Jessie's dog is really sick

[judy]

They have a 10 month old Malamute, Belle, who has closed pyometra. I had never heard of it until today. They wanted to mate her with Buddy, the new Malamute pup they just got so they could breed them.

After looking online, we realized that they has to get the dog spayed immediately or she will die. Steve, my SIL, wanted to look for alternative treatments because he wants to breed her, but it's too serious a disease to wait even another day.

She's such a sweet dog. I just love her - we all do. I'm sure she'll recover fully, but she could use your prayers.

[Janet]

Poor Belle, I hope she recovers quickly. It's awful when these dogs of ours get sick or have problems. They are just like our children and worry us to death.

[DianaB]

I looked up "closed pyometra" and it sounds really serious. I'll say a prayer for Belle too.

[Janet]

Do they have a spay scheduled yet Judy? I sure hope Belle will be alright.

[Marilyn]

I haven't looked this up yet, but sincerely hope all goes well!!!! Sounds like something you would not want to risk passing on if you could breed.

[Tink]

How sad for them!
My prayers are with them too. What a rotten thing to have happen.

[Mandy]

Awwww poor Belle, my prayers are with her, hope all goes well, and that she recovers soon! It's awful when they are sick, they cant tell us whats going on.

[Marilyn]

Oh, my goodness, I finally looked this condition up & sincerely hope that they do the surgery very, very soon, and that all goes well. She must be in a lot of pain. Poor girl.

[judy]

It is very serious - the spaying was done this morning. I haven't heard from Jessie yet, but if anything went wrong, she would have called me right away.

I never heard of this disease, but it seems to be the main reason to spay females.

Since they want to breed, how can this be avoided in anoiher unspayed female?
Tink? Janet? Any advice or info?

They just bought a male Malamute pup so they could breed them.

[Tink]

How sad!
Luckily, I have had no experience with this. I've heard of it... just barely as one of the reasons that they've changed the recommendation of breeding on every heat for a shorter time and then spaying a female rather than the skipping of every other heat. It seems that a heat not followed by pregnancy is the opportunity for this to develop.

There is an alternative treatment of antibiotics and medication to make the female expel the pus like she would pups... but it involves a lengthy hospitalization and is less sure than the surgery. It is usually reserved only for show dogs that are worth MEGA bucks and have little value if spayed.

I hope all goes well!

[Janet]

I've heard pretty much the same as Tink. I do want to read more on this so I'll understand it better. Breeding is a never ending learning process for sure.

[judy]

Thank goodness Belle is fine and will come home on Friday.

I think this was actually a good lesson for them. Breeding is a huge responsibility.
They said they have a mentor, but she's got different values than they do. She breeds and has about 20 - 30 pups and has a whole kennel set up. Not quite a puppy mill, but not a home breeder either.

Anyway, all is well at the moment. They're talking about adopting an older female from her to mate Buddy with. Who knows what they'll end up doing.

I stay as detached as possible from these things. It's a survival skill I highly recommend for parents of grown children.

By the way Tink, not only was she just in heat, but she got loose and tied with the neighbor's dog. The vet gave her an estrogen shot to end any possible pregnancy. Too many hormones can also cause this disease.

The alternative treatment seems to work better on open pyometra. She had closed and it sounded too dangerous to wait.

[DianaB]

I'm glad to hear that Belle has had her surgery and is on her way to recovery. I've never heard of this but I don't breed dogs. The females that we've had have always been spayed.

[Janet]

Aw Judy, I'm so glad to find out Belle is doing well and recovering. I bet they will be glad to have her home.

[Tink]

OOPS you're right Judy, it would have to be open for that to work. Quite seriously, it sounds like that treatment is probably not the most humane anyway.

I'm so glad she came through the surgery ok.

Janet is right in that there is always more to learn and breeding dogs is a lot more involved than many anticipate when they look at it from the outside. I've done CPR on pups... have bottle fed them... and have had to grab on and help pull stuck ones out of their moms birth canal. You really do have to be able and willing to do all of that and more if you're going to make a success of it.

You either love it or you shouldn't be in it 'cause there's no one there watching over your shoulder to spur you on if you decide to take a break and don't tend to them for a couple of days. And accidental breedings will defeat your program unless you're very alert. And even when you do everything right "stuff happens" and you end up with huge vet bills or dogs that can't be bred for one reason or another.

If they decide to try again Judy, I hope they find a mentor that has good values and ethics and will help them do it right. Maybe they could find an online mentor? That's what has really helped me. I participate in a Labradoodle site with many experienced breeders where I've learned a lot even though I bred dogs for 9 yrs many years ago. I could even help them with basics if they'd want... I don't mind passing on what I learn. If someone is going to do it I'd just as soon they do it well and succeed for their sake and the dogs sake.