is not on lead to make the correction.
The Dog Whisperer also does this with smaller dogs.
