*UPDATE DEC 22nd!!* Surgery done - FULL INTACT OVARY FOUND

[BC_MoM]

A little bit of history:

- Molly was spayed at the humane society Feb 27.
- Early April she had an infection from the sutures used and was put on Clavamox.
- Throughout July, she had a false pregnancy (she even starting LACTATING) and was sick almost through August as well.

She is now having problems again - licking herself until she cries (frustration) and her nipples are swollen and crusty.

We were going to have a urinalysis done at our vet on Saturday morning, but our vet advised us we phone the city pound (where we got Molly). The pound then told us to go after the HS.

The vet who did the surgery volunteers only when needed to perform speuters - he is normally a large animal (specifically horse). My Mom did a little research, turns out her friend had HER female dog spayed by him and she has the same problems.

So we are all leaning towards incomplete spay, have been since the summer.

We called the HS on Friday and the lady right away started getting defensive and defending the vet who did the procedure.. she even said there was no such thing as an incomplete spay!!

After she calmed down, we explained we are not blaming anyone, we simply want to find out the problem and correct it. But we will NOT pay for it.

So tomorrow she is going in for a urinalysis, bloodwork and they will check her vulva, all free of charge.

I'm just asking for prayers - Molly has been suffering off and on since February and I feel it was my fault for not asking the pound if we could get it done at our vet (we had to sign a contract saying we would get it done at the WHS).

Thank you in advance for any and all prayers.

[borzoimom]

Okay- increase her b vitamins. Either broccoli or give her a 1/4 of a b complex. I need to know her weight. Also- a half a capsule of red raspberry twice a day...

[luvofallhorses]

lots of good thoughts and prayers going out to Molly and it's not your fault! I hope everything goes well tomorrow. (((Molly)))

[Catlady711]

I really hope they find out for sure what is wrong with Molly and get her all fixed up. Keep us updated!

That's unfortunately some of the problems with the low cost/free spay/neuter clinics. Most of them are done by several rotating vets volunteering their services, animals are basically done in an 'assembly line' fashion and since most of them have never seen the animal before they don't always know what's normal for each animal. Many of them don't do a pre-op exam or bloodwork (to keep costs down) and since many animals aren't vaccinated that have surgery sometimes diseases can be passed among the patients.

I think what they're trying to do is great, for both animals (to reduce overpopulation and mammary tumors, pyrometra etc) and for the owners who may have financial difficulties. However it does have drawbacks. As they say 'sometimes you get what you pay for'.Spaying in low cost clinic vs. vet hospital Question #7)

Incomplete spays are possible if the vet didn't get all the parts out. As for the HS lady saying 'there's no such thing as an incomplete spay' here are some articals on the subject...

By Antech (a large veterinary lab)

very short case notes published by AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association)

I found additional links to articals published by the JAVMA (Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association) however they were all pay per article.

[chocolatepuppy]

Poor Molly, having to go through all of this. I will keep her in my prayers.

[Dorothy39]

Oh Poor Molly~ I feel so bad for you too BC_Mom


Borzoimom and Catlady711 ~ You both offered great replies and I value all your imformation!!!!

Molly, I Will Keep You in my Prayers Today- I Hope You are Feeling Sooooo Much Better ---Soon !!!!

[BC_MoM]

“Speed is not a legitimate goal in surgery. Doing a careful, meticulous job is the real goal.”

Very true.

Molly's gone to the HS, I have class so I couldn't go with her.

I have mixed feelings about her getting the tests done there, but can you argue with free vet care???

[ramanth]

Poor Molly. I hope the vet can figure out the cause of her pain.

[borzoimom]

Sometimes, if they were coming into season, or going out of it, and the surgery is done, the hormon system either takes longer to check itsself back, or can even get "stuck" to a point. Red raspberry- a half a capsule for a dog about 30 pounds, and half a cranberry capsule which moves the fluid will help immensely.This is given at both feedings a day.
Please go to the vet anyway. Red raspberry is excellent for the female dogs hormone system- fully present or not. Cranberry is obvious.
I am concerned there is an underriding infection. None of which can be solved any other way other than antibiotics.
Please keep us posted, and you and her will be in my prayers.
YOu can pick up both supplements at any drug store in teh vitamin aisle, and relatively cheap as well. Lets hold on the b complex until we are sure there isnt any infection here. B complex is excellent for the hormone system, however, if she has an infection, it puts stress on the kidneys that are trying to flush the toxin from her body..

[pitc9]

Oh the poor thing!!
I hope things get figured out soon!

[molucass]

I'll send lots of good vibes Molly's way and hope they finally find out the cause of her problems.

[dukedogsmom]

Good luck Molly! Sending lots of good vibes your way. I hope you can be a happy, healthy dog soon.

[borzoimom]

How did it go?

[Dorothy39]

How did it go?

I scampered back to pet talk, thinking that BC_Mom had posted an up date ~

We're Praying for your Dear Molly, can you tell?

[BC_MoM]

Thanks for the prayers.

Here's an update for those of you who care to read it:

Apparently all the tests today were inconclusive. Basically, I guess, they want her to go in next week again so they can do them again and compare to this weeks.

There was nothing to show in any of the tests things that you would find in results of a pregnant dog.

Nor was there a sign of infection.

But when they did the urinary swab (that's what my Dad called it - they may have called it something else) they did find traces of blood.

I wish I would have gone, because I'm not sure what any of this really means.

Sounds to me like they're trying to make sure that this doesn't turn out to be an incomplete spay so that they don't look bad (maybe that's just me though - because I don't support them).