My sled dog (Ak husky) Tikko had to have emergency surgery to correct testicular torsion (he was cryptorchid with one testicle retained, the testicle can get twisted around on the cord, strangling the blood supply to that retained testicle and causing a huge amount of pain).

My question is for any vet-techs or vets who may still be on the board this time of night on a holiday weekend. He's home. Woke up from surgery at 5 or so. Closed the incision at 4:30 (so quite recent). He screams when ever he moves. He is now standing in the living room, panting, arched back. Is there any way to 'gently' encourage him to lie down? He tried to lie down on his own, (I can tell he's exhausted) but jumped up squealing as soon as his butt touched the bed.

Of course it hurts, and generally a vet would never let a dog go home this soon after fairly major surgery, but it's a holiday weekend, they have no staff for the weekend, and home is the best option in this circumstance.

For a bit, he was resting his front legs on me as a sat by him, but my legs fell asleep and I had to adjust my position, which caused him to howl/yelp/scream because he had to move slightly.

I just want him to be able to relax in a quiet corner to recover.

Suggestions on how to best do this? I can call the e-clinic but I know there are a few vet techs and vets on this board who could weigh in.

Otherwise, he's doing fine. Surgery went well. The vet said his actions post anesthesia are actually quite normal (disorientation, panting, pain squeals), but pet owners just don't usually see it/deal with it. And as tough as they are on the trail, sled dogs are known for being very 'sensitive' when it comes to pain.

Any suggestions tonight would be great. I know around here, everyone is out of town fishing- and we would have been too, but dogs come first, and I'm very glad we weren't in a really remote area when this happened.

I don't know if it would help at this point or not, but often after surgery, we would place ice packs wrapped in hand towels on the insicion sites (mostly to reduce swelling). I wonder if he would allow you to try that. Wrap the ice pack, though, since he can't tell you when it gets too cold. We don't want to damage his skin on top of everything else.

Give him a gentle sympathy hug for me, too, please. (One for you as well)

Thanks Lisa, I will try the ice once he's a bit more relaxed. Right now he's standing up staring out the window, kind of stoned.

I called the clinic and they said it's OK to leave him standing to recover. He'll find his most comfortable position. I hate to see him like this, wish there was something I could do.

Oh gosh Kiersten, I have no advice for you other than would you like my mother’s number? She is just going through pretty much the exact same concern as you’re experiencing. She’s had 3 days with my brother’s pup, post op from the removal of both testicles from his groin.

She’d probably have a great ear and maybe even some advice.

I hope he’s not experiencing any complications. Hugs to you and Tikko.

24 hours can make a big difference.

What kind of meds did they send you home with? When are supposed to give them? I can't tell from the time on the board how long post-surgery you are talking about because of the difference in time zones.
It's a hard call, because it sounds like he should have more meds on board, but if you've only been given something like meloxicam or previcox you can't really give extra.

I wonder if something soothing like Rescue Remedy could help him relax?

I've never tried it, but I've heard great things about it.

I don't know, but I feel so badly for him

I too would like to hear about the meds the dog has available.

Thanks everyone- and CJ, I'm about to head out for a soft e-collar at Petco for Tikko. That thread was very timely.

Tikko's good about not licking the stitches but I've had to stop him a few times as he's getting a bit more feisty. And I won' t be watching him constantly at night. When I tried a hard plastic collar a couple years back for a cut on his leg, he hung his head and tail and stood in a corner. Yes, he is tough on the trail, but very dramatic in other ways.

They sent me home with Rimadyl, and Tramadol. Rimadyl 2X a day 12 hours apart, Tramadol every 5-6 hours. He's very very much improved today. Eating, drinking. Went for a short walk. I think last night he was just very much still 'high' from the drugs. I've never seen him so vocal screetchy and stoned/restless. Today he's feeling much better.

I REALLY like this vet. She would never recommend surgery unless she was sure the dog needed it. She is kind, she is thorough, she takes the time. She likes my dogs, she seems to 'get' working dogs (in my case sled dogs). Because Tikko is a working dog and I really wanted to maintain his testosterone levels, she even left the one normal testicle as it is. I am so pleased I found her, and that she was the vet in the clinic on Saturday. I owe them a big thank you note.

Although I hate to see Tikko in pain, everything is probably for the best. He no longer has any risk of testicular cancer in the retained testicle.

I had been postponing any surgery on this retained testicle because I am so pleased with his musculature and working drive, and I didn't want to neuter him. No vet I had talked to would dream of removing the one retained testicle without neutering completely. This new vet I'm using in Anchorage looked up articles on working police dogs where the retained testicle was removed while the other was left, and was willing to do this for me. I think it helps that she's seen that I am a generally well informed, responsible dog owner- that I work a lot with my dogs, and do not allow my dogs to roam.

Yup, I'll be using this vet for all my dogs present and future. Given our run of luck recently, though, I hope I won't be seeing too much of her overall. It's really amazing to have finally found a good vet. She's also willing to explain the more technical medical aspects to me, which as a bit of a medical geek I appreciate.

What's the tramadol dosage? That would be what I would increase (depending on the dosage you were given, I mean) if needed. JMO! And of course I'd check with the vet.

I like tramadol, both for humans (me) and dogs.

But it sounds like he's much better.

So sorry I didn't see this last nite.
I think you were looking at post op pain plus the drugs of anaesthesia, the disorientation of the anaesthesia. There was pulling on the other testicle during the operation, so it is sore too. Testicular pain (like ovarian pain) is deep organ pain and it takes a LOT of drug to cover it, enough that respiratory depression can be a factor.
I hope he's better today.
Some dogs vocalize quite a bit post op, some act like they think the pain is in the place they are, if they could just walk a bit, they could leave it behind. It can be very hard to watch.