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Overnight stay for a spay? U/D: 2 options - which one to choose???

LloydFerris

LloydFerris

Warren Scout
I have a bun that will be spayed very soon. I know that buns are usually kept overnight after this surgery, but how often is someone staying overnight at the vet clinic to watch these post-op buns?
If her spay was to be done at a 24 hour clinic then she would be checked on throughout the night, but her vet (a bunny specialist) is not at a 24 hour clinic. So, if she is not being watched through the night, would it not be better and less stressful for her to be at home?
I really want what's best for her, and it terrifies me that she wouldn't be supervised for 14 hours the evening after her surgery!
I also worry that if I did bring her home I would have to get her back into her kennel (not an easy task at the best of times) and stress her with another trip for a check at the vet's the next day.
Help! Please share your experiences and offer whatever advice you can. Thanks!
 
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I've not heard of them having to stay overnight to be honest, they normally come home the same day, unless there has been some sort of complication, in which case then you really would want them to be in a proper animal hospital type set-up where they do get checked very regularly. I'd double check with the vet about them keeping her in, maybe they meant you have to keep her indoors overnight rather than in the vets?
 
No, overnight stays are standard procedure for bunny spay and neuter operations here. It's because bunnies can have a harder time recovering from a GA than dogs and cats. Still that makes no sense, does it? How would a bunny with a post-op problem get any help when left alone all night at a clinic?
 
It seems very odd the vets making her stay overnight if no one will be there

With mine, I didnt want to pick them up after as I was scared of hurting them, maybe get her used now to hopping in a carry cage, maybe for feeding, so she wont be stressed and then you can avoid stressing her for the next trip to the vets?
 
Over here it's very unusual for a bunny to be kept in overnight after a spay, unless there are complications or she doesn't start eating, srinking and pooping. If your vets does not have a 24 hour staffed clinic then IMO she would be much better at home with you. Sounds like a money making game to me!
 
Oh I just noticed you're in Canada! I'd ask the vet then about how much care they get overnight, the main problem they have after the GA is starting eating again and I'd have thought they are more likely to start eating again in their home environment rather than at the vets, still if it's compulsory that they stay in then the best you can do is ask lots of questions, and make sure you leave the buns regular food there for them to use, plus some nice fresh herbs to tempt them to eat in case they're off their nuggets.
 
Pebbles didn't have to stay overnight, although it was suggested as she hadn't eaten, but my vets have someone there overnight.

However, I discussed it with the nurse and she and I agreed she'd be better at home with me as I could give her the attention she needed to get her eating again. Plus I had all her favourite foods here to try. (I'd already left her at the vets in the morning with her pellets, spring greens and hay and they didn't tempt her.)

Also, during the call all I could hear were dogs barking in the background. It worried me that Pebbles wouldn't be able to rest and recuperate with that noise.

But, if the vet had recommended she stay in due to other complications, then I would have agreed.

Plus I made sure she'd had a gut stimulant and painkillers to come home with, before leaving the vets.
 
I spoke to the vet again about this and she said she preferred Clover stayed overnight so that she could check on her first thing in the morning.
I initially mentioned that I would prefer to pick Clover up at the end of her surgery day so that she would be in familiar surroundings to recover and so that I could watch her food/water intake.
So now I'm stuck and not sure what would be the best thing to do for Clover.
The vet said that I could take her home, but I would have to sign a waiver if I wanted to do so.
So, I apologize for re-asking the same question...but help? I think it would be beneficial for Clover to be home for obvious reasons, but also beneficial for her to have a check up and vitals taken the morning after surgery.

I appreciate the responses already in this thread, but faced with this particular situation, what would you do?
(Clover is having pre-op blood work done this morning, so that could be the deciding factor. I will keep you posted - also, the vet clinic is exotics only so there would be no cats meowing nor any dogs barking)
 
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My animals are kept in after an op until they are eating and pooing.

Then they go back the next day for a post op check, the vet usually checks the wound for sorness/infection and listens to their guts.
I occasionally have to leave them there overnight but it's a hospital so they have someone in to check all the animals every 4 hours.


How far is your vet? If it's a long way it might be less stressful for Clover to stay till they're certain she's ok, than to keep being driven backwards and forwards, especially if she has compications.
 
The vet is only a 15 minute drive in the city.
Clover seems to be the one of my three that quite enjoys a ride in the car. She flops out in her kennel and may nod off.
However, she may feel differently being popped into the kennel with a sore tummy to return the day after surgery. I doubt she'd be as content being transported in that condition.
I also doubt the vet would want her transported again that soon after surgery. (Would take her home after surgery, then bring her back in 14 hours. Then take her back home...ahhhh! I worry so much!)
The post-op visit is usually a few days after if all is well, so if I took her home there wouldn't be a 'morning after' checkup.
I almost wish I didn't think of my buns as 3 more of my own children. If I could just make decisions with my head and not with my heart so much.....:?
 
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