First off I will say I am very new here, but so glad to have our new pup Rex. I have been a dog owner before, but a Basenji has been a much different experience. He is a super sweet dog that has taken well to his training so far. No horror stories except for the screaming the first couple nights in the cage/den. He is getting better each night and we have tried to make Rex as comfortable as possible in his extra large cage. Rex is almost 10 weeks old and today he was taken to the vet to be neutered. Since he is not going to be in a breeding program and will be an inside dwelling dog we felt neutering was best for him. The vet was very nice and through and his demeanor has been good considering what he went through today. The issue is that he did urinate several times once I got home with him today, but both times he tried to poo poo he screamed bloody murder. It was a scream that made me feel like he was saying "Hey I am in pain and what is attacking me? Why am I hurting so bad?" I am worried for him because he has such a sweet demeanor and I don't want to lose his trust. The second time he tried to go and screamed I reached down to pick him up and comfort him he bit me as hard as he could. I was not upset and continued to console him and felt helpless. I had a tiny tot rat terrier and he had no issues getting neutered so this worries me. I am I experienced with Basenjis but I have learned his sounds and today it sounded like he was in sheer terror and pain. Any suggestions, comments, concerns, or criticisms would be greatly welcomed.

Thanks,
Derek

*I am inexperienced with Basenjis"

Have you talked with Rex's breeder? 10 weeks is really young for a neuter. Were the testicles both well descended into the scrotum? If not, which at that age is a possibility, since they tend to sort of come and go when they are that small they may have had to go searching for them making it a more invasive surgery than it would have been on a older dog/puppy.

Neutered at 10 weeks? That is really quite early. Did your vet indicate what such an early neutering would be like for your basenji's health?

I am surprised your vet would neuter at 10 weeks.

@lvoss:

Have you talked with Rex's breeder? 10 weeks is really young for a neuter. Were the testicles both well descended into the scrotum? If not, which at that age is a possibility, since they tend to sort of come and go when they are that small they may have had to go searching for them making it a more invasive surgery than it would have been on a older dog/puppy.

No they had not descended.

@Shaye's:

I am surprised your vet would neuter at 10 weeks.

It is a very well respected vet in the area, and she had no issues at all. They were very very busy as well with patients so I do not think it was a situation where they were trying to get business. She took lots of time to talk to me and make over Rex and she seemed to adore him. I feel confident that there were no issues.

I will say one reason we did elect to have the procedure now (there was no resistance from the vet or we would have waited and took her advice by all means) but we are going on a family vacation in about 3 1/2 weeks. There seemed to be no resistance so we wanted to make sure he was healed and fine before we left for a week. My brother who is an experienced dog owner will be puppy sitting while we are gone. This morning he was happy and playful and full of energy. He slept well last night and ate his normal breakfast and had extra water. He urinated a couple times this morning, but no poo poo. My question was to see if anyone has experienced this issue with any age Basenji when it comes to going poo poo after neutering. The incision site looks clean, and no complications with redness or swelling. By all means Rex has a wonderful home full of love, fun, and structured training as well. Feel confident we are good owners, and are excited to become a Basenji owner, but I was curious if this condition was normal and heal quickly. Again, any suggestions or input is appreciated. One thing I have learned by reading is that Basenji owners who particpate in online activity are proud of their dogs and have the best intentions for the breed.

You hit the nail on the head, so to speak. Basenji owners on this forum TOTALLY love the breed and their dogs. So I hope when some of us comment about Rex being neutered early that you don't take any personal offense. We are all here to educate and learn. I think the reason many of us feel it was too young is that a puppy needs those hormones for proper growth development. In any case, it is done, and I am sure you have good intentions regarding your Rex's health.

Anaesthetic can often cause dogs (and people) to become a little 'plugged'. Additionally, depending on what painkillers might have been given, those can cause a plugging effect as well. Make sure Rex is drinking a good amount of water. But if it goes on too much longer, please contact your vet.

I have not had this experience after any sort of anesthesia, although perhaps the anesthesia could cause constipation? I don't know. I would call the vet and ask. My boys were neutered very late in life (both were in double digits at that time). I do know if the testicles had not descended, the surgery could be more invasive, but even with my girls' spay, I have not had this problem. Hopefully he will be back to normal very soon.

I don't think he was/is constipated as I observed fecal matter start to evacuate and then he starting screaming and the feces retracted. He was obviously in pain for trying to go poo poo. (I use that term because that is what we vocalize to him to associate with going potty)

No, it is not normal after a neuter to be so sore that it causes pain to defecate but a normal neuter is done after the testicles are well descended into the scrotum, usually at or after 6 months of age. Since his testicles were not fully descended the surgery would have had to be more invasive than a nueter performed after they are fully descended and may be causing the issue. Depending on how high up they had to go he could be quite sore internally and the act of defecation strains the muscles that may have been injured in the surgery. Complications may not be visible as they may be abdominal and not surface issues. You should call your vet and report this symptom.

I would consult the vet about this as soon as possible. I can't understand how neutering could cause this reaction which is obviously pain to cause him to bite you. I have had Basenjis for many years and some have had to be neutered but have never experienced them to have had .

Please let us know the outcome. Hopefully all will be well soon.

I came home from work and took Rex out for a walk. I happy to report he went pee pee and poo poo with no complaints from him! I also got reports from my wife that he was terrorizing the cat. I guess he is back on track, lol.

It's possible that he was experiencing pain because defecating caused strain on the stitches and he reacted to it. Hopefully this problem is now "behind" him. :) He's very young, and his bite reaction can be excused, but be aware some Basenjis react badly to pain and just lash out (not just Basenjis, many dogs). I have had five Basenjis. Of those, three were stoic about pain. Two were not. My current boy will bite if he hurts, and one of my girls was like that as well. The others seemed to understand that although they were hurting you were trying to help them, and they would not react in that way.

@Rex's:

I came home from work and took Rex out for a walk. I happy to report he went pee pee and poo poo with no complaints from him! I also got reports from my wife that he was terrorizing the cat. I guess he is back on track, lol.

sounds like life is back to normal.

Thank goodness that all is well now. Thank you for letting us know.

Even though things are back to normal apparently, I would still contact your vet. She needs to know there was such a serious reaction to the surgery.

@wizard:

Even though things are back to normal apparently, I would still contact your vet. She needs to know there was such a serious reaction to the surgery.

Surely agree with this

Make sure your boy is kept quiet and is not too active as I had a boy that opened up a couple of his stitches and had to go the emergency vet! Of course, this was at night when the regular vet was not open! He was an older pup/young adult and had undescended testicles.

Jennifer