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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
coeurnoir · 15/05/2023 21:07

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.

Sounds like my old collie. It wasn't pyometra, she had a mammary tumour removed at the age of 11. The night she came home from the vet my husband and I set up camp downstairs so we could sleep with her. Bloody dog only went and took herself upstairs and jumped onto my daughters bed 🙈.

Dogs are amazing. My current golden survived a brush with DKA a couple of years ago. He was supposed to have died, but was home within 3 days and still gojng strong at 12.

coeurnoir · 15/05/2023 21:16

@Sp3849 just read your update. That is wonderful news. Flowers

Missingmyusername · 15/05/2023 21:20

What a lovely update, glad all went well.

StarDolphins · 15/05/2023 21:23

I have an 11.5 yr old Shih Tzu & If it was now, seeing how much he still loves his life, I would definitely get the op. Yes he’s old & doesn’t walk far but I would give him every chance. When he’s had enough, I think I will know & it will be the most heartbreaking thing I will have ever been through.

Good luck with your decision💐

LawksaMercyMissus · 15/05/2023 22:10

Sp3849 · 14/05/2023 20:42

@tsmainsqueeze I think that's what is my problem. I have seen her decline in recent months and am the thinking am I putting her through all of this and will end up putting her through it to further decline and have her PTS in a year or so as the decline in her back legs has come on quite quickly. I wonder if the pyo has an effect at all and maybe she is more wobbly because of that or it is her arthritis deteriorating. I have no medical experience so have no idea if it is the pyo or not and I am clinging on to hope

I had to make the decision last month when my dog was obviously not responding to painkilling injections. She was 12 and had declined over the last six months. They suspected a tumour on her spine and possibly dementia. They were very clear that she might not come round after the anaesthetic and as they weren't entirely sure what they might find, it might require several scans and MRIs. I felt I'd only be buying her months and she was suffering. Hardest decision I've ever made but I know it was the right one.

PastaPup · 15/05/2023 22:15

So glad she’s doing well, OP! I thought that would be the case

Patchworksack · 15/05/2023 22:16

Thanks for updating- hope she has a smooth recovery!

3luckystars · 15/05/2023 22:30

Great news. This place is absolutely fantastic for advice. I’m so glad your dog is doing ok x

Bodenesque · 15/05/2023 22:34

My parents have the same dog and she became ill very rapidly with a womb infection. After an emergency hysterectomy she has made a great recovery and is entering her 15th year in great spirits.

Catsolitude · 15/05/2023 22:50

Delighted to read this OP!

Alloveragain3 · 15/05/2023 23:50

Yey, lovely update!

PollyPeptide · 16/05/2023 00:11

I'm so happy for you and her. Early days but I'm glad you're pleased with your decision. I'm sure she'll be the most spoilt girl in the world over the next few days.

ejbaxa · 16/05/2023 01:58

Best wishes for her recovery OP. I was just coming on to say do the operation - my mum's dog had uterus removal at a similar age and lived more years happily. Hopefully you might find that once the initial bit of the recovery is done that she is much more comfortable and healthy.

Blondewithredlips · 16/05/2023 03:24

Lovely news x

Dita73 · 16/05/2023 03:41

Our dog (a shih tzu) had a pyometra when she was 10. She had the operation and lived for 3 more years. It was definitely worth it

AnonyMenOhPee · 16/05/2023 06:00

Fantastic update OP I’m glad it went well! Wishing your girl a speedy recovery.

I would think very carefully about changing vets though - it sounds like they went way beyond warning you about the risks of the surgery trying to persuade you not to do it. Yes it could have gone the other way but it doesn’t sound like a very balanced view from them!

JuneOsborne · 16/05/2023 06:05

Wonderful update! Pleased for you and your ddog! Here's to a swift recovery!

PollyPeptide · 17/05/2023 14:03

How your baby girl doing today, @Sp3849 ? I hope everything's going well. I hope you don't mind me asking but she keeps popping into my head.

Original poster
Sp3849 · 22/05/2023 21:48

Just another update for anybody wondering @PollyPeptide she has recovered amazingly. She is back to her normal self. Last check up on Thursday coming for stitches, she has sailed through recovery so far. She has exceeded all expectations and I am forever trying to slow her down. She has a new lease of life. She is doing great. In the vets words she is one tough cookie.

OP posts:
Likethestarsabove547 · 22/05/2023 21:55

Sp3849 · 22/05/2023 21:48

Just another update for anybody wondering @PollyPeptide she has recovered amazingly. She is back to her normal self. Last check up on Thursday coming for stitches, she has sailed through recovery so far. She has exceeded all expectations and I am forever trying to slow her down. She has a new lease of life. She is doing great. In the vets words she is one tough cookie.

The best update ever ❤️

Sarvanga38 · 22/05/2023 22:03

So glad to hear this, @Sp3849 - you must be thrilled.

PollyPeptide · 22/05/2023 22:39

I'm so pleased, @Sp3849. She's been popping into my head but I didn't like to write again in case something had gone wrong. After so many of us almost strong armed (albeit kindly meant) you into going ahead with the op, I'd have felt dreadful if she'd taken a turn for the worse. Also I'm horribly superstitious and I was concerned that you might not want to comment positively in case you hexed it. 😄
But what a relief it's over. Dogs do have amazing recuperative powers. My sister had a lurcher that had to have its back leg removed. Within a couple of days she was up, a little bemused there was nothing on her back left corner, but she adjusted and just went haring off. Nothing kept her back. I think it's because they don't have the mental angst that accompanies us human and our operations.
Anyway big hugs to her for healing so well and being such a good girl. And big hugs to you for all the trauma you've been through. Glad to hear it was so very worth it. x

Sheepsheepeverywhere · 23/05/2023 07:19

Congratulations!! A new zest for life is always a joy!
Our ddog is a year on from major cancer surgery.. You would never know how poorly she had been!

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