spaying questions? Help
by gail
ORIGINAL MESSAGE:
Hi. My husband and I are having a hard time getting our 3 year old babydoll, Ashleigh spayed. We know that health wise it is best for her. We have a little boybaby, Cody and he has been neutered. Ash is only 5 pounds. I am very concerned about her being put out, I understand it is very tricky for a little one like that. We are also worried sick about leaving her there overnight. She and Cody, like all of yours are our babies, they are always with us, sleep with us etc. I don't want her left there because there is no one there after 8 pm. What if something goes wrong. I would rather have her home with us. We can keep her apart from Cody ( I hope!) She hates going to the vet even to get her nails trimmed. We just can't bring ourselves to make that appointment. The vet said if we sign off any responsibility to them maybe we can bring her home that night.Do they have pain medication they can give them? I just know she'll cry and I can't deal with that. Any help would be very much appreciated. I am rather new here, and really love this site! So nice to read about other people who feel the way we do about these little sweethearts. Is anyone sorry they did it? thanks a lot!
DISCUSSION:
Dear Gale, I hope you have found a vet that you trust. If so, please have no fears. We went through this, this last week and everything is fine. When she jumped into our vet's arms, I could not help a tear or so. It seemed as though we had let her think it was just another vist. But, all of my fears were in vain because he said he wanted her to be quiet for at least 24 hours.We left her in his care, and all is well. Now if whe will leave the stitches alone, it will be fine. Keep the faith. Lynn
Lynn McBride
I refused to leave my Sophie at the vet overnight last Tuesday when she was spayed. She's never been left alone for more than three hours at a time, and there was no one there between 9p.m. and 7 a.m. Had there been someone there to watch her, there wouldn't have been a problem. Good thing I did bring her home cause she began to scratch and lick at her stitches in the middle of the night. If I hadn't she would have had 10 hours of licking time and could have opened her incision. Or what would have happened if she began vomiting? We did have complications--you can read my post about it--but not because we took her home. I didn't want her feeling bad, alone, confused and in pain all at the same time. Just too much stress for her! My vet wasn't exactly pleased with my decision, but before I made it, I checked with other vets in the area and many don't require a stay overnight because they feel the pet is more comfortable at home.
Carrie & Sophie
Hi Gail! I have three girls and I've had two of my three spayed already. My third one is going in at the end of this month(yikes). I'm very nervous about it. I have the same concerns and fears that you do. It really is the best thing to do though. When I was getting my first two spayed, the vet that I used to go to said no way can they come home--that they must stay overnight. I changed vets. My current vet let me take them home. I could not leave them overnight. They say that the dogs have to stay over for observation, but the funny thing is, no one is there to observe them! Maybe you can call around and find a vet that will let you take your baby home. Good Luck!
Angel
Gail, My taffy is 2 years old, and I have the same problem as you. I have posted before, made appointments, etc., but cannot bring my self to take her! I am terrified of it even though I know it is the best thing for her. I can't leave her, I won't leave her....but its not a problem because I can't even TAKE her! I think I need someone from this group to fly out and take us by the hand to the vets :) I just wanted you to know that I understand your fears.
Robin M. & Taffy
Hi, thanks to ALL of you for your comments, it has been such a help! Just knowing I am not alone with this. Some people I have talked to act like I'm killing her with some kind of cancer by not taking her, and I hate that! These are real fears, and I see I am not over reacting with this. When you have these little ones by your side like we all seem to do here, and you know how they are when left alone if you run to the store, or how scared they are at the vet, this is a really hard thing to do. I keep thinking though, if she could get cancer by not taking her, how could I ever live with it if she did get it and I could have protected her by doing this. Then I'll have to go through worse. I wish there was a vet who could come to our homes and do this for us!! LOL!! I think they'd make a LOT of money and have a huge waiting list that's for sure!! Thanks so much, I wish I had a vet like you do Lyndia (I hope that is spelled right) my dogs have NEVER jumped into our vets arms that's for sure! They are very good with them, but not like that!!! take care everyone! gail
gail z
Gail, I know what you are going through. I just had by 9mth old neutered. It was terrible to leave her, and my vet also recommended leaving her overnight. I felt like a traitor, and worried all day, phoned the vet 4 times during the day to check on her progress. Don't worry she will be fine. There are special anesthetic that is used for smaller animals - ask your vet - also they do give them pain medication. The result of both the ansthetic and the medication makes them very sleepy and because they are also enclosed they sleep it off. If you bring her home she will try to come to you and could hurt herself. I brought mine home the next morning, she was done the previous morning, and she was still very sleepy, but I made her comfortable in her bed and made sure I was by her, because she would open her eyes every now and then, and if she could not see me, then she would go looking for me, and she needed to rest. You need to watch them with the stitches afterwards, mine removed hers after 4 days. But it was OK and the incision had healed enough, even so I have had to keep her quiet - not easy- for the last 6 days - as the stitches were to stay in for 10 days. The day after I brough her home she was as frisky and playful as ever. I could not believe that she had no pain. It is better to have the op than risk their lives with cancer.
Lesley
Gail, I really can relate to what you are going through. I am just crazy about my little Angel and she is just like our baby. A week before her spaying appointment I would get knots in my stomach just thinking about it. I was so worried, that in one way it was almost a relief just to get it over with. And Angel was only 6 months old at the time so she weighed even less than your Ashleigh. You just have to be strong and keep the faith that everything will go OK. Vets perform this surgery very, very often and on very small dogs and I truly believe Ashleigh will be fine and much better off in the long run. If I lived near you, I would come over and stay with you the whole time just to offer some comfort. Angel came through this just fine. She was a little tired for the next couple of days but honest Gail, she didn't seem to be in pain. And I did leave her overnight at the vet but I did not want to and if I had it to do over again, I probably wouldn't. After all, it is like you said, they aren't there anyway, so what observation?? So be brave, you can do it. Ashleigh's future health can depend on this. Keep us posted.
Sandee
I have to say, coming here to this place was worth every penny and more for the computer! Thanks so much for all of your help, and Sandy, I wish you could come with me!! :) it's really hard. Then today at the vet they found a heart murmur on my little Cody. So I wrote about that here for some MORE help!! Promise not to hog the board!! Just am so glad to have this place and all of you to talk to about it. When the vet told us that, I told my husband, I'm going right to the Malteseonly discussion for some HELP!! You are all great, were you always that way, or did you get that way from having your Maltese furbaby in your life?! :) take care and thanks a bunch....gail
gail
Thanks all for the discussion. It helped me as well. I'm taking my Chelsea in for her spay in September (she'll be 7 months) and I dread it too. I think I have my mind made up that I will be taking her home and not allow her to stay over night.
Kristi in Minnesota
I have a 3# maltese, i adopted her, have no idea what her previous life was like, she seemed like she was going to be a loner, and now she is a little more friendly, i was told she' about 4 yrs, came in heat 4 days after i got her, is she too old to be spayed now? My other Maltese was male, Sammy, was stolen, had his tags on, named this one Sammi, hopefully someone can tell me if she's too old for the operation.
Thanks, Mic
Mickey Cerasini
Oh Mickey, how SAD that someone stole your little one! That is so heart breaking!! Thanks everyone for all your help!! Licks and Wags from Cody and Ashleigh!!
gail
Mickey, I don't remember seeing you here before. Welcome to the group! You may not get very many replies because this post was started on the 18th. If you don't get all the info you need start a new discussion. Many rescues from puppy mills are spayed when they are 8 years old. I haven't heard anything about age being a problem but I don't know for sure. Sorry about Sammy. It hurts so much wondering where they are and how they are doing. But then Sammie came to be with you. The names are cute.
Dottie Starr
| Please bear in mind when reading topics pertaining to health issues, that most of these questions were answered by helpful Maltese owners with no formal education in veterinary medicine. When in doubt seek a professionals advise. |
|
1996-1998© Maltese Only Discussion Created by Jay Bianco All rights reserved |
