After neutering, should puppy keep lampshade around neck while sleeping?

Question

I own the most hyper and rambunctious 4 month old Pom puppy ever! I picked him up at 6:00 p.m. today and he was wide awake and full of energy --he had just been neutered this morning. I was told that puppies tend to be lethargic right after the surgery and the day after. Well, not my pup. He was practically jumping out of my arms when I went to pick him up. The vet tech told me to give him half a tablespoon of children's Benadryl 2 times per day (3 times if he was super hyper) to calm him down. I gave it to him and it took quite a while for him to settle down. He started trying to lick the area soon after. Then he slept for 7 1/2 hours. It's now late at night and I have just given him another dose of Benadryl. Given his energy level --and the likelihood that he will wake up and lick/bite himself-- should I let him sleep with the "lampshade" on overnight? Help!!

I misspoke, it was half a "teaspoon" not half a "tablespoon." I have had so little sleep, I can't do anything right! Thanks to all the helpful people who don't lash out when someone asks a question! Don't you know people are more likely to listen to you if you are nice and not self-righteous??

He is a Pom puppy that likes to spend half his time on his hind legs and jumping around. I am concerned that he might hurt himself --given that he was just neutered. I was told not to let him do any strenuous exercise. To me, jumping around and standing on his hind legs is "strenuous exercise." I am so disappointed in some of the people who responded to my question. Are they just immature or are they just plain mean-spirited?

He is an 8 1/2 pound Pomeranian, not 3 pounds! And instead of chastising people, you should help them! It would be nice if the Verminki or whatever her/his name is to stop being so spiteful.

Answer 1

keep it on, he obviously is sleeping with it on now and it would be a horrible nightmare for you to get up in the morning and find he has chewed his stitches. Probably won;t happen but what if??? Not worth the risk. Most dogs don't actually need them but most dogs dont need the benadryl either... The vet gave you that bucket for a reason. Please keep it on and congrats on having a healthy energetic pup and getting him de sexed (Imagine having another 4 of them running around - poor mother) ha ha

Answer 2

Okay first off it should not be tablespoon of benadryl, it should have been teaspoon!!!!!!!!!!!! No wonder it slept 7 1/2 hours, be careful you could have OD'd him on that dose, and that vet tech should be fired for telling you that doseage! My 2.5 yr old son is 33 lbs and only gets 1/2 teaspoon of benadryl! You gave him enough for an adult male human! Secondly, in all of the clinics I've worked in over the years we never put an E-colar on a neuter, only on major surgical sites or earcrops, and amputations. It is normal for them to lick the site, as long as it is not red, inflamed, hot, or irritated looking it is okay. As long as the dog is not chewing at the site, no Ecolar is needed! Some dogs bounce right back and show no pain after neuters, that's okay, you don't need to drug him down, he will sleep when he needs to.