Good vets in London

[rox01]

Hi, I'm just wondering if people can recommend a really good vet in London who's experienced in entire females (the dog variety). My girl is having an odd season and I need to work it out with someone who is just going to push spaying every five seconds. Thank you.

Actually, both London and Marlow / Henley on Thames area. Thank you

Why don't you want to spay her?

No idea but in my limited dog experience "an odd season" is often pyometra.

I don't want to spay as a) she is a large breed and I want to wait and b) I may want to breed from her if all her health tests come back good and I have time and good homes lined up.

London is a large area. You would probably be better ringing clinics near you and asking if any of their vets have interest/experience in canine reproduction.
There is a specialist in Cambridge, if you want to go down that route.

Odd seasons are something the vast majority of vets are extremely familiar with, on account of them tending to herald the onset of pyometra, which is extremely serious.

If you're determined to breed, and it's diagnosed as pyometra, then in some cases it can be medically managed to allow the bitch to be mated the following season. She will still need to be neutered after she has had the puppies, and there are some risks with this approach, but it's technically possible.

I think you should have her examined quickly regarding the current issue but I'd really advise you to get yourself registered with a vet you trust and start building a good relationship with them so that you aren't adrift like this when your DDog is ill.

How old is she?

Hi, She's 20months old, thank you VetNurse.

DunelmDoris, I do want to sort out these seasons and the reason behind them so I know what I'm dealing with and please don't scaremonger me. She definitely doesn't have pyometra and it is something I'm always worrying about/looking out for. I did trust both my vets but things have changed at both practices recently and I've recently had bad experiences at both vets (two different homes so two different vets) hence looking for a new one. I just took her to the vet to check for pyometra which she does not have. She'll be going to the vet again tomorrow to check where she is in her season etc as three days ago she swabbed as in diestrus (i.e. finished her season recently) and yet today she started bleeding again.

I'm sorry if I come across wrong but I'm genuinely worried. I'm not stupid, selfish or unreasonable and she has never wanted for anything vet wise but I also don't want to be pushed, I'm sure you can understand.

I'm honestly not scaremongering, it's a genuine issue. It wasn't clear from your OP that you already had a vet, or that she'd been checked for pyometra already.

Sorry DunelmDoris, you're absolutely right, I never made it clear she's been seen by a vet etc and it is a very real potential problem. Very very sorry. Can you tell I've been lectured at a little too often lol.

I really would try not to view it as lecturing if a vet warns you about it. I have had one case die and one be put to sleep with this condition in the last fortnight. I'll admit that that's unusual - our success rate is generally very good, provided owners seek help quickly, which one of the owners I dealt with last week didn't bother with - but when you actually see how frequently these complications arise it tends to focus the mind. I practise in an area where there are lots of entire bitches and so it is a really common condition for me to deal with.

Reswabing would be the next obvious step to check for split season that is not uncommon in younger large breed dogs. There isn't anything to fix this, you just have to allow it to run it's course.
There is no specialist qualification in small animal reproductive medicine so referral options are limited as Dunelm said most vets have good knowledge. If you really wanted someone with extensive knowledge and were prepared to travel I would go to Nottingham to see Gary England as he ran the guide dogs breeding program for many years.

Thank you everyone. I'm starting to think it's vaginitis triggered. As soon as she's on antibiotics she has a proper season (she's having one now that started yesterday). Think it may be a split season not sure, the vet in marlow seems to be on the case now and we've reswabbed. Still need to find a good vet in London though.