[RandSuz]

Hello ~
My husband and I joined this group today because we recently adopted two Chihuahua puppies from our city (Austin, Texas) animal shelter, born 11/12/14, and had them spayed/neutered yesterday.
Everything we have read says to keep them quiet for at least ONE WEEK!!! Well, our little rambunctious babes are so back to normal today that we don't know what to do with them. How do you keep two exuberant puppies quiet and relaxed?
We've kept them in one room all day and they are SO bored. We can't take them outside yet (and the weather is too cold anyway), because of their surgeries. But they want to play. Hard, like they always do, racing and tumbling around.
We can maybe make this "quiet time" last another day or so, but I have my doubts. We usually let them have the run (literally!) of our house a couple of times a day.
So if they are lively and active, will that hurt them so soon after surgery? It seems like the vets at the Austin Animal Shelter really know how to do their surgeries. Thanks.

 

[2crazypups]

Are they crate trained? My dogs are usually only quiet in their crates! The rest of the time they are maniacs!


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[Bandit]

I don't know about a spay, but my boys have always acted like nothing had happened within a very short amount of time. I remember with Bandit, I actually took him outside (summer time) to keep him from jumping off of furniture.

My advice - keep your eyes on them, and stop settle them down if it gets to bad.

 

[Evelyn]

Yeah, I have one of each, and the only thing I managed to do was to keep them from jumping. They played as normal, I was worried their stitches would break or something would go wrong and they both healed fine. Did you vet tell you to keep that huge cone on them, I took that thing right off as soon as we got home. My Holly just got her stitches out last Friday and it looks great. Just don't let them jump off coach, bed etc. they will be fine.

 

[RandSuz]

Thanks, that's good to read. The vet didn't give them cones at all, thankfully. Maybe he already knew they wouldn't need them. We do have bitter apple that might work if they start to lick too much once the healing itching begins.

 

[susan davis]

I assume these babies were born in Nov. 2013!! As for the surgeries, I would let them play for awhile, then put them in their separate crates with a chew toy. Crates are so great---for being put inside when there are people that are scared of dogs, to being at the vets, for 'cooling' off when they get under your feet. People who don't believe in crates are sometimes very upset when at a boarding situation, or at a vets they have to have there dogs crated, and the dogs go nuts 'cause they are not used to a crate.

 

[RandSuz]

Yes, they're crate trained already, but we hate to leave them in there all day. They have a bed on one of our couches and they are under the cover, much more subdued today, probably because it's so cold outside (31 degrees at 12 noon in Austin, Texas - that's unheard of!).
Keeping them separate from each other is good advice. Bonita doesn't mind, but Guapo, who is smaller and a little "behind" her progress, hates to be without her.

 

[susan davis]

I don't mean to crate them all day. Just when you can't watch them playing too hard. Sounds as if they wore themselves out---now just resting?

 

[2crazypups]

I have even crating my two beasts when they start to play too rough with each other. I give them 30-60min "timeouts"


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[Lulajane]

At least they are feeling ok LOL!! Glad you joined us here!! You must share pictures, it's required (not really, but sounded good anyways)!!! I would just do as others suggested and when they are getting too rowdy and need to calm down crate them for a bit.

 

[RandSuz]

It's day three after surgery and they are totally back to normal. Bonita's incision isn't red, or even pink, and they are as rambunctious as ever. I spoke to the folks at the vet and was told puppies usually rally fast. These little critters sure did.
It seems that all the post-surgery admonitions bode well for older dogs, and maybe even bigger puppies. But if they don't WANT to be kept in check, then probably they don't need to be, as long as their incisions are healing well.
Thanks for tips and advice. This is a good site, we think.

 

[RandSuz]

We have to do the same thing with our two babies. Man, they can really play hard!