Hi, I’m Allison! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my three mixed-breed dogs from Thailand, Jelly, Lorraina, and Manic.
Living on a small island made me aware of how bad a dog population can become if it remains unspayed or intact. Though the animal clinic there was small with limited staff, they worked overtime to educate the community on the issues of unchecked breeding and why spaying and neutering are essential. The veterinarian would even do the procedures for free for some people on the lower end of the economic scale.
I fully understood how important desexing dogs was and had no issues getting Jelly spayed when the vet said it was the right time. But why did I feel guilty when it was Manic’s time to get snipped?
Would Manic Become Less of Himself?
When Jelly got spayed, I wasn’t worried whether it would “alter” her personality. I just did not want her to get pregnant. I have seen dogs who could have only just had their first heat become impregnated, which can be too much of a strain on their bodies. Even though we primarily kept Jelly at home, she would like to wander around the area and explore. It was too risky to leave her intact.
Plus, isn’t the whole idea that getting a dog fixed will change its personality a myth? Some people think their dogs—males in particular—will get sluggish, lose their spark, and gain weight. Maybe this was why I was hesitant to make Manic’s neutering appointment. Manic was always a bundle of energy, zooming everywhere with his tongue hanging out and eyes so wide he could see from one side of the island to the other. I did not want to take his shine away along with his…you know.
But I also did not want him to be a father.
The Day of the Surgery Arrives
Since we lived a short distance from the clinic, one of the vet techs drove over on his motorbike with a side cart to get the patient. We hustled Manic onto the side cart and into the crate, and off he went. I admit I did tear up a little bit. I implicitly trusted the vet team with the procedure. But what if he was not my over-rambunctious little furball anymore?
Manic was brought back home after the procedure, still unconscious. We carried him into the bedroom, laid him down on a towel, and waited for him to wake up from his drugged slumber.
Manic’s Recovery
When Manic finally woke up, the first thing he did was take a few staggering steps and urinate on the floor. The poor thing was still incredibly groggy. But it got worse at night. Manic normally slept on a blanket on the floor in the bedroom. Jelly claimed our bed as her own, and Lorraina slept on the couch. We had always slept in perfect harmony. However, Manic was very sore after getting neutered and acted very confused about why he felt this way. So, we let him sleep in the bed next to Jelly.
Jelly loved Manic, but she got territorial when he was on the bed. She would growl softly to remind him that he had infringed on her space. But for some reason, Jelly let him sleep right next to her. She did not growl once, even when he would repeatedly spin around in the middle of the night due to the discomfort from the stitches. He had a rough few days and nights, but Jelly was patient with him (Lorraina ignored him).
His slow recovery, combined with my waiting to see if his personality had changed, made me feel horrible. I had caused my dog pain, and he would never be the same.
The Aftermath: Still My Manic
After about a week, Manic was walking about without any issue. But would he still appreciate life with the same vigor and excitement he had before the surgery?
He absolutely was.
Any stress and anxiety I felt about who Manic was going to be after he got neutered left my mind. It took him about three weeks to get back to his old self. He still did his evening zoomies. He still jumped up on us, demanding head scratches. He still explored the world with the same energy and excitement before the surgery. He was exactly the same.
Better yet, he was NOT fathering any puppies!
