Oy Steely

[courtney77]

Anyone else had a problem with clinginess or separation anxiety after a surgical procedure? Sits there and whines at me. Jenn told me after I left for work a few days ago, she could hear Steely howling. And then while Jenn was in the shower this morning, Steely was howling again. This morning she was carrying a stuffie around in her mouth and whining at me. Her behavior is just all out of whack. I even called my vet last night. He said that her incision is fine, but there is a chance that she could be hurting a bit, so he is calling in a little pain med this morning for her. He (and his daughter/my best friend) think that Steely may be playing me because she knows I'll come running. I was told by them not to underestimate her intelliegence.
It's been 10 days since her spay & she's just now acting this way. Otherwise, fine. Eating, drinking, wagging her tail, playing with toys. Very social and alert.
I took her in on Monday am, because her incision was inflammed and draining. So, they cleaned her up and gave her a shot. They said that the only reason that happened is because she's so active and since then I've been trying to keep her as still and calm as possible.
I think the overall concensus among humans is that I mother her too much and she knows I'll come running.
What do ya'll think?

 

[Tricia2]

Now that you mention it, Lili was spayed the week before Steely and she had drainage from a seroma (fluid collection from a reaction around the absorbable internal sutures) and is still on an antibiotic. She has had to wear a little boy's sleeveless undershirt because she was licking at her incision. I thought the shirt was making her nuts.

She has been a total PITA with the whining and clinging to me. I told her get over it, it's surgical menopause, girlfriend. At least your not having hot flashes and night sweats.

 

[courtney77]

That sounds so right on with what is going on with Steely. I honestly don't want to pick up the pain meds for her because I don't want her on too many things. Esp. if she's not actually in pain. She's on an antibiotic and antihistamine.
Thank you so much Tricia. You totally made me feel better about Steely's behavior. Poor girl.
Any other thoughts anyone?

 

[NewfLove]

If the doctor has checked her out and knows she is fine, I do wonder if she is messin' with you. They really are so smart like this. I would suggest trying to ignore her when she is kind of pushing the limits. Kind of like when there is a thunderstorm and your pup is scared, we should make no big deal out of it and kind of go about our business. But, I'm no expert, for sure!! I bet others here have a lot of experience with this and you'll hear some great advice. Poor Steely :hugs:

P.S. If she is just now acting this way and it's been 10 days, has your attention towards her dwindled a little recently since is now medically okay? And, she knows this?

 

[courtney77]

If the doctor has checked her out and knows she is fine, I do wonder if she is messin' with you. They really are so smart like this. I would suggest trying to ignore her when she is kind of pushing the limits. Kind of like when there is a thunderstorm and your pup is scared, we should make no big deal out of it and kind of go about our business. But, I'm no expert, for sure!! I bet others here with have a lot of experience with this and you'll hear some great advice. Poor Steely :hugs:

P.S. If she is just now acting this way and it's been 10 days, has your attention towards her dwindled a little recently since is now medically okay? And, she knows this?

Diane, my vet is adamant that she is fine & that she's basically being a woos. I brought her in a week after the surgery & that's when he gave her a shot. I took pics and emailed them to the clinic yesterday. He called me after he looked at them and said that the incision looked a little inflammed. But as long as her incision wasn't open, we were good. He even gave me a post-op ointment thing to put on it twice daily. Everyone seems to think that she is playing me for attention.
The only thing is I think I worry over her too much and she senses that. Maybe she's taking advantage of it. Who knows?
This might be a good thing- Aaron and I are going to a friend's lakehouse this weekend and not bringing Steely because it's too hot and she can't get in the water with her incision, blah blah blah. So, her Paggie (my Mom) is keeping her. So, maybe that will help with this po po pitiful thing she's doing.

 

[NewfLove]

Diane, my vet is adamant that she is fine & that she's basically being a woos. I brought her in a week after the surgery & that's when he gave her a shot. I took pics and emailed them to the clinic yesterday. He called me after he looked at them and said that the incision looked a little inflammed. But as long as her incision wasn't open, we were good. He even gave me a post-op ointment thing to put on it twice daily. Everyone seems to think that she is playing me for attention.
The only thing is I think I worry over her too much and she senses that. Maybe she's taking advantage of it. Who knows?
This might be a good thing- Aaron and I are going to a friend's lakehouse this weekend and not bringing Steely because it's too hot and she can't get in the water with her incision, blah blah blah. So, her Paggie (my Mom) is keeping her. So, maybe that will help with this po po pitiful thing she's doing.

That will be good. You'll be gone and she is going to have to decide if she wants to play someone else for all it's worth. I remember asking our pediatrician one time what to do when my then toddler would whine for me, standing right next to me in the kitchen, hanging on me non-stop when she didn't need anything. He said to ignore the unpleasant behavior and it will simply stop. So, if you can absolutely rule out any medical issue, then I say ignore the unpleasant behavior and it will simply stop. :run:

 

[JDH2]

Could she be having a false pregnancy? I remember someone on here having that problem and I think it may have been after a spay.

 

[Brody the Newf]

Brody carries around certain toys with him, whines and paces with them. Eventually it gets to the point that I have to take the toy away. He'll go crazy for an hour looking for it. I feel so bad but I don't want him to be a neurotic dog. Eventually he moves on and I've gotten to the point that I can recognize the symptoms before they get out of hand.

 

[courtney77]

Could she be having a false pregnancy? I remember someone on here having that problem and I think it may have been after a spay.

I considered that and read Teri's thread on when that happened to Abbey & Steely's behavior doesn't really match Abbey's too much besides the singling out a toy and whining. I was just home at lunch and she didn't even bother with it. Also, she's not doing anything like trying to give her food to the stuffie or nursing it.
She also didn't whine when I was home, but she did follow me wherever I went. Even if she had just layed down, she got right back up and went with me.

 

[courtney77]

So, if you can absolutely rule out any medical issue, then I say ignore the unpleasant behavior and it will simply stop. :run:

Di, when I went home at lunch, I checked out her incision. It looks really good. It has a very thin strip of crust over it, looks like from drainage, but it's no longer inflamed looking. Just pretty belly skin.

 

[NewfLove]

Di, when I went home at lunch, I checked out her incision. It looks really good. It has a very thin strip of crust over it, looks like from drainage, but it's no longer inflamed looking. Just pretty belly skin.

Then, I think giving her a quick hug and kiss and on with your business is in order....

 

[JDH2]

Sounds great! I also agree with the others.

 

[courtney77]

Thanks sweet friends! Ya'll have 100% put my mind at ease. My mother and my fiance have told me that they think I will drive my future human children crazy!

 

[NewfLove]

Thanks sweet friends! Ya'll have 100% put my mind at ease. My mother and my fiance have told me that they think I will drive my future human children crazy!

It is definitely an indication of future behavior with your children. Trust Me.

 

[courtney77]

It is definitely an indication of future behavior with your children. Trust Me.

S***.

 

[NTNewf]

It is definitely an indication of future behavior with your children. Trust Me.

Sorry Courtney - I have to second this.

 

[R Taft]

Sounds like a good dose of post surgery "I felt abandoned when you left me at the vets".
If the vet is happy, just ignore
We have had some sooky dogs with this. Annabelle being one. Just go on with life, she will get over it. Distraction therapy may help, when her suture line is fine. Such as swimming and long hikes.
Loves you Steely, now you be a big brave girl :hugs:

 

[SunnyD]

I was also think along the lines as Ronnie. Is this the first time you have left her somewhere overnight? Perhaps she is worrying about being alone again? Who know? My 9 year old greets me as if I have been gone for days. It doesn't matter if I am coming home or if I just got out of the shower. She then follows me to wherever I am going. I am used to it now but it used to drive me nuts.!

 

[Brody the Newf]

It is definitely an indication of future behavior with your children. Trust Me.

My son had wicked separation anxiety. You know how kids stop crying as soon as parents leave the driveway? My son would scream and kick at the door for hours. Since my old dog had separation anxiety too, I figured I was the common denominator

I made sure to retrain myself before Brody came home and Brody has no separation anxiety. My non husband said Brody is the neediest dog he's ever owned so clearly I'm still doing something wrong...BUT my son no longer cares if he isn't attached to my hip

 

[Abbey]

Could she be having a false pregnancy? I remember someone on here having that problem and I think it may have been after a spay.

Yep, That's what happened to my Abbey. She was whinning as if in pain. Someone mentioned having the same experience, and talked about a stuffed animal. Husband gave her a little stuffed bunny and she went straight to her crate and tried to nurse it. I posted about it because I thought it might help someone else that might go through it with their dog. Abbey would even get a mouthful of her kibble and spit it at the stuffy. She would growl at Zeke if he came close, and even took it with her when she went potty. This went on for 2 weeks.
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