Bubbles and Axel

Are being sterilized today.
I was hoping to get Axel up to 2 years before doing it but he's been getting a bit irritating lately. He's sniffing and testing the girls all the time, being a bit more 'dominant' (for lack of a better explanation). With 8 dogs I don't chance potential hot spots and I especially don't take a chance on it with Xan in the mix.    
I think there might be a bitch on heat on one of the surrounding farms and that is what has caused this sudden hormonal flare up.

Nice bonus is that the vet has a 20% discount on sterilizations for February.

Hope everything has gone well for them both.

Recover quickly, Bubbles and Axel! You'll feel a lot better tomorrow

What else can you do, though, if he's starting to display signs like that? I think it's a good decision.

How are they both?

They're fine.
Bubbles is in a buster collar as she pulled a stitch out. She has quite a big cut on her tummy as her hernia was also fixed.
Axel was so good but this morning he doesn't have any stitches. Shithead neatly chewed them off through the night. He's at work with me so I can keep an eye on him. The wound is still closed and fine so will just monitor.

Why can't they leave their stitches alone?

Good luck keeping them quiet!

Naughty Axel! I think they must irritate them. As long as the wound is clean & closed it should be okay.

I put some bitters on Axel and got some on myself Stuff is vile!

Stitches are undoubtedly irritating, especially in sensitive areas (anyone who has been a mum will remember this!), and animals will naturally lick at a sore place which makes the wound and the stitches soggy.

Kuchar burst his castration stitches/wound by leaping onto the dining table (like you do), had to be re-sutured and was in a cone for 10 days afterwards.

As Caryll says, if Axel's wound remains clean and closed he should get away with it.

Good luck!

Awww, bless! Hope they are feeling better.
Chilli also chewed her stitches out but as the wound stayed sealed & I kept anastetic cream in it twice a day, she was fine. Though she does have a small lump (scar) now from chewing them off, it has no effect on her.

After a couple of days, unles the wound had split I dont think it makes any difference as they would reopen the wound I believe to be able to re suture it.

Bubbles is leaving hers alone, luckily.
Axel leaves his while I can watch but licks it when I try to sleep. This morning his scrotum is very swollen. He's at work with me again so I can watch him.
He licks through the bitter stuff I put on.

I had Axel back at the vet yesterday as I was not happy with how things are going. Everything is fine. The vet laughed as he explained that because Axel was so very well endowed there is usually more fluid and build up than a less well endowed dog
We started him on a course of antibiotics, as a precaution, as there is a lump he's not entirely happy with. It's probably just a blood clot at the internal suture site.

Bless him - I bet he went back to the others and boasted after that!

It does explain why the girls always love him and flirt with him.