Took my dog to be spayed and she died
Jeff Sikes
was time to have her spayed before I moved out to the country and let
her roam. Today I took her to the vet, gave her to the vet and didn't
even consider that I might never see her alive again. Several hours
later, I received a call that Indy wasn't breathing on her own, and
that I should come right away. I went and stayed with her for several
hours, in which she stopped breathing so many times I can't count
them.
The vet said that Indy must have had distemper or something as a pup
(she was a stray I picked up) and something happened to her lungs.
After several more hours of assisted breathing, the vet finally
suggested that we let her pass away. I asked him to try a little
longer, and he did. But it didn't help.
Indy died because of some stupid operation that was only necessary
because it was convenient for me as an owner. She was completely
happy before I took her in, and now I regret even considering the
operation. I don't think I can ever forgive myself.
I have talked about Indy's little behavior quirks on this newsgroup,
and wanted to thank everyone for their help. She had very bad
separation anxiety and many of you helped with that problem.
Jeff
Lynda Oleksuk
>The vet said that Indy must have had distemper or something as a pup
>(she was a stray I picked up) and something happened to her lungs.
>After several more hours of assisted breathing, the vet finally
>suggested that we let her pass away. I asked him to try a little
>longer, and he did. But it didn't help.
>Indy died because of some stupid operation that was only necessary
>because it was convenient for me as an owner. She was completely
>happy before I took her in, and now I regret even considering the
>operation. I don't think I can ever forgive myself.
I'm very sorry to hear about Indy. But PLEASE forgive yourself. Spaying a
dog is not just something you do for convenience. If her lungs were too weak
to handle the anesthesia, there's a possibility you could have lost her if she
ever got pregnant and had to whelp a litter. Or needed an emergency caesarian
section. Or if she developed pyometria (an infection of the uterus) and
needed emergency surgery for that.
You did the right thing for her. Spayed females have much lower incidence of
mammary cancer -- something else that would require surgery. She wouldn't
have been happy without surgery -- and she might have wound up just as dead.
Unfortunately, the idiots that allowed her mother to be bred then dumped the
puppies -- or the people who had her before and didn't take care of her
properly -- caused a situation that couldn't be predicted before surgery. Be
angry at THEM -- not yourself. You did nothing wrong.
I'm sure Indy will be waiting for *you* at the rainbow bridge.
"Wanna cookie? Nothing in life is free." -Lynda Oleksuk (akit...@bev.net)
& Edric the Wonder Mutt, Kati the world's hairiest Akita, __ /|__
Gypsy the brindle pinto pogo stick, ah, I mean Akita, / \___/ ^_/
and Battlecat & Cringer, who think all dogs are dumb \ \/ |
(oh, yeah, there might be a husband under all the hair) \ / --\ /
"If I don't vacuum for another year, maybe I'll finally || ||
have wall-to-wall carpeting!"
ridg...@execpc.com
A dog dying during/after this procedure is very rare and I hope that if you get another
dog you consider having this procedure done.
I lost a Ridgeback friend of mine last year after a spaying. Some dogs can't handle
certain types of anestesia and subsequently will die if there aren't certain tests done
before the procedure to determine their intolerance. These tests are not uncommon and
I believe that most vets do them before any surgery where a dog will be anestesized(sp?).
I'm sorry I don't remember all the details of this intolerance, but maybe you'd like to research
it if you want some more answers.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tiffany Johnson ridg...@execpc.com
8005 N 105th Street Home Phone: 414-355-2191
Milwaukee WI 53224 Home Fax: 414-355-2191
James W. Smith
says...
>
>I only had Indy(a one-year old stray) for two months and I decided it
>was time to have her spayed before I moved out to the country and let
>her roam. Today I took her to the vet, gave her to the vet and didn't
>even consider that I might never see her alive again. Several hours
>later, I received a call that Indy wasn't breathing on her own, and
>that I should come right away. I went and stayed with her for several
>hours, in which she stopped breathing so many times I can't count
>them.
>
>(she was a stray I picked up) and something happened to her lungs.
>After several more hours of assisted breathing, the vet finally
>suggested that we let her pass away. I asked him to try a little
>longer, and he did. But it didn't help.
>
>Indy died because of some stupid operation that was only necessary
>because it was convenient for me as an owner. She was completely
>happy before I took her in, and now I regret even considering the
>operation. I don't think I can ever forgive myself.
>
>and wanted to thank everyone for their help. She had very bad
>separation anxiety and many of you helped with that problem.
>
>Jeff
>
Spaying your dog was not just convenient for you as an owner.
Americans as a whole are a pretty short termed group. We don't do what's
right often enough. Your responsibility and forsight as a grown up
animal friend is to contribute to what's best for all. The last four
dogs I've had were unwanted by the twit who bred for them and got bored.
You were doing the right thing. We don't need more unwanted, breeding
dogs wandering around. Just ask the pound.
I'm sorry that your doing the right thing got you screwed. This
isn't supposed to happen, and it wasn't your fault.
Give yourself a break. Call a friend who will listen. Your loss
is real, and you deserve the room to mourn. Best of luck.
James W. Smith
Steve Sawyer
>I only had Indy(a one-year old stray) for two months and I decided it
>was time to have her spayed before I moved out to the country and let
>her roam. Today I took her to the vet, gave her to the vet and didn't
>even consider that I might never see her alive again. Several hours
>later, I received a call that Indy wasn't breathing on her own, and
>that I should come right away. I went and stayed with her for several
>hours, in which she stopped breathing so many times I can't count
>them.
>The vet said that Indy must have had distemper or something as a pup
>(she was a stray I picked up) and something happened to her lungs.
>After several more hours of assisted breathing, the vet finally
>suggested that we let her pass away. I asked him to try a little
>longer, and he did. But it didn't help.
>Indy died because of some stupid operation that was only necessary
>because it was convenient for me as an owner. She was completely
>happy before I took her in, and now I regret even considering the
>operation. I don't think I can ever forgive myself.
>I have talked about Indy's little behavior quirks on this newsgroup,
>and wanted to thank everyone for their help. She had very bad
>separation anxiety and many of you helped with that problem.
>Jeff
Sad News ...
It sounds to me like you always had the dog's best interest at heart.
There is a quality of life issue that goes along with spaying or
neutering. If you don't do it the dog can be very uncomfortable tied
up or restrained in some way when in heat or about to roam. Very
unfortunate news ... don't blame yourself.
Dale Chapman
I really feel for your loss, and I hope that you will forgive yourself
after you grieve. You did the right thing by taking Indy to be spayed, as
there are already way too many unwanted pets in the world (trust me... I
live in Toronto, and the Toronto Humane Society is always crowded), and
allowing her to have pups would have just made the numbers higher.
When the grieving is over, you will be able to look back at your time with
Indy and remember the fun that the two of you had together.
Dale Chapman
dcha...@vnet.ibm.com
(normally just a lurker)
Karen Reardon
Don't blame yourself for this. My family went through this in 1990, only it was my
grandmother who died after elective surgery. It was hard to come to closure on this
in our hearts.
You tried your best with Indy, I am sure the time she had with you were the best
times of her life.
Keep your heart open, I'm sure there's another dog looking for your love out there.
(You were most kind to take in Indy.)
Karen, Blaze and Floyd
rsc...@albnyvms.bitnet
of dogs who die during the neutering process is SO small. In my whole life,
this is only the second time I've heard of an animal (cat OR dog) dying from it.
It's less likely that she would have problems with the spaying than it is to
get cancer or to die in the process of giving birth to puppies.
Worf sends you kisses and hopes you feel better, and you'll be in our thoughts.
Again, my deepest condolences.
Sarah and Worf
Laura Richey
>I only had Indy(a one-year old stray) for two months and I decided it
>was time to have her spayed before I moved out to the country and let
>her roam.
>Indy died because of some stupid operation that was only necessary
>because it was convenient for me as an owner. She was completely
>happy before I took her in, and now I regret even considering the
>operation. I don't think I can ever forgive myself.
Dear Jeff,
I am deeply sorry for your loss. It is terribly tragic to loose a beloved
friend at such a young age. However, I hope this ordeal does not prevent
you from spaying or neutering your future companions. I know from first
hand experience the feelings of guilt you are suffering for I have
recently lost my best friend of 14 years to cancer. In my case I feel
guilty because I waited too long to spay her. She was the most beautiful
Afghan with such a delightful personality that I had always hoped to show
her. I delayed spaying her for selfish reasons until she was 5 years old.
This unfortunately later came back to haunt me in the form of mammary
cancer which evidenlty may have metastized to her liver. Although my vet
and friends insist this is rather unusual and even though we had a long
and wonderful life together, I can't help thinking that I could have
possibly prevented her suffering. Please don't let one terribly tragic
event keep you from doing what you and your veterinarian believe is in
the best interest of your new companion for spaying your companion is not
only convenient for the owner(in the form of preventing unwanted litters
and difficulties with false pregnancies), but offers medical advantages
to your pet by reducing the risk of cancer in both males and females.
Although we cannot change the past, forgiving ourselves is part of the
future for one day your new companion will expect you to make the right
decisions for her without doubting yourself. I hope that my story helps
to comfort you in your loss as it is evident from your post that you
loved Indy very much. Take comfort in that fact that some day she will
greet you at the Rainbow Bridge and you will cross the bridge together.
Sincely,
Laura
mhel...@gmail.com
cshenk
happens.
kathysis...@gmail.com
> I only had Indy(a one-year old stray) for two months and I decided it
> was time to have her spayed before I moved out to the country and let
> even consider that I might never see her alive again. Several hours
> later, I received a call that Indy wasn't breathing on her own, and
> that I should come right away. I went and stayed with her for several
> hours, in which she stopped breathing so many times I can't count
> them.
>
> The vet said that Indy must have had distemper or something as a pup
> (she was a stray I picked up) and something happened to her lungs.
> After several more hours of assisted breathing, the vet finally
> suggested that we let her pass away. I asked him to try a little
> longer, and he did. But it didn't help.
>
> because it was convenient for me as an owner. She was completely
> happy before I took her in, and now I regret even considering the
> operation. I don't think I can ever forgive myself.
>
> and wanted to thank everyone for their help. She had very bad
> separation anxiety and many of you helped with that problem.
>
> Jeff
