bleeding day 55 of pregnancy im devistated - Page 2

I will politely disagree Molly. More than a few have bled to death from such a dangerous procedure! The hormones are gone once the ovaries are gone and it is not uncommon for there to be milk production problems along with it. If you've had good luck and wish to take chances with your dog that's your prerogative. But don't go giving others a false sense of security just because you have had no problems. A c section is risky in and of it's self, let alone adding the spay to a swollen, extremely vascular organ! 
Debby

No problems with MANY c-section/spays.  No problems recovering from surgery, no problems producing milk.  No problems.  Never.  Maybe I have an uncommonly good vet.  Doubt it - I'll recommend it because IMO it's better for the female to not go through two major surgeries (c-section and spay) when it can be done at the same time with no problems.  I guess the chances of catastrophic problems could happen with any surgery but it would be unlikely as with "just c-section" or "just spay" surgeries - there is always a chance of problems whenever you put the dog under anesthesia and cut them open.

I just picked up my 4 lb chihuahua who had a c-section and spay today, she's doing absolutely fine as is her one puppy who is nursing happily.

molly

If you care about your dog, DO NOT believe Molly! It is nothing like any other kind of surgery. The organ being swollen and vascular, even if the vet does the sutures very tightly, as the swelling goes down the sutures can loosen and cause the dog to bleed to death. The dog is usually in a weakened and stressed out state in the first place. Do you want to take that chance? I sure don't! I"ve seen the worst happen!  It is FAR safer to wait until the dog is healthy and not under stress to have a spay done.
Debby

When an infection is present in the uterus, the vet really has no choice but to do both, or risk sowing bacteria throughout the whole of the abdominal cavity. Yes, it IS risky, and I nearly lost a female to a regular spay, that was probably done too close to her coming into season.

Mind you, that vet was seriously incompetent, and a friend's dog bled to death following a spay for pyometria.

c-section and spay at the same time is certainly risky but no more risky than a c-section done when the female's uterus is pregnant and extremely vascular.  Doing both at the same time reduces the risk of a second major surgery holding similar risks when doing a separate spay later.  But it should be something the owner and vet discusses together to make an educated decision, as I have many times with very good results.

molly

My repro vet won't even consider a c section/spay at the same time for the reasons Debby mentioned.  That's assuming that it's an elective situation, not an immediate emergency. 
Judy

The difference between just a C-section and a spay is that when doing a c-section the surgeon is careful not to cut any major blood vessels. During a spay major blood vessels must be cut. THAT is a Major difference! A routine spay when the uterus does not have any swelling and the dog is healthy is FAR safer.
Yes, what has to be done in an emergency is a different story, because of saving the life of the dog many other chances have to be taken.
Debby

Many many (many many many) rescue and shelter dogs are spayed while they are in heat, and when they are pregnant.  Happens probably many hundreds of times daily all over the country.  How many die because of the surgery during pregnancy/heatcycle/spay?  Probably a few when you're talking so many dogs.  But a huge increased risk due to the spay during heat/pregnancy - probably not in reality.

molly