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by DebiSue on 29 June 2009 - 17:06
Now, I have a new one so please bear with me.
My husband called our vet, whom I must say was not happy we opted to wait on spaying her. His comments regarding her heat were comforting. But his comments about waiting to spay her were, for lack of a better word...interesting. My husband mentioned Sunsilver's Star and the problems she had. Our vet, who is well respected in this area, said that GSD were the worst to spay, that they always had trouble with bleeding, their uterus was highly developed and the blood vessels feeding into it were like unmapped highways. He also said the older they get, the more difficult it became and the worse the chance for bleeding and complications. Now if she was maybe 8 years old instead of 8mo I might agree with complications being riskier but I don't know that I agree about the rest. I know the GSD is a special breed but I have my doubts that their innards are any different. (Unless that big heart gets in the way!)
What are your opinions about the GSD being a more difficult breed to spay? I myself think its bullshit but I haven't sat in on any spay jobs so can't really have a true opinion. Maybe some of you vet-techs out there can confirm his claim and educate me as to why I should hurry up and get her spayed.
I might add that I am terrified she won't wake up. I've heard enough horror stories that I'm am willing to deal with the heats but my husband is not. He was all for spaying at 6mo until I shared this site with him and he agreed to wait.
All opinions welcome.
Thanks!
Deb
by rowdyreiner on 29 June 2009 - 22:06
Being a vet tech for 8 years, I've never heard of a GSD being difficult to spay. In those 8 years, I've only seen ONE spay gone bad - and that was a pitbull that apparently had other underlying problems. The only dogs I've seen a vet take special care of were the little tiny breeds, just because complications can arise from being under anesthesia for too long.
There are risks for any surgery, however I don't see any harm in waiting to spay her, if that is what you choose to do. I'm not trying to say your vet is wrong (all vets have differents ways of doing things), just my experience.
Hope that helps a little!
by DebiSue on 30 June 2009 - 00:06
I thought it sounded like bullshit but hey, I'm not a vet tech so what do I know. I appreciate you taking time to give me your opinion. I'm a little anesthesia shy right now because I know of two people who lost their dogs (two different vets). One was a spay and the other to remove a cyst.
I talked to my husband and told him I didn't want this vet to do the surgery, I don't care how popular he is. I just get the feeling his only concern is his own agenda. He's too political too. When we are both there and one of us asks a question he always looks at the other and tries to guess what answer we want to hear. I'm not into being told something just to mollify me. I want to hear his opinion, not hear mine reflected back.
And I will stand there and demand an explanation when I disagree. I don't think he likes German Shepherds. He always comments on what a good temperament our girl seems to have compared to all the others he sees. He has made comments such as "All the damage we have incurred in our kennel was due to German Shepherds". I pinned him down on the changes in growth plates in relation to spaying before the first heat and he grudgingly admitted he knew what I was talking about. It really seemed to piss him off when I said we were not going to spay her at 6mo. He has other vets at his clinic and one we are fond of actually had a GSD and is looking for another. Maybe we will request her next time around. She was the one who was so pleased with our x-rays and apparently does OFA.
NOW! Where are we on puppy watch?! Mama still chowing down on her food? Let's have an update!
Regards,
Deb
by bea teifke on 30 June 2009 - 01:06
do what you want and not what he wants, you know he just wants your money.
i would not spay this young, and never when she is in heat.
do what feels right to you.
thats my best advice.
by DebiSue on 30 June 2009 - 02:06
My husband and I both have fallen out of love with this guy. It's a good thing I wasn't in on this conversation or I'm afraid I would have said exactly what I have said here and to my husband when he told me...bullshit. I'm sticking to my guns and waiting it out for as long as I can. It all depends I guess on her second heat. If she isn't any worse than this I can deal with it. I've read here where others have had really tough heats and I don't think my husband will put up with much more. Poor guy is home alone with her all day while I'm at work. The worse part of this one so far is when the neighbor tore down the fence and we had to take her out on leash to do her business. Really had to make sure she didn't get away or a stray find his way over. The fence is back up and all is well. YEA!
Thanks again,
Deb
by rowdyreiner on 30 June 2009 - 04:06
Always trust your instincts when it comes to your pups (and kids!). Go with your gut feelings.
Anyway, pups are due in 2-2 1/2 weeks, momma is finally eating regularly (although I don't blame her at times for NOT wanting to eat...we're hitting 100-105 temps right now. I don't even want to eat!) She is getting HUGE, so I'm thinking this is gonna be a decent sized litter. I'm having a little hard time getting her to relax in her new whelping box....she'd still rather sleep under the bed (I have placed the whelping box just at the foot of the bed). I feed her in there, I sit down in there and love her, but as soon as chow is gone or I get out, she gets out immediately. Not quite sure what to do there, unless I block her in, but I don't want to scare her.
Have any suggestions?
by DebiSue on 30 June 2009 - 13:06
Morning Rowdy,
Wow. 2 -2 1/2 weeks. It won't be long now. Glad to hear she is eating better despite the heat. We've had our share of 100 plus too. Odd that we are thinking the 90's are a cool down!
Your girl will most likely want to hide somewhere to whelp. Sounds like this location may be too "central" for her. Do you have a corner you can put the box in, or maybe at the end of a dark hall. You may have to put some boxes under your bed to block her from going there. When I was a kid my little mutt went under the front porch to have her litter and if your girl usually sleeps under the bed you can bet that's where she is going to go when labor starts.
Does she know a long down and stay? If not, you may want to start working with her on that outside the box giving lots of treats when she stays. Start by having her "down" and back off just a step or two saying "Stay" wait a moment then step forward and treat her and lavish her with praise. If she moves, quickly return her to where you told her to stay. Keep increasing the distance until you're about 10 foot away and she will stay for 2 minutes. Then move her to the whelping box and start all over by having her down & stay. Back off a few feet and return with treats and praise after just a moment or two. Increase the time she is to "stay" in the box. If she knows you'll come back with a treat she may be more willing to relax there. Make her "down and stay" a fun game with lots of praise and goodies. She will learn this very quickly. I don't know if it will like the box any better but at least she will know what you want of her. Remember, wherever you end up putting the box, she is going to be looking for a dark, quiet place so try to think like her when looking for a spot to place it. You may have to do some rearranging of furniture to suit her.
Hope this helps and good luck. Keep me posted!
Deb
by bea teifke on 01 July 2009 - 16:07
but if you cant stand the blood , then that is your choice to spay her , when the time comes.
i will tell you as my female gets older she does not bleed as much as when she was younger.
think i have only seen 6 drops of blood on the floor this time and she is almost 4 years.
you can also get some of the dog pants to put on her , while she is going thur her heat.
bea
by DebiSue on 01 July 2009 - 17:07
I agree with you but my husband is the one stuck at home with her. We did use the "doggy diapers" the first two weeks but when she stopped bleeding I left them off. She never seemed to mind them but getting them on her was another matter. She thought we were getting down on the floor to play with her and boy was she rambunctious! So when she started bleeding again (with a vengeance I might add) I put the diaper back on her. Well this time it really bugged her but I could tell her to leave it alone and she would. She still had the diaper on the next morning but I found remnants of the kotex on the carpet and very little remnants. She ate it! I was following her around the yard all day checking her poop for three days. I guess she passed it alright as she isn't having any problems passing stools and eating. (Whew!) She acts kind of erratic, whimpering, jumping up to chase her tail, barking to be let out then running, running, running. She has an itch she doesn't know how to scratch and my husband feels sorry for her so he thinks things will be better if we just spay her. I'm holding out as long as I can on this. I do have to live with him after all so we're taking it one day at a time. Hopefully her next heat won't be as long or as "wet". Since my husband is the one who has to wrestle her in and out of the diaper every time she wants out I can sympathize with him. He has a bad back and a short fuse when she doesn't cooperate so once it's off it's off until I come home, and what's the point by then. We'll get thru this and discuss the next one and I'll keep my fingers crossed that he sees it our way.
Deb
by DebiSue on 02 July 2009 - 21:07
Ok, new developments...yesterday I noticed my girl wasn't her usual jubilant self when I came home from work. She greeted me but didn't knock me down if you know what I mean. We went to agility class and she did what I asked but she just wasn't charged up as usual. I noticed she peed at least 4 times during the 1 hour class. Normally she will not potty anywhere but her own yard. She has in the past "held it" for extremely long periods. This morning she woke me up at about 02:30am wanting to go out and would not take no for an answer. When I let her out she peed forever. (If I had to pee that much, I'd of gone on the carpet) Then she pooped. This is all well and good but she doesn't normally pee for so long or ask to go out until 05:00am when I usually get up. My husband just called to tell me she has peed several times today and has had at least 3 not so firm stools (and she is getting pumpkin with her kibble). We have an appointment for tomorrow morning at the vet's. Does this sound like a simple urinary tract infection to you? Oh, I forgot to mention my husband bought one of those damned cooked pork bones that the grocery store sells. He didn't realize it was cooked. He threw it away when I told him about it but she had eaten about half of it. (It's a shank bone with marrow and they are brown in color and shrink wrapped). I'm thinking the bone may account for the loose stools but not the excessive peeing. Is there any tests I should ask my vet to do tomorrow such as labwork etc.? My girl is still very swollen and her discharge is very pronounced and bloody. She began bleeding on May 28th. I'll let you know what the vet says, just hoping someone can guide me to make sure all is being done for her that should be. I don't want her ending up with a uterine infection and me not knowing that it is going on. Just being my usual worry wart Mom.
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