I've decided to spay Takara as her hormones are interfering with her lovely nature and causing a nasty skin condition.

She's booked in tomorrow :shocked: which is a bit of a shock as I only arranged it today and even though I know she'll be fine (very slim - makes the op easier, and very fit) I can't help being so, so worried!

I know deep down I'm doing the right thing but I just feel so sorry for the little girl - she'll hate being kennelled at the vets and keeping her calm for 10 days will be murder!

ahh bless. She will be fine i'm sure just buy her some sit down and eat treats!

she'l be fine. I was the same when the boys had thier op, I cried for my poor boys, but they were fine in the end :)

Good luck to T, I'm sure she'll be fine :)

When I had Poppy done I though I would have problems keeping her calm but she spent the first 5 days feeling sorry for herself and enjoyed the extra attention. I must admit I took a week off work to make sure she was ok and now her scar is hardly visible.

You know that it's the right thing to be doing though Lotti- if you aren't planning on breeding from her then it will make everything SO much easier.

The risks are so small for a slim healthy dog- it's natural to be worried for her (I have memories of taking all of my cats to the vets and asking the vet to tell me all of the things that could go wrong if they had kittens as I handed them over for their spays) but you know that it's a once only event that will help her in the future.

Sending you strength and a hug to get you through the day.

Oh- and one for T too.

Awww its only natural to worry, not one of my bunch i havn't felt the same when it was their turn and been on tenter hooks waiting for that call to say come fetch him/her back, she will be fine, like you said your main problem will be keeping her quiet afterwards :hihi: she is going to feel so much better in her self honestly.

Thanks guys :) It's not like it's even today!

Moonbird - thanks, I certainly hope she feels better in herself, I was told not to bank on her being better (aggression wise) after her spay but it may help.

Anyway - at least I won't have to worry about keeping her in for 4 weeks twice a year!! Or any of the complications that come with being unspayed.

The worst thing when we got Poppy done was collecting her. I had to take her home on the bus on my own and when we got to the stop she wouldnt get off....I had to carry the great lump home and she fell asleep in my arms. I wish the vets had warned us just how out of it she would be but apart from that she was fine in a couple of days.

Thanks guys :) It's not like it's even today!

Moonbird - thanks, I certainly hope she feels better in herself, I was told not to bank on her being better (aggression wise) after her spay but it may help.

Anyway - at least I won't have to worry about keeping her in for 4 weeks twice a year!! Or any of the complications that come with being unspayed.

No she might not change aggression wise trouble is they learn the behaviour don't they? i think though to varying degrees neutering has had a calming effect on all of my lot although it can take quite some time for it to show, but i really think they are happier without all of those hormones whooshing about, and like you say there are great health benefits in the long and maybe short term... and peace of mind for you, just get ready for the spoiling sessions over the next few days :hihi:

The worst thing when we got Poppy done was collecting her. I had to take her home on the bus on my own and when we got to the stop she wouldnt get off....I had to carry the great lump home and she fell asleep in my arms. I wish the vets had warned us just how out of it she would be but apart from that she was fine in a couple of days.

Many many years ago i made that mistake with my first dog, he was collie sized :rolleyes: it was no joke getting him home, unless they are yorkie sized never try public transport with your pet after surgery :hihi:

My Poppy was also quite unsteady for the rest of the day even though the daft bugger refused to just lay down.

We made her a bed on the sofa with pillows and blankets and even brought her her water bowl every ours or so so she could drink.....spoilt....noooo...

No she might not change aggression wise trouble is they learn the behaviour don't they? i think though to varying degrees neutering has had a calming effect on all of my lot although it can take quite some time for it to show, but i really think they are happier without all of those hormones whooshing about, and like you say there are great health benefits in the long and maybe short term... and peace of mind for you, just get ready for the spoiling sessions over the next few days :hihi:

To be fair, I was told this by someone who doesn't realise quite how much I am willing to work on her behaviour. I didn't expect spaying to just completely wipe that behaviour out of her - I knew I'd have to work with her as well so hopefully we'll get there!

I'm sure she will be happier and she hates it when she has to miss training because she's in season so that'll be better for her as well.

We had Meg spayed a few weeks ago and I was dreading it too, but she recovered so quickly. The op is so much more discrete these days since we last had a bitch spayed. The incision was so neat and small. She didnt have to wear a collar as she didnt lick the wound (the vet said she probably wouldnt but I struggled to believe him) and was raring to go in a couple of days, so much so that we had terrible trouble trying to keep her on gentle exercise as no matter where we confined she was flinging herself around!

I have to be honest though and say that whilst I was prepared for her to look rough when we collected her having worked at a vets & in a hospital and knowing its to be expected after surgery, I was still really worried as she was shaking when I put her to bed that night (apparently normal after the anaesthetic but it still worried me) but she was different again by the next morning, so try not to worry if Takara looks like this. Sure she will be bouncing fit in no time :)

Don't we worry about our furry friends, but they seem to get over things better then we do. Am sure T will be fine lotti, they soon bounce back and on their feet in no time.

You are going to have to occupy yourself tom, while u are waiting to collect her, the wait is awful. Hope everything goes well.

aww she'll be fine Lotti, dont you worry xxK

I'm at work tomorrow Shihtzumad so fo the majority of the time between dropping her off and picking her up I will be answering telephone calls and will always be with someone else anyway! I can see myself roaring when I leave her though!

I doubt T will bother with the wound too much but I think she'll have to be crated at least for a while because I just know that Eddy will try and lick the wound for her - they constantly groom each other and he licks her and cleans up any droplets of blood when she's in season (eeeeeeeeeeew).

Thanks katkin - I was just beginning to feel the same when my mum cried as she left the house tonight and said goodbye to T (she won't see her til tomorrow afternoon). I keep telling myself how much happier she'll be when it's all over and she never has to worry about it again!

Dont worry about crying when u leave her, i think thats natural, when i have had to leave mine, i am heartbroke all day......I hope everything goes well, am sure it will. Keep us posted.

I had just about composed myself so that she didn't pick up on my stress but she stressed herself out anyway.

She remembered the vet clinic from the last time she went and she had her temperature taken :rolleyes:

She hid in the corner like a scared cat and bunched herself up into a ball when the vet went near her (to check her over). She was very good though and despite being very frightened she never tried to use her mouth.

They gave her the pre-med while I was there and she screamed - I felt so awful because she was so frightened.

I've left my fleece with her (ready for the wash so smells of me and home) and have to phone at 2:30 to see how she's doing.

The look on her face when I left was heartbreaking :(

Awwww *hugs*

She'll be okay, you're going to be there for her and she'll get spoilt rotten as she recovers. Try not to worry yourself too much!

Huge hugs,to you, Lotti, and lots of scruffles to Takara.

She WILL be okay, she'll bounce back from this, in a couple of days time, you will see that she's hardly noticing that she's had the op.

you are being a responsible owner, putting her welfare above anything, and, as I have said before, you are removing the risks to her from whelping, and the risks of that horrid, horrid disease, Pyometra are also removed. Also, by spaying her, you are also removing the difficulties for you, and for her, over the hormonal problems.

You are doing right by Takara, Lotti, honest! Her welfare is paramount.

PT - took the words right out of my mouth....well, almost. I'm sure I couldn't have articulated that so neatly ;)

I know it's hard not to worry Lotti, the guilt of taking them to the vets even when you stay with them the whole time is awful, but you are doing the best thing for her, and she won't love you any less for it, in fact, imagine how happy and excited she will be when she sees you when you pick her up:)

Have you had any updates Lotti.

PT - took the words right out of my mouth....well, almost. I'm sure I couldn't have articulated that so neatly ;)

I saw my friend's beautiful little collie-girl die from Pyometra. it was the most dreadful thing I have seen.

After witnessing that, I would never leave a bitch belonging to me un-spayed. And I would always encourage freinds and associates to have their "boys and girls" "doctored" if they aren't planning to breed them.

so, kudos to lottie, and to all the other responsible pet owners who have had their girlie pets "done" (and their boys, who have been "done" too! :thumbsup: )

Aww Lottie I know how you feel - we do worry about them, don't we?! I was in floods of tears when we had to leave Gadget for his operation - and that was only to sew up a cut paw! :rolleyes: those 3hrs went by so slowly :(
Big Hugs to you both xx

Hi guys

T's back home and is sleeping off her ordeal.

I spent 10 minutes coaxing her out of her car crate so that I could lift her out of the car and then she stood shaking and refused to walk so I carried her in and she went in her crate.

The vets said she was very good and that everything went well - the incision is tiny and she seems ok.

Eddy's totally confused as to why Miss Bouncy Psychobitch isn't jumping all over him and why she's chosen to go and sleep in her crate where he can't get to her!

D'awwww:) Glad she's home safe if a little bit dopey! She'll be back bouncing around soon:D

hey it's the first time she's not pulled on the lead!!!! :lol:

Aww good to hear she's ok :D

aww I've been on tenterhooks all afternoon and couldnt wait to get home to log on to see how it went- so pleased she's doing fine and sounds like she doesn't have much of a scar area to contend with. Phew Lotti! Maybe I'll reconsider having Ailsa done soon, now...

:wink: see! I telled ya! I said she'd be fine!

so pleased to hear that she's ok. :clap:

hey it's the first time she's not pulled on the lead!!!! :lol:

Make the most of it she will be back to normal before you know it :hihi:

If she is anything like Tilly, she will be raring to go at approx 4am tomorrow morning.:hihi:

Im so pleased to hear that T is ok. :) Molly & Pippa and me and Dan send her lots of hugs and healing vibes xxxxx

Glad to hear Takara is home and doing well :)

I'm really pleased everythings worked out well, lotti.

Give her a gentle hug from the Chocador!

Thanks guys.

she was very wobbly on her feet yesterday and kept leaving her back legs behind her and then stumbling around like she was drunk (hehe) but this morning she was up and ready for a walk :rolleyes:

She gave me THE dirtiest look when I said she wasn't coming with me and Eddy!

She's fine really - but dad's just coming to watch them while I'm at work because although she hasn't bothered, Eddy's been quite interested in her stitches so have to stop him trying to 'make her better' :rolleyes: :lol:

Thanks all for the lovely messages... must go - time for work!