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Original poster

To have 12 year old dog euthanised due to pyometra

123 replies

Sp3849 · 14/05/2023 18:47

Trying to make the best decision for my dog. She is a 12 year old shih Tzu and the most loyal lovely dog. I noticed Wednesday she had been bleeding a gooey substance from the back end. Vet saw her yesterday and said she had a small pyometra which is open and it was very beginning of it. (Massive infection in her uterus) She isn't unwell and her usual self. She said she would operate straight away as she didn't feel she was poorly or suffering and it could wait until tomorrow. She explained that it is a major operation and due to her other health issues with arthritis and her age I should consider what to do. She will not survive without the operation. She may not survive the operand if we do have the operation and it is successful it would be massive for her at her age. We hadn't had her spade before as we had her later on in life and we didn't want to put her through that at an older age also we had never known this could happen. (Regretting that decision now.) She is booked in for surgery in the morning but after speaking with family and friends they think it is cruel to put her through it. I love my dog and I really want what is best for her. I don't want her to be in pain. I want her later years to be comfortable her arthritis is getting worse and I do wonder if this operation will be too much. I need to decide what to do before tomorrow morning. Has anybody else had a pyometra operation on an older dog? Is it as awful as it seems? Would

OP posts:
PollyPeptide · 14/05/2023 19:25

I think if the vets have suggested it they obviously think it would be kinder not to do it. However much she is trying to appear neutral.

I don't know. I've worked with lots of vets and most of them are honest, nicely, if they think it's time to let an animal go. Although they will carry on if you insist and the animal isn't in pain.
It's just that costs can run very high for animal treatment these days so vets warn people so they're prepared for what could be ahead.

ThatDamnedDog · 14/05/2023 19:27

My eight year old boxer with a serious heart murmur had lumps (one very slow growing cancerous one and one persistent cyst which refilled every 2 weeks). Boxers live until 10/12 years old if healthy and we were told anything past 7 would be ‘borrowed time’.

He had a vicious operation last November, he looked like a victim in a slasher film, and I wept at what I had put him through. However, 6 months later and he has a new lease of life, turns out the tumour was pressing on his windpipe and making his heart defect seem worse than it actually is!

You know your little pupper, what is your gut telling you? Do you want the operation for her or for you? I wish you peace with which ever way you choose

krustykittens · 14/05/2023 19:37

We had an older bitch develop pyro and she died two days after the surgery. I personally would let the dog go but you know them best. Whatever you decide, I am sure you will do it after careful consideration, with good vet advice and with the dog's best interests at heart. You can do no more. x

sheusesmagazines · 14/05/2023 19:39

I'm a vet and very pragmatic and even so I would have it done, they generally do very well with it and age isn't a disease, she could live to 15/16.

frayble · 14/05/2023 19:40

In your shoes I would absolutely have the surgery in the morning. As others on the thread, including vets, have said, it is a definitive treatment for the pyrometra and has good recovery rates. It sounds like your vet has fully informed you of potential risks and outcomes, which is good practice, but has not tried to sway you towards euthanasia - all vets I've used in the past have been very direct when they feel that euthanasia really is the kindest option, and it doesn't sound like that's the case here.

PollyPeptide · 14/05/2023 19:41

Why don't you take her in in the owning and ask the vet for honest advice what she would do. You could always go ahead with the operation and tell the vet if it looks very bad when they open her up, not to bring her round.
My heart goes out to you. x

Original poster
Sp3849 · 14/05/2023 19:42

Can I also say this isn't a normal spay operation it's a pyo operation. The vet kept reiterating that apparently much more involved to it. It's much higher risk and alot more invasive she reiterated that too me. Her uterus is full of pus they will do further testing tomorrow to ensure it hasn't spread and kidneys and liver aren't failing due to it before performing the surgery. The vet said it isn't a usual spay alot more risky and alot more recovery. I have had my other dogs spayed young when I had them and I know they bounce back quickly. Just so people don't think I am considering putting my dog down because of not spaying her. It isn't a spay so to speak

OP posts:
Chaircushion · 14/05/2023 19:42

Our dog had this op age 11. Recovered well, was fine in a week. Lived another 4 years.

Stratusinium · 14/05/2023 19:43

I would go for the operation. Shi tzus can live many years longer than 12

rowbotham · 14/05/2023 19:46

Another pragmatic vet and same as above, would definitely have it done
In 30 years never seen anything but a positive outcome and I'm surprised they have painted such a gloomy picture to be honest.
Third option would be to ask about a drug called alizin. It's a simple injection that expels the pus and along with antibiotics will clear up the pyo for now. There's a chance it will recur but it does mean that you can either take that chance or have her speyed once pyo gone so smaller operation.

Stratusinium · 14/05/2023 19:46

sheusesmagazines · 14/05/2023 19:39

I'm a vet and very pragmatic and even so I would have it done, they generally do very well with it and age isn't a disease, she could live to 15/16.

Or older! (relative has an 18-yo shi tzu)

VainAbigail · 14/05/2023 19:46

Our 11 year old little dog had severe pyometra and we gave her the chance for the op. It cost us a small fortune and she has had a full hysterectomy but she’s ok now some 2ish months later.

TheSnowyOwl · 14/05/2023 19:47

A vet once said to me it’s better to pts a day too soon than a day too late but I think you should be more open minded about having the operation and potentially speaking to another vet for their opinion.

PollyPeptide · 14/05/2023 19:47

Wait a minute. The vet doesn't think shes poorly or suffering so it can wait til the next day. But she thinks that the liver and kidneys might be failing?

SirVixofVixHall · 14/05/2023 19:49

Cheeseballer · 14/05/2023 18:52

I'd absolutely go for the surgery.

Me too. I have had older animals go through invasive surgery and do well.
For anyone else who is unaware, the risk of pyometra in unspayed bitches is very high indeed.

Original poster
Sp3849 · 14/05/2023 19:52

@PollyPeptide she wasn't showing signs of it. It's always a risk I think she was just highlighting it that if they did show that then they wouldn't do the op on the day, but they wouldn't know until they did pre surgery bloods. She is very well in herself so she didn't feel the need to do them sooner

OP posts:
Vetoncall · 14/05/2023 19:53

I perform pyo surgeries quite often. Yes they are riskier than a routine spay but if the dog is otherwise healthy I would absolutely go ahead.

cannaecookrisotto · 14/05/2023 19:57

I would go through with the surgery and give her a chance. If she's not coping after the op then I would reevaluate.

LadyLolaRuben · 14/05/2023 20:03

I'd go for operation, sounds like its all in her favour.

FeedMeCoffeeOrGin · 14/05/2023 20:05

Bit younger than yours, but we had an 8 year old staffy who had a very very bad case of pyometra. Vet told us from the start it was so severe they were unsure if she would survive but they would be willing to operate. We ultimately decided to give her the chance and have the surgery and she survived and thrived for another 5 years. Worst part was stopping her and our other dog from playing for 6 weeks to avoid any damage/torn stitches.

Agree it's a tough call though, and it is major surgery, but I personally would go ahead with it.

PollyPeptide · 14/05/2023 20:05

If she's behaving and eating normally, and the vet is clearly not concerned about her suffering, I'd definitely go ahead with the op. I wonder if the vet feels like this about all pyo operations or just this one? It's not like it's an uncommon condition.

tsmainsqueeze · 14/05/2023 20:34

Sp3849 · 14/05/2023 19:12

They said recovery time is probably going to be 4 to 6 weeks. She may not survive the op and risk of sepsis afterwards is high. It is extremely invasive and a painful recovery. That is what is making me doubt if I should put her through it. Her arthritis had been managed well until last few months her back legs have lost alot of strength and she is a bit wobbly now

Vet nurse here , usually even with an older dog recovery from a pyo is a lot less than 4 -6 weeks , she is more than likely to be behaving like her normal self within a day or so amazingly.
I work in a very busy practice and we see pyometra fairly regularly , even with an elderly unwell bitch due to pyo it is very rare that we lose one during or after surgery , thankfully.
However you mention arthritis and other health issues so i think these should be your deciding factors , you need to think about how her quality of life has been before you found out about the pyometra.
If she were mine and i could see that she has been slowly declining to the point that living was becoming more like existing to the point she was no longer enjoying life then i would put her to sleep , but if that's not the case and her conditions can be managed then i would go for the surgery .

Sosadsolangafter · 14/05/2023 20:36

I think I'd give the operation a chance, though I'd perhaps find a different and more confident vet. The operation has over a 90% of recovery, and although doggie isn't young, she is well in herself which helps.

Original poster
Sp3849 · 14/05/2023 20:37

@rowbotham she did mention the hormonal option however she is also in a phantom pregnancy her concern is if we got rid of the pyo with the hormones she wouldn't be able to be spayed once the pyo was gone due to the risk of her still being in a phantom pregnancy. So she said she advised against the option because the chance of the pyo returning with her next season before we could have her spayed was high and we would be back to square one

OP posts:
Toomanylatenightprogs · 14/05/2023 20:37

My spaniel had pyometra, had her uterus removed. Keep her quiet the vet said, she won’t want exercise the vet said. Bloody dog didn’t listen and was out in our field in less than 48 hours and jumped in the stream. Made a perfect recovery.
Go for the op.