12 y/o with Pyo - Page 3

Dawulf - any updates on how your golden girl is feeling today?

My GSD Kira had pyo last year when she was just over 8 yrs old, it was something I was paranoid about after every season as Kira went in to be spayed when she was 3 yrs old and had a massive, adverse reaction to the anaesthetic and my vet had a big battle to bring her round and the operation was aborted, before he brought her round he managed to do an ECG which was sent off to a canine cardiologist and it was found she had an erratic heart problem called RBBB [right bundle branch block].  I lived in fear of what would happen if she needed an anaesthetic and my worst dread happened, she got pyometra. I recognised the symptoms immediately, off her food, lethargic and drinking a lot of water. 

Because of her history, it was decided to have her referred to Liverpool Small Animal Teaching Hospital for the op to remove her uterus - she had a full cardiology check-up first and they could find no deterioration of the RBBB. So the operation went ahead to remove her uterus and she had no reaction whatsoever to the anaesthetic. The cardiologist told me that there are many types of anaesthetics that can be used and even old dogs can be anaethetised safely. I have just converted what it cost from English GBP to US dollars and it was in the region of $2300:00, this did include full cardiology tests/x-rays etc to see if it was safe for her to have an anaesthetic.

The x-ray taken of Kira's stomach showed the uterus was so huge and pus filled, it was squashing her other organs and no amount of antibiotics would have cleared up that amount of pus. The pyo started off as closed but on the journey to the animal hospital, she started to lose pus.

When I was with them the good portion of yesterday, they got a call from the vet saying that the bloodwork had come back. Her white cells were elevated (that doesn't surprise me much since she has the infection after all), but not to a dangerous level. Everything else was in normal range... which makes me feel a little better about the liver thing, because I think that would show in the bloodwork.

Jewel was/is not draining no where near as much as she was - which worries the hell out of me.

But you know, when the vet called she asked how Jewel was doing, and asked that they call her back today with a progress report, so you know "She is a good vet and cares... she knows what shes doing."

My dad and I have been trying our damnedest to convince them to GET HER IN to be spayed, to no avail. I don't know what I am going to do if their stupidity kills my poor Jewel... If I didn't just buy a new car last month, and have that payment among my other bills due this week, I'd get her in myself.

With that all being said though, Jewel was a tad more active and happier than she was when I saw her last. I did have to help her up on the couch with me, but other than that, she was not whining or anything. I hope that this is a good sign and shes getting better.

I haven't talked to them yet today, but I'll let you guys know if theres been any changes.

Also got a text earlier though from a friend saying that his parents haad to put their Sheltie down this morning due to pyo... and they waited too long to help it. :(

Dawulf, I really hope you can convince them to have her spayed NOW--maybe you need to share your friend's text with them.  I don't mean to sound critical, but I gotta be honest...there's no way I would've driven away from there without either a surgery scheduled for Monday, or with the dog in my car and on her way to whatever decent vet I could get her into for that surgery.  That's what CareCredit is for...

And for all those who so rabidly oppose it when vets recommend spaying at 6 months of age to their clients who are your average pet owner type, THIS is part of why they do so.  In addition to the zero percent of mammary cancer in females spayed before their first heat, it's also far too easy for an owner to put it off, and put it off, and put it off, and the next thing you know, the dog is 6 or 8 or 12 years old and has pyo, and needs an emergency surgery.  Yes, a conscientious owner may be better off waiting until the dog has had her first heat if they want to ensure the dog won't end up with urinary issues because the vulva never properly matured...but for every one of those owners, there's twenty of them who will spin the wheel on their dog's behalf year after year until they wind up where Jewel is right now.

Hexe, I don't think you realize how young Dawulf is. CareCredit is likely not an option; I doubt she has any credit at all at her age. Now, what she does have is that youthful innocence that might convince a kind-hearted vet to extend her some credit when she presents an obviously-suffering 12yr old w/pyo from the back of her car....

And for all those who so rabidly oppose it when vets recommend spaying at 6 months of age to their clients who are your average pet owner type, THIS is part of why they do so. In addition to the zero percent of mammary cancer in females spayed before their first heat, it's also far too easy for an owner to put it off, and put it off, and put it off, and the next thing you know, the dog is 6 or 8 or 12 years old and has pyo, and needs an emergency surgery. Yes, a conscientious owner may be better off waiting until the dog has had her first heat if they want to ensure the dog won't end up with urinary issues because the vulva never properly matured...but for every one of those owners, there's twenty of them who will spin the wheel on their dog's behalf year after year until they wind up where Jewel is right now.

Amen, Hexe. Where did all this opposition to spaying females comes from anyway? You and I have both seen many, many females spayed before their first season without ever suffering from any untoward health issues that could have been attributed to that spay. I myself have done that with dogs I sold as pets, required it of every pet buyer, and spayed every older bitch I owned after I lost my first to pyo. I've heard all the lame excuses for not spaying females, but none are valid IMO when in comes down to the health of the dog. This is exactly what the odds say will happen to many an older bitch - she will develop pyo and will either die from it or will undergo an emergency spay.

Owners who preach against spaying females should have to witness the surgery on a large breed female with pyo and an engorged uterus with horns as big as a large man's arms. One knick and the pus spills into the abdominal cavity and the dog has to also deal with peritonitis.

This is Dawulf's parents' dog, isn't it?

Dawulf,

Your family dynamics are getting in the way of saving this poor dog. Does your family not understand that the dog that everyone LOVES could easily go septic and die within minutes? Are they that trusting that they will let an incompetent vet let Jewel die?

Family dynamics suck. But you need to buck up and take charge. Is this a money deal or a control thing with your mother and whoever. Sounds like your Dad doesn't want to cross your mother and whoever.

You are not powerless - so get off your butt and take action. Call the vets you have been talking about and get some quotes. Take up a collection. You have your own car. Sneek the poor dog out and take her to the vet. Don't tell anyone, even your Dad because he sounds powerless too. But geez, all of this going on and on. What is your Mom and whoever going to do if you take the dog and get her spayed? Are they going to stop you? Wouldn't it be worth it to save Jewel?

Trust me, if Jewel dies from this, the family issues will be even worse and there will be regrets all around.

Post the phone number for the vet office so we can make credit card donations.

Sorry for the intervention, but sometimes we get caught up in the family drama and can't see the forest because of the trees. This is when folks who really care step in and help out.

Annamarie

PS. Jewel was my mother's name.

 

Jenni, you're correct in that I have no idea as to Dawulf's age...but given that she mentioned recently becoming the proud owner of car payments, I was under the impression she was of sufficient age to be eligible for credit, and CareCredit is pretty liberal as to who they'll grant credit to; generally, they'll limit the amount to that of the vet's estimate of cost of care.  I agree, however, that she ought to seek out the services of another vet, such as the one her father's friend or whoever used for their St Bernard, because the original estimate her mom claims she was given is way out of line. 

Blitzen, yep, Jewel lives with Dawulf's mom, but she's Dawulf's 'childhood' pet, y'know?  Jewel's the dog we grew up with and who stayed behind with the parents after we left the nest...

Dawulf, again, I'm not intending to come off as mean, but given that you had to threaten to report your mom to animal control in order to get her to address Jewel's skin and ear issues before, I wouldn't have a lot of faith that she's going to really follow through with getting this situation resolved in a way that is in Jewel's best interest.  I'm concerned that there may be an underlying thought of, 'well, she's 12 years old, so she'll probably die soon anyway, why spend the money on surgery that is risky to begin with; we'll try the medicine, but if that doesn't work, oh well...'

I really think if Jewel is going to get the appropriate level of care for this condition, it's going to fall to you to be the driving force that makes it happen. 

Where did this opposition to spaying come from, anyway?

Well, in my case, it came from humane societies doing pediatric spays and neuters on pups as young as 8 weeks...   I can usually spot these dogs immediately. They are unusually tall, and the males have such tiny genitals that it's hard to be sure if they are male or female.

www.caninesports.com/SpayNeuter.html

I understand the need for canine birth control, but at least give the poor dog time to reach physical maturity!