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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:
mumtoboys12 · 14/05/2023 22:16

That's the best decision OP. Sending love and hope it goes well. Do update us Xx

bozzabollix · 14/05/2023 22:26

Definitely do the surgery, my dog recovered from it very fast.

OooohAhhhh · 14/05/2023 22:32

Give your dog a chance?
It really worries me how easily people make decisions on putting dogs to sleep

curlymom · 14/05/2023 22:43

I have scanned numerous posts and want to say I would go ahead with the surgery. They can do wonders now and will take into account her age and monitor closely. I think you could have many happy years ahead together.
please update us. I will be thinking of you x

PatchworkElmer · 14/05/2023 22:48

I’d do the same as you OP. Hope it goes well.

uncomfortablydumb53 · 14/05/2023 22:58

I would do exactly the same and give her the chance of more happy years
I hope her op goes well

halfsiesonapotnoodle · 14/05/2023 23:08

Sp3849 · 14/05/2023 19:16

The vet didn't really suggest which option would be better either she was only focused on how much it's going to cost us. Which was kind of her but I kept saying I don't really care about the cost it's fine, all I want is the best for my dog. She just told me to go home and weigh it all up said it was an extremely difficult decision with no right or wrong answer

If you want the best for your dog, then absolutely give her the chance. She could have years left. Get the op done.

caringcarer · 14/05/2023 23:25

Patchworksack · 14/05/2023 19:04

Vet here - the chances of her surviving the op if she was otherwise fit and well beforehand is very good. The recovery time is about 2 weeks and she could have years of healthy life ahead of her. Anaesthetising a 12 year old dog is fairly routine because older dogs often need dental treatment or have lumps.
The only reason not to operate is if a) you really can’t afford to pay for surgery or b) you were already contemplating euthanasia because quality of life was poor.
Ovariohysterectomy for pyometra is curative surgery.

I'd be giving her a chance. She may have 4 or 5 years life left in her yet and you say she is a good dog and loyal to you. After surgery she would be out of pain and get her mojo back.

AmeliaWarnerBros · 14/05/2023 23:27

Please go for it, OP. She deserves the chance to live & if she passed later at least you know you gave her the chance 💕 I'd do the same for my little dog 💜

caringcarer · 14/05/2023 23:36

Thanks for update OP. It's hard when your pet is poorly. Let us know how she gets on. I wish her well after her operation.

Alloveragain3 · 14/05/2023 23:44

Thanks for updating OP and I hope all goes well.

I'm another vet and would just echo what previous nurses/vets have said that the prognosis after surgery is excellent as long as she's otherwise in OK health.

It is often elderly dogs who have this procedure as the risk of pyometra increases with age.

4-6 weeks recovery period isn't my experience, even in seniors. I'd say more like 2 weeks.

With regards the arthritis, it's worth discussing some medical options with your vet, as they can really improve quality of life and are generally very safe and effective.

Shhhquirrel · 14/05/2023 23:59

Patchworksack · 14/05/2023 19:04

Vet here - the chances of her surviving the op if she was otherwise fit and well beforehand is very good. The recovery time is about 2 weeks and she could have years of healthy life ahead of her. Anaesthetising a 12 year old dog is fairly routine because older dogs often need dental treatment or have lumps.
The only reason not to operate is if a) you really can’t afford to pay for surgery or b) you were already contemplating euthanasia because quality of life was poor.
Ovariohysterectomy for pyometra is curative surgery.

Good advice from this Vet.

Babyroobs · 15/05/2023 00:00

Just had surgery on our 12 year old dog ( for cancerous tumour). This was probably a smaller surgery than what your girl faces, but just wanted to reassure you that ours tolerated the surgery and anesthetic well. I would give her a chance op.

SirVixofVixHall · 15/05/2023 00:27

Best of luck for her OP. I am amazed that your vet didn’t do it as an emergency though.

Likethestarsabove547 · 15/05/2023 05:03

I hope it went well op

PollyPeptide · 15/05/2023 14:41

How's she gone on, @Sp3849 ? I hope everything went well.

Munchyseeds2 · 15/05/2023 15:05

I hope all goes well and she recovers easily

Sheepsheepeverywhere · 15/05/2023 16:02

My 10 yo rottweiler had cancer. Had major surgery and lived another year.. A fantastic year.. 2k skinter but no regrets

She recovered much quicker than vet advised...

Original poster
Sp3849 · 15/05/2023 20:42

@PollyPeptide and everyone else who is curious. I am so glad we did it. I was a mess this morning. They really made me feel like it was such a massive thing and it would be touch and go. I walked out of there thinking I wouldn't see her again! They rang me lunch time to say they were happy with further tests they had had her on a drip all morning and was taking her in. I had discussed my concerns with them and told them that she was be to let go of it was extremely bad and survival was slim or quality of life would be poor. I had a call about 3pm to say it went alot better than expected she did really well and she was very bright. I went to pick her up and she was so happy and was even walked around the room! I was expecting the worst and I just couldn't believe my eyes. She is comfortable happy and doing very very well. Thankyou all for your concern and kind wishes and thank you to all the vets and nurses for your advice it really swayed me to this option and I am so glad we did it. Hopefully many more healthy happy years in my girl yet.

OP posts:
GabrielleLegs · 15/05/2023 20:48

That's the very best news.

Sarvanga38 · 15/05/2023 20:51

Fabulous news OP, hopefully all will be smooth from here.

harriethoyle · 15/05/2023 20:56

Yay @PollyPeptide! Thanks so much for your update. So pleased!

FrostyFifi · 15/05/2023 21:00

Great update. You were obviously trying to do the kindest thing for the dog and your vet surgery had for whatever reason given you quite a gloomy-sounding prognosis. I'm generally one of the people saying PTS and don't drag things out but for a breed with such a long lifespan and such an easily treatable issue, I'm so glad you went ahead with the operation.

CheeseDreamsTonight · 15/05/2023 21:02

Wonderful update!

tsmainsqueeze · 15/05/2023 21:05

so glad to hear this , fingers crossed for a trouble free recovery x