Cali got spayed today & is howling when she tries to pee

[Deb's Tiny Dogs]

Cali got spayed today. Her surgery was done at about 1:00 p.m. She is home and VERY sleepy, as expected. I just gave her some pain medication, too. I've tried to get her to go pee (at least), but when she squats to go, she starts to howl and hop. Any idea what I should do? Is this normal for the first night? Also, I had to put the dreaded e-collar on her since she wouldn't stop trying to lick. She looks so pitiful.

[GretaJack]

I think that Cali is probably going to be fine. I know that the first night that Jack was home from his neuter, he was a bit howly, which very abnormal for him. Every dog reacts to pain differently. But the sleepy is very normal, the licking is normal, the e-collar is funny! I am sorry but I can't help but laugh about that. Jack had an e-collar for his neuter since he is a licker. I just kept giggling.

If the howling, yelping last past tomorrow, I would be concerned. But hey, she just had a hystoerectomy. I know women that have been laid up for months because of one!

[Deb's Tiny Dogs]

I'm just concerned because although she squats, she's not peeing. Do you think maybe it was the cathetar? The e-collar is just hilarious (from my viewpoint - not Cali's) . I went downstairs and she is so tired she is sitting up, but she put her head to the floor from the weight of the e-collar. The whole round opening was flat to the floor with her little body coming out of it. It would have made a great picture. She is just looking at me like you b****!!

[GretaJack]

The squatting is normal. But keep an eye on her and her water intake. Obviously water intake= urine. But right now the pain sensation is making her feel like she has to go even though her bladder should be empty. The catheder should have gone in one of the front limbs. Unless she has a urinary cathedar for some reason

[Evil One]

The E-collar is funny,both mine looked so cute in them...Now mind you Baja only had to wear her's when we weren;t around as she listens real well...
as for the howling part..Can't help you neither of mine did that,and Baja was done last monday..Her only problem was she had problems pooping,so thus we changed her food...They were both chipper and didn't even wine.....Keep us posted
The first pic is Blue with his e collar,
the second is after the e collar,look at those ears...lol.Imean they were deformed...lol.But did come around to look normal
and the third is Baja with her collar on....

[weezyNollie]

The howling is usually due to the use of opiods.. either hydromorphone or morphine. They tend to make dogs more vocal. Like Greta said.. the cather that they placed was an IV catheter.. not a urinary catheter. They usually express the bladder and withold water before surgery to avoid the bladder all together. If you don't see any urine after about 12 hours of being home, then call the bet.

And FYI greta.. dogs have ovariohysterectomies. In humans a hysterectomy is just uterus removed.. in dogs we remove EVERYTHING, ovaries included!

[GretaJack]

You are right, and I did know that but it is just too big of word to have tried to spell on a benadryl fuzzy brain last night. LOL I was lucky to have made any logical sense.

[Deb's Tiny Dogs]

Cali seems better today. I put her e-collar on and put her in her crate last night. Well, she just wouldn't stop howling. I don't let her sleep in bed with us since she's not fully housetrained. I felt so bad for her that I gave in, took off the collar, and put her next to me on the bed. Within 5 minutes, she was sound asleep (and didn't pee). Awwww...she just wanted her mom - and that e-collar off! She did pee this morning. The only trouble now is she's trying to scratch at her incision with her back paws. I put a tiny tee shirt on her. She finally pooped, too, but that was a big ordeal. The anesthesia must screw them up. Like all other dogs having "the surgery", I think she'll be fine in a few days. I just gave her some pain meds again. Thanks for all the help.