Responsible pet ownership involves more than just providing food, shelter, and chew toys.
You also need to care for your pet's health, and help prevent overpopulation by spaying or neutering.
Unfortunately, even when you act responsibly, things can go wrong.
Surgery is Not Without Risks Even a procedure as common as a spay or neuter can have complications, as the owner of an English Cream Golden Retriever recently discovered.
Brooke's surgery went well, and she was sent home to rest and recover as expected.
However, the family immediately noticed a problem: Brooke was incontinent.
She was urinating every few minutes, even when they placed her in her crate - something she had never done before.
Brooke's concerned owners contacted the vet and were assured that there was nothing seriously wrong, and that the dog likely had a urinary tract infection.
She was started on an antibiotic, but the symptoms remained.
The vet then prescribed PPA, assuming the problem was related to depleted estrogen levels.
Still no relief.
Finally, Brooke's family sought a second opinion.
What they discovered was shocking, though not unusual.
The doctor who spayed Brooke used a common procedure where most of the uterus is removed, but not all of it.
He left behind part of the uterine wall and part of one ovary, and the suture he used to tie off the uterus was poking into Brooke's bladder, causing her to feel the need to urinate constantly.
Eventually, the irritation caused a granuloma to form, putting even more pressure on the bladder.
According to the surgeon who repaired Brooke's botched surgery, many vets use a similar procedure, believing there's no reason to remove the entire uterus.
While complications are rare - affecting only one in about 200 dogs - unless you're knowledgeable about the procedure, you may unwittingly be putting your dog at risk simply by trying to do the right thing.
Steps to Take to Protect Your Pet Choosing a vet is like choosing a doctor for yourself or your children.
You need to find someone both you and your dog are comfortable with.
Ask for referrals from other dog owners, check sites such as Angie's List for reviews, and educate yourself about the procedures and potential risks.
As with our own health, we need to be proactive in asking questions, but we don't always know the right questions to ask.
I hope sharing Brooke's story will help you with asking the right questions for the health of your dog.
You also need to care for your pet's health, and help prevent overpopulation by spaying or neutering.
Unfortunately, even when you act responsibly, things can go wrong.
Surgery is Not Without Risks Even a procedure as common as a spay or neuter can have complications, as the owner of an English Cream Golden Retriever recently discovered.
Brooke's surgery went well, and she was sent home to rest and recover as expected.
However, the family immediately noticed a problem: Brooke was incontinent.
She was urinating every few minutes, even when they placed her in her crate - something she had never done before.
Brooke's concerned owners contacted the vet and were assured that there was nothing seriously wrong, and that the dog likely had a urinary tract infection.
She was started on an antibiotic, but the symptoms remained.
The vet then prescribed PPA, assuming the problem was related to depleted estrogen levels.
Still no relief.
Finally, Brooke's family sought a second opinion.
What they discovered was shocking, though not unusual.
The doctor who spayed Brooke used a common procedure where most of the uterus is removed, but not all of it.
He left behind part of the uterine wall and part of one ovary, and the suture he used to tie off the uterus was poking into Brooke's bladder, causing her to feel the need to urinate constantly.
Eventually, the irritation caused a granuloma to form, putting even more pressure on the bladder.
According to the surgeon who repaired Brooke's botched surgery, many vets use a similar procedure, believing there's no reason to remove the entire uterus.
While complications are rare - affecting only one in about 200 dogs - unless you're knowledgeable about the procedure, you may unwittingly be putting your dog at risk simply by trying to do the right thing.
Steps to Take to Protect Your Pet Choosing a vet is like choosing a doctor for yourself or your children.
You need to find someone both you and your dog are comfortable with.
Ask for referrals from other dog owners, check sites such as Angie's List for reviews, and educate yourself about the procedures and potential risks.
As with our own health, we need to be proactive in asking questions, but we don't always know the right questions to ask.
I hope sharing Brooke's story will help you with asking the right questions for the health of your dog.
SHARE
