Both of our Great Danes are very sensitive beings, so we felt it important to find a vet that would not require an over-night stay. Some vets require an overnight stay, so it's important to ask about the procedure, the pre-op care, and the post-op care before you schedule the procedure.
One last thing: I found GreatDaneLady.com to be a great source of information. I know there are lots of sites on the internet with good information, so,...do your homework. :-)
____________________________
Questions BEFORE the
surgery
1.
Can she be given (either at home before leaving,
or as she arrives) an anti-anxiety med?
She is terrified of the vet’s office.
2.
We have a 2-story house. She loves to gallop up the stairs (about 4 or
5 steps at a time), so we are going to sleep downstairs on the sleeper sofa,
with her bed next to us on the floor, and put a gate that will prevent her from
going upstairs. How long before she can run up those stairs?
We have a ramp that we can put in the back
– there are three steps she must go down to go outside to the back yard.
3.
I make ________’s food, so I will need to
prepare it in advance. When can she start to eat again after surgery? And,
how much, how often? The internet said, give them small, soft meals. She is
a vegan, so I was thinking that we could give her a can of commercial vegan food or mix
some soft foods to start, such as:
sweet potatoes
basmati rice (white)
other grains like quinoa, or barley (well-cooked, soft)
black beans
garbanzo beans
(Mashed, and mixed together with a natural creamy peanut butter or almond butter?)
When the mix is cool, could I mix in a little coconut water?
sweet potatoes
basmati rice (white)
other grains like quinoa, or barley (well-cooked, soft)
black beans
garbanzo beans
(Mashed, and mixed together with a natural creamy peanut butter or almond butter?)
When the mix is cool, could I mix in a little coconut water?
4.
When can she have a spoon of natural coconut
peanut butter spread? She normally gets
a spoonful every night in her Kong.
5.
Will you give her something for anti-nausea for
after surgery? (And perhaps, something we can take home with us for
anti-nausea, in addition to the pain meds and antibiotic)
6.
How soon do we give the first “round” of meds?
7.
She still gets hiccoughs at least once a day –
is this going to be a problem for the stomach-tacking sutures? (In this case
would she benefit from an anti-spasmodic?)
8.
Where is the drop-off door for the surgery? Same front doors, or a different door?
_________________________________________________________
For the Day of the
Surgery
Day: ______ Time:
_____ Date: ________
PATIENT: Name
___________ (Dog’s name with your last name)
(Breed:______________, Male or Female, Age:
____________ )
VETERINARIAN/SURGEON:
Dr. _________
SURGERY: spaying and stomach tacking
(GASTROPEXY) with Dr. ________________
Dear Dr. _______and the people who will be assisting during
surgery and recovery,
Please read the following before proceeding with surgery on ___________.
These are important issues unique to giant dog breeds, especially Great
Danes.
I have a lot of faith in the veterinarians and the staff at ________
Animal Hospital, but I’m sure you understand how difficult it can be to put the
life of your precious companion animal in the hands of even the most capable
professional. I am sure that you will be
doing the following anyway, without my request. But, I’m asking that you, and
your assisting staff humor me and read
this BEFORE you begin. Thank you.
Previous to surgery I am requesting:
·
Complete physical examination
·
Good heart auscultation
·
EKG
·
CBC and serum chemistry panel (including a
clotting profile)
·
Insert an IV catheter prior to surgery (as precautionary
fluid therapy)
·
Pulse oximetry and cardiac monitoring
·
Blood pressure monitoring
I need to know if any of these cannot be carried out.
CRITICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR GREAT DANES:
1.
Temperature monitoring during
surgery and throughout recovery: The dog must be kept warm when coming out of anesthesia and
recovery. A drop in body temp can cause them to bleed internally,
and they will bleed out even before you know they are bleeding.
AFTER SURGERY, DO NOT PUT DOG ON A COLD FLOOR OR SURFACE! It can be a
death warrant. Great Danes are very vulnerable to drop in
body temperature because of the ratio of body mass to body surface. A DROP IN
BODY HEAT WILL CAUSE HER TO BLEED OUT INTERNALLY. Dog must be kept on a warm surface, with ample bedding
under, and covered up with a comforter or blanket during the recovery process.
Preventive measures including: warming of IV fluids, placing
the dog on a heated pad (circulating water heating pad, or other heating pad
set on “low”, and covering the body and extremities with warmed blankets,
towels, bubble wrap, or other protective covering post-surgery are VITAL in conserving heat. If needed, I can provide a clean bed
and a blanket for her to keep her warm during recovery. I HAVE IT READY IN MY
CAR.
Please read:
“ In a survey done 4/2007, done through a giant breed discussion of over
800 members, 1/3 of 800
individuals lost a Dane after common spay and neuter surgery. We have
come to realize this is due to a drop in body temperature. It is imperative
your dog not be left on cold cement in a kennel after surgery or they will
bleed out and die. They must be kept warm – under the dog and on top.
This is an enormous problem with large breeds, giants in particular because of
the ratio of body mass to body surface. They can’t hold body heat very well so
it is absolutely critical that we keep them warm during the recovery from
surgery. “ – Linda Arndt, “The Great
Dane Lady”, and Canine Nutritional Consultant
2. HEAD
AND NECK MUST BE SUPPORTED AT ALL TIMES
DURING SURGERY AND AFTERCARE.
This is a major problem with Great Danes.
Do not let dog’s head and neck dangle off the operating table during
surgery. I WANT THE HEAD AND NECK SUPPORTED ON EITHER SIDE at all times WITH TOWELS OR A SURGICAL
TROUGH. This will avoid misalignment of
the spine, a slipped disc, or wobbler’s syndrome diagnosis following surgery,
which have no cure and may result in a requirement of euthanasia.
I want the veterinarian, Dr. _________, as well as his assistants and
anyone who works with or helps transport the dog to know this.
(See also attached “Surgery Guidelines for Great Danes” [Found at:
http://www.greatdanelady.com/articles/surgery_guidelines_for_great_danes_htm ]
And “Info to Share with Your Vet” – attached to this document.) [http://www.greatdanelady.com/articles/allergic_reactions_to_antibiotics.htm
(You
may want to attach a copy of :http://www.greatdanelady.com/articles/spay_and_neuter_information.htm
]
IMPORTANT ISSUES:
·
No dental cleaning at the time of surgery. [My personal bias
– I know a couple who lost their Dane because of this.]
·
ALLERGIES: She is allergic to ________and possibly ___________. She had a bad reaction. (Please see attached “info
to Share with your VET” ) It explains that Great Danes frequently are allergic to SULFONOMIDES, so please avoid those.
·
She still gets hiccoughs at least once a day – is this going
to be a problem for the stomach-tacking sutures? (In this case would she
benefit from an anti-spasmodic?)
·
NO ELIZABETHAN COLLAR! They are too large and awkward for a
Great Dane – they bump into the door frames and frighten the dogs more than
they help. I have made some “vests” that
work like a belly band, but cover the whole area on the chest and stomach from
front to back legs. (We also have two
sizes of belly bands to use if necessary.) I will be with her, and watching her
closely, 24 hours/day for the 7-10 days (or longer, if necessary) of
recuperation. I will bring one of the
vests on surgery day, so she can wear it home.
·
Our cell phones are: Name ________ Cell No.: ________ and Name _________ No. _____ (Try these
first)
·
Our home phone is __________________
We want
to know how the surgery went at its conclusion, and any update on how she is
doing post-op.
We will either be in the vet’s office or very close by, and
ready to pick her up when you tell/call us.
We want _________ to spend the night at home, post-op, because
being at home, not having to spend the night, she/he will heal faster, so we would like
him/her to have the surgery early in the day.
Thank
you for reading this, for doing everything for the safety and wellbeing of _________,
your time, attentiveness and for taking such good care of our ____________.
Your name(s) _____________________________________
