Have you ever known personally of a dog dying soon after being spayed?
Last edited Wed Mar 26, 2014, 07:25 PM - Edit history (4)
I know all surgeries whether on people or animals carry some risk - but I didn't expect this to happen.
I happen to live in a place that is awash with stray dogs and a lack of programs to deal with them other than the municipal dog catchers whose only job is to catch and euthanize. There is only one veterinary clinic within hundreds of miles and I suspect this lack of competition leads to some price gouging. Although I don't honestly know what normal veterinary service prices are these days.
Anyway I already have a very nice 80 pound mixed breed male dog who has lived a pretty happy life with me for the past year and a half. But a number of strays come around looking for some food and actually some companionship. They are the friendliest strays you will ever find. A little native female dog had been coming around to my back porch for several months. I had been feeding her and occasionally allowing her to stay inside especially if it was raining. But knowing that spaying, inoculating and de-worming was sure to cost me a minimum of $1000 to $1400 I had kind of held off.
But last week I actually saw that she was in heat and actually saw her mating with a male dog. Well, not wanting to have a half a dozen unwanted puppies on my back porch and knowing that it was about time I got her some basic veterinary treatment anyway - I decided not to wait any longer. So I brought her in on Monday to have her checkup along with some basic shots and treatments and to schedule a spaying surgery for Tuesday. The vet did tell me that the little dog did have a number of worms, parasites and other common dog illnesses along with inflamed and possibly cystic ovaries. But when I called Tuesday afternoon the surgery was over and it appeared to go just fine - I could pick the dog up to bring home. Of course the poor little thing acted sluggish and somewhat in pain - but, I assumed that was normal. But the following day, Wednesday the little dog would still not eat and seemed to be feeling sick and in pain. So, I took the little dog back to the veterinary clinic when things had not improved by Wednesday afternoon. The vet felt that the dog might be experiencing some typical post surgical pain - but all the essential signs remained positive. He even called me in the early evening to let me know that they had taken the dog for a walk and she was wagging her tail and looking well and no longer reacted to palpating the abdominal area. He could see no reason why I shouldn't be able to pick up the dog in the afternoon the following day.
Then to my shock when I called back this morning the vet very somberly told me, "I'm very sorry, but we lost the dog last night." He was fine when they checked her at about 7:30 pm. Two hours later when they did a routine check - she had already died. The vet's only explanation is that the dogs underlining illnesses from worms and parasites to tick disease to cystic ovaries were just too much. There was absolutely no bleeding in the surgical area - but apparently the dog went into pancreatitis with DIC and simply died of other internal bleeding.
Of course neutering and spaying is very important. But in the future I would be inclined to deal with any underlining illnesses first.
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