just want to let you know how we handled Miya's spay...I never heard anything about not using a heating pad. The vet told me that the drugs they use can cause their body temp to drop, so that's why they used a heating pad. Everything was fine there.
I was really cautious with her. She was so miserable, I felt so bad for her. We had pain meds to take home and even ended up getting extra because her vet and I wanted her as comfy as possible. She is a jumper..bed, couch, stairs or not stairs, you name it. We ended up bringing our mattress in the living room to put between our sectional. She had a step from the floor, to the mattress, to the couch..and it wasn't very high. We also put pillows everywhere, in case she did jump, she'd have a soft land. Maybe we were a little excessive, but I'd have done it all the same again. She didn't get to where she wanted to do anything until after 3 days, then it was still a little tough. So for those two weeks, we lived and slept in the living room with our mattress and fortress of pillows haha. The evening she was home, I mushed up some wet food with gravy and she had a bit of it. Her tummy was very upset for about 3 days.
So that's a bit of read I know, but I think every experience is different. Had we not had the mattress in the living room, she would have tried to jump and possibly hurt herself. I hope her spay goes well and she bounces back in no time. I remember laying on the floor with Miya bundled in blankets for a few days. I didn't leave her side at all. She's my baby so I wasn't about to let her be any more uncomfortable than she already was. It was really tough for her..and me.. I won't lie...I don't ever want to see her like that again.. BUT after those couple days, she was her bouncy self running around chasing the cat, like nothing ever happened. She's the same personality as she was before her spay.
ooo..and to add..I was really worried about picking Miya up. I didn't want to grab her wrong or her stretch in some weird way..so I didn't pick her up for a few days. We made everything easily accessible to her so she could walk if she wanted to, which she really didn't. I agree with keeping her stairs, and if you can, make Chloe a fortress of pillows too..incase she does jump or heaven forbid fall off the stairs or couch or bed. I know I am probably sounding nutso but...I did what I thot was best for her