Skipy

would pyometria have anything to do with dogs immune system or is it pure luck? Is there anything that you can do to 'strengthen' her immune system and possibly decrease chances of her getting it again?

I have noticed that if I dont cook rice well, uncooked bits will come out looking like what you have described.

curlygirl thanks for your reply that is the info I was after.

sidoney thanks for your replies. OK, so in your case she did not attract males? As far as mammary tumors, I dont quite understand, do you think it was in any way worse than in intact female or are you talking about the fact that she was "intact" in a way (just clarifying). I know that there are risks both ways, I guess I am thinking I would rather they get something because nature intended it that way, than to get something else due to my interfering.

DOgs4fun - I am not being polite? Hm, when I am called selfish, strangely, I dont like it very much. Thanks for the spelling, check breeder's section I have posted there also with right spelling, in case this one is really hurting your eyes...... cowanbree- thanks, yes that would be the problem if males are still attracted and I if I need to separate them anyway, there is not much point. I thought that removing uterus would solve that, but that is looking like it might not be the case...

Is it the weather? Miranda, if you dont know WHY, please dont offer your opinion when all it does is be offensive!!! YES I am thinking about health of my dog, but thanks, its really nice that there are always such experienced and knowledged people to offer their help. Nekhbet, if I was an expert or had vast knowledge on this particular issue, would I be asking. I was refering to estrogen hormone and that its only produced by ovaries. blissirritated, if you look through this site you'll see info as to why I dont want to desex her fully. I think this will just become another pro and anti desexing topic which I am not interested in.....

"Some owners see hysterectomy or tubal ligation as a way to sterilize the pet, yet still allow her to experience heat cycles and participate in mating. " See this quote in my post above. Does this not answer this question for you? Well no, because tubal ligation still leaves the uterus intact, so I dont think you can necessarily compare it to hysterectomy.

I would PREFER to leave her intact... I feel horrible already doing uterus removal. So, all of the benefits of spaying I am not interested in.... What I would like, are the following answers: 1. As cowanbree said, she will still attract dogs (I dont like that, as I dont really want to leave my male then with her), I would like to hear from other people on this. How will she attract males when the discarge comes from uterus, I thought that would not be the case, I might be wrong. 2. Will uterus removal help with spay incontinence, ie. prevent it? That is all I need to know....

cowanbree, Kristy - thanks IDWT, if people cant answer my question, then they dont have to.. I dont see much point in getting answers for what I have not asked. I have read a lot on this, and being in medical field I know what I am asking, I did not quite know how it translates into dog world.... If people dont know about this operation it is not because it is not recomended, but rahter because its harded for vets to do it....

I dont know why I am not getting answers to the questions I asked. I already said, she will either stay intact or will have her uterus removed. AND NO, estrogen is ONLY produced by ovaries, I was wondering if uterus had any role other than obvious one, like in supporting bladder, or similar.. Without uterus, she will not bleed, and I was wondering about other stuff but I might have to wait for others to come on-line that understand what I am on about..... Also I would like to know if it prevents spay incontinence at all?

Hmm, not quite what I am asking. I have decided on keeping the ovaries, so that is final, I am asking more about behaviour of males towards her. With ovaries intact were they still sensing her when she would come into heat?

OK, I need some help. I want to have my girl not desexed, but uterus removed with ovaries intact. I understood that that would mean she will still have hormonal cycles, but without side effects of bleeding and discharge that would attract by boy. Is this true? Also, is there anything that she might be losing hormone wise, by getting her uterus removed.

Thanks guys heaps. I think I will look into Monash one first, see if we like it.....

FINGERS CROSSED its nothing too concerning.

I dont know if that borderlines on unethical, or if I am just in a grumpy mood today, but to sell a pup that people will get attached to only for even a possibility of it having serious problems I dont understand. What is then the point of testing parents, I thought it was so that things like this are avoided. "Oh, yes parents are health tested (therefore we are responsible breeders) and are both health checked, but guess what - you puppy is not so well......

We are in Northern suburb so anything in that area is good for us or even further if we ever need any serious help...

Thank God that all my dog ever needed from the vet is a yearly vaccination. I dont trust that man at all. The whole clinic is run by nurses that have been less than helpful (yes you can combine rabies shot witll C5, yes if your dog has vomited once ONLY during the day bring him in straight away, he might be dying, etc).... Rabies shot just totally made me mad: We will be going overseas so I asked more for info sake if you can give C5 and rabies together, of course you can, only to find out later that most vets would NEVER give them together as rabies shot is pretty strong on its own.... Oh, yes and they are charging almost $80 for C5 booster and what they call check up..... Anyway, I am wondering how many people really TRUST their vets, and also, are there any good ones in Melbourne that people would strongly recomend.

Marcosmom I am so sorry for your loss.......

Can I ask if you know the figure of how many dogs all together are PTS in all of Australia per year? My own curiosity really.....

That's my point. That's what we're up against here. Most people with a dog are just like you describe above, rather than just like many of us here on DOL (responsible and motivated dog owners/lovers that do the right things by their dog/s). How else can any of us explain the HUGE numbers of unwanted dogs in our community? I dont know that I necessarily agree with you. I think you might be biased a bit from the fact that you see the worst that can happen every day.... If we say that every 3rd household has at least one dog (I think these are the stats and probably more than one) and how many people in Australia vs how many dogs being PTS each year...... I hope you are wrong...... Anyhow lets assume that whoever is asking questions on DOL is probably not one of them...

I would think that from the people that end up leaving dogs in the pound they do not care enough about them in the first place to even keep them, let alone take them to the vet... Therefore, they leave their dogs the way they are. I am sure that if you looked in their vaccination records they would all be out of date as well. What I am saying is that there is not relationship between entire dogs as a reason for being in the pound, its that they do not do any "extra" work on their dogs in the first place, one of them being desexing......

So is this because its easier for a vet? What would be the drawbacks of leaving ovaries ie. hormones intact?

Do you know by any chance what the level of hormoes are after this procedure? Has anyone looked at that, meaning is it equivalent to having ovaries, etc.... Good suggestion. You recon that is still shorter surgery time than just leaving ovaries intact?

If you ALLOW them to just wonder around the neighbourhood unwanted pregnancy can occur. What risk? That she just goes nuts and flies across 2m fence? Seriously, some people have never heard of fencing..... I agree with arby, depending on the breed of your dog... Search DOL for issues regarding early desexing and some arguments about eary desexing and side effects... First heat per se does not have anything to do with it, its more of a age thing.

I agree, 4 days is a bit too long..... Especially at this heat. If you decide to wait another day or two, check him regularly, look at his energy levels, how much water he is taking, check that his gums are not dry and pale. Is he still eating OK? If it persists for another day definately take him to the vet.