jessie had her spay few days ago , shes still got her buster collor on and still got stitches but she is pretty much back to herself except when i go to stroke her she starts growling at me she never used to before, why is this? is it just cos shes still grumpy after her op?

i dont like her growling

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She if feeling sorry and sore. Sounds like she just wants to be left alone, bless her

She may be feeling vulnerable and a little traumatized.
Hopefully, as she recovers, she will be back to normal.
Just let her have a bit of space at the moment

sorry, i have 2 Qs if U don;t mind -
by *buster collar* do U mean an Elizabethan collar AKA cone, used to keep the dog from messing with a body wound/sutures?

and when U go to *pet* her, do U reach under her chin, or over + behind her head (back, neck, shoulder, etc)?

my hunch -
if she is wearing a standard-type cone, which blocks her peripheral vision,
AND - U are reaching above / behind her head... then not only is she feeling pretty sore (rummaging around inside the abdomen
is bruising), but SHE * CANNOT * SEE * WHERE * U * R * GOING... since the cone shuts-off her view.
so shes feeling sore, anxious + crippled by her inability to see - which leaves her vulnerable + makes her less trusting.

tell me - is she a bit anxious normally?
a barky dog who tends to flee if possible, and very reactive to visitors arriving at her own door? hackles up, barks + bounces, charges + retreats?

just guessing, TIA for any info,
--- terry

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terry pride, APDT-Aus, apdt#1827, CVA, TDF
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tmp, sept-2007

I had an operation not long ago and I was just the same lol....seriously though, I was for a couple of days, I felt really out of sorts and confused and I told people this when they asked me how I was, poor dogs can't speak to they growl, it's the only way they can tell us how they're feelng I suppose.
Especially with the collars they have to wear, they make them feel vulnralble and they can't see what's around them with a great big lampshade stuck in the way.
Terry has it spot on with the advce imo...
I think she'll be a whole lot better once the collar comes off and the discomfort dies down, she's anxious poor girl
Hope she's back onher feet again soon
Clare xx

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Hi

Terry is right, but I would just say, try not to put her in a position where she needs to growl and you back off, or she could 'learn' this behaviour.

I would suggest offer a treat in one hand - where she can see it and remove the collar for any fussing, or just leave her alone for the moment, don't push her into accepting the fuss.

I have no doubt she will be fine, but you have just learnt something useful about your dog, that this could be how she may react under stress, these circumstances may never conspire to get this reaction again, but it is worth remembering if your dog is ever in a similar situation in the future (under stress and feeling vulnerable), this is what she could do. We never stop learning about out dogs.

I hope she is feeling better soon. Try some Rescue Remedy and some Arnica, both of which may help her feel better.

Kate

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