Update on Star's botched spay - Page 1

I just got a bill in the mail for Star's second surgery, to stop the bleeding from her botched spay. It's only $65.02. It says they gave me a $632.16 discount!  The bill covers the surgery, plus an injection he gave her to try to stop the bleeding. Basically, it looks like he is only charging me for the antibiotic tablets!

So, I will go ahead a pay it.

The incision is still not fully healed. There is still a small open area that's oozing a bit, and the lymph nodes in her groin are swollen, indicating her body is still fighting off an infection. My NEW vet has seen her twice already, and did not seem to think another course of antibiotics was needed. I'm okay with that, as she is her normal, lively self. Heck, when I went to let her in from the yard this morning, she was jumping 3 feet off the ground in anticipation of her breakfast!

I had no idea she was such a tough little cookie until she went through this. After the second surgery, she jumped into my SUV on her own. I'd asked the vet to lift her in for me, but I guess she'd had quite enough of him, and didn't want him to touch her again.

Can't say I blame her... LOL!!

The 'new' vet had an open house for his new clinic on Saturday. His techs gave talks on a range of things: wellness exams, routine testing, pre-surgical bloodwork, and what happens during surgery. I was quite impressed by their knowledge.

The new clinic makes the other vet's place look like a dump.

The old clinic was at the bottom of my street, and when they tore it down early last winter, they disturbed a family of skunks that were hibernating underneath. Dr. S. told me the skunks had been there awhile, and sometimes there would be a whiff of skunk inside the clinic. He also thinks that the skunks got right inside after the bulding was abandoned, as the floorboards were rotting out. The stink was so bad, I thought they were right in my backyard!

He's waited 30 years for this nice, new clinic. 

I feel more comfortable with him than with the other vet. He's easier to talk to, more releaxed and open. Also, one of the women who did the tracking course with me works for him as a tech.

Glad your girl seems to be on the mend. You never know what can happen. We did a c-section on a German Shorthaired Pointer once that turned into a NIGHTMARE!  Her incision basically started to rot; horrid infection, you name it. We got her through it, then MONTHS later, we get a notice from the manufacturer that some suture materials "may" have been contaminated.  Checked her records and sure enough, that is what we had used on her subcutaneous layers.


Post-op bleeding is a whole 'nother ballgame. That smacks of some "hurry-up" surgery.

Glad to know she is doing better.

Wow!  So glad she is on the mend and you are happy with your new vet.   I would have told him to stick it had they not given you that discount!  The nerve of them to even mention it.  They should have eaten the rest of it too.  So, so glad you are not going back to him.  Funny about the skunks tho.

Deb

OKie, I think what happened here was several things:

She was due to come in season in 2 week's time. The second vet said he wouldn't have spayed her until after her heat was over. Vet #1 thought we were okay.

She's a mature bitch, rather than a pediatric spay, as is most often done these days, therefore a greater blood supply to the uterus, therefore more risk of bleeding.

Third, and most important, he didn't give IV fluids during surgery. As Louise explained, that causes a drop in BP, so you THINK you have good hemostasis. Then, the bleeding starts up after the surgery. She didn't start to bleed noticeably until evening. Surgery was in the early morning, so the time frame fits.

What REALLY freaked me out was he though he could stop the bleeding by bandaging her abdomen really tightly. This caused the blood to pool in the abdomen, and the idea is that the increased pressure will stop the bleeding if you're lucky. If you're not lucky, the animal goes into shock. I can also imagine how much pain this would have caused. Vet #2 said he'd heard of this procedure, but had never had the guts to try it!  I can understand why!

I appreciate you sharing this info.  Those of us who are contemplating a spay need all the ammo we can gather before we make that decision.  Nothing like being informed or as my EX Vet would say "over-informed "as if there was such a thing!

I'm glad your girl is on the mend, and that you have found a vet you prefer.  At least the old vet knew better than to  charge you for the 2nd surgery, I can imagine where you might have put that bill had he tried.........and he wouldn't have liked it one bit!

Glad to hear she's recovered so well! There should not have been any problems if the vet was competent. When I spayed my 8 yr old bitch who had had 3 litters, the first being a c-section, the vet considered the increased risk with a mature spay in a breeding bitch. They monitored her closely and required her to stay in the clinic overnight afterward. You wouldn'y have known she had surgery-she didn't miss a beat.

Jo Ann

Glad to hear she's doing well, and that you've found someone you're happier with! jackie harris