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Lupa seems lethargic
Okay, I know it's been hot here, and I know she's an Alaskan Malamute, so the two are bound to make her lazy, but she seems overly lazy to me. Lupa has always been more reluctant to walk than Nikki, and during the walks will frequently lay down or sit down and won't move for some time. It just doesn't seem very normal to me. She has her crazy, zoomy moments for sure, where she's just a nutty 5 month old puppy. But something just seems off to me. The vet says she's great, but I'm still concerned.
Don't think they've gotten into ticks yet, but I'm wondering what else could make her so uninterested in walks and such. When I take her in to get spayed in a couple weeks is there anything special I should be asking the vet to check?? Hazel - any ideas??? |
#2
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Is she eating and drinking water normally?
Maybe she is just a bit bored??...I know my little monsters are very different than yours lol, but Guero is more of a couch potato than Bestia even though he is still a puppy. for Lupa
__________________
Dogs don't need to talk, their life is their message ~ unknown. "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." ~ Mahatma Gandhi |
#3
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I'd get her hips checked.I know she's only a baby but I have heard of shelties having to be put down before they got to 12 months due to HD. I thought our Ben(Sheltie) was lazy when in fact he had a very bad hip.
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#4
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She eats great (piggy) and drinks plenty but not excessively. She seems very normal other than the lethargy - which may just be her nature, but it seems odd. GF, she did have xrays done when she was at emerg and while it wasn't specific to her hips, I recall you could see them, so maybe it would have shown, but that said, the vet has checked her joints with manual manipulations every time we have had her in and said they were great. She still has a slight limp in her front paw, and the vet says not to worry about it, but honestly, it's at a point where it warrants worry by my book. The breeder also says not to worry about the limp, she says it could be a slow healing strain.
I don't know, just collectively it makes me worry. She doesn't seem very puppyish.... I just am curious what I should ask the vet to check while she's under for spaying and/or if she needs blood work. That said, it has crossed my mind, could any of this be from when she was sick after eating the flower bulb?? |
#5
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I wouldn't have her spayed until she's either okay or you figure this out.
Checking the hips and elbows is alway good. Me, if I see a limp that is prolonged, without apparent cause, I'm off to the chiro. Jazz had that, her elbow was jammed. This last time it wa her shoulder. I have no idea what thi little girl of mine is doing, but it shows in the gate of her front paws. I missed the eating of the bulb - how bad was that episode? My girl is also battling with something thaat makes her lethargic, but she's a pistol when on antibiotics. She had a urinary issue that had to be surgically fixed (hoping it hasn't grown back) and she is alo dealing with a clotridium perfringens infection. Vets kept telling me I was imagining things, but I hooked up with a specialist and he helped figure it out. O, I gues my point is to follow your instincts. I would consider bloodwork and urinalysis before the spay. We started on our path here when some unexpected stuff showed up on her UA, which I just ran as a standart 1 year thing. |
#6
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Just wanted to throw this thought out there too! Maybe she has some growing pains and not wanting to walk?? Does she walk with Nikki and yourself or do you take them each out seperatly?
Winston did that to me once when I took him for a really really long walk. He walked almost home and then on the way found a nice shady spot and laid down. He wouldnt budge in the slightest until he had a little rest!
__________________
Tabitha April 10, 1995 - August 23, 2013 Bomber April 10, 1995 - July 12, 2010 Winston Nov 15, 1999 - September 15, 2011 Sophie Aug 30, 2011 "UNTIL ONE HAS LOVED AN ANIMAL, PART OF THEIR SOUL REMAINS UNAWAKENED" He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion. -Unknown |
#7
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Thanks for the ideas all! I did ask the vet about growing pains (pano) and he doesn't think it's that. She's just had a clean bill of health basically.
I do walk all three dogs together most of the time. DH takes the two puppies out in the morning before it's hot. We don't walk them far, sticking very much to the 5 minutes per month, so they're really only going like two blocks and back. While the walks are on the sidewalk, they also walk on the lawns, so its not all concrete walking. I know I worry too much, but I can't help it. Nikki is all puppy, but Lupa is a bit of a princess and a drama queen. I just want to see if anybody else has ideas that I haven't thought of yet - and I've thought of lots! Just after we got her home MaxaLisa she chewed up a flower bulb and spent the night in emergency after she started vomiting all night. They did xrays and blood work at the time, but I don't know how comprehensive the blood panel was. I will have to ask the vet, the lethargy is not really new to Lupa, it just hasn't gone away. |
#8
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how could you not worry? we all worry about out babies... I don't really have more ideas on what it could be, but I am really hoping its nothing of concern. How is she when she is at class?
__________________
Dogs don't need to talk, their life is their message ~ unknown. "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." ~ Mahatma Gandhi |
#9
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At class she is about 50/50 with her energy level. Sometimes she will do her lessons, other times she will just roll over on her side and have nothing to do with it. I am never certain if she's exhausted, lazy, stubborn or bored. I'm really thinking stubborn though .
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#10
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Ticks aren't very common there, are they, DD? Not that that is any guarantee that there isn't something 'ticky' going on, but it would make other causes more likely. One thing that comes to mind is elbows. Our Evan had terrible elbows, but it took a specialist to see the tell-tale signs on an xray. Our regular vets looked at the films and couldn't see anything wrong. The signs, especially in a very young dog, can be very hard to see on rads.
We've learned to trust our instincts. Given that she's showing what you consider odd behavior, a more extensive blood panel might be in order before her spay. Did the vet do any followup bloodwork after the bulb incident to make sure the kidney and liver values were good? Might not hurt to do a tick-borne disease screening, too. The results are not 100% accurate, but if you get a positive result, you know you need to treat. The 4DX test from Idexx lab is fairly cheap--I think it's less than $50 here--and checks for Lyme, Ehrlichiosis and Anaplasmosis. It also checks for heartworm status, in case that's something that's emergent there.
__________________
"We are--each of us--dying; it's how we live in the meantime that makes the difference." "It's not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived!" "Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle." |
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Can you check to see if Lupa has a vitamin deficiency vitamin deficiency or is anemia ? Has she had any blood work ? You should trust your judgment, and if your vet can't find anything wrong go another vet.
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#12
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We do have some ticks around Hazel, not lots, but I did have them on one of my previous dogs after a trip to Vancouver Island. These guys have not really been anywhere I would suspect ticks though, and I certainly haven't seen/felt any on them.
I really want to get a video of her when she wakes up in the morning because she limps then. I'd like to be able to show the vet. I guess I had better book her an appt before the spay appointment. I don't think she's anemic, I'm pretty sure that would have shown up in her blood work from the emerg. visit, but you never know. |
#13
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Quote:
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#14
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You know I don't really think it's a tick thing either, the breeder and vet both think strain, I just figure I want to think of everything.
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#15
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Could it maybe be the change in the weather? I find Bayley really gets lazy the first few days when it starts to get hot until she gets used to it. Could you maybe try acupuncture for her leg?
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#16
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Some ideas:
At 5 months she could be teething. That will make some lethargic, others chew like demons. If her little gums hurt she might just not feel well because of it. I used those white rope bones, two rotated, wet thoroughly, wrung out and frozen to soothe sore gums. A washcloth will do the trick. Supervise in case of swallowing. We are having a heat wave, are you? It's supposed to be 28C here today. I noticed my winter puppy could not take the sudden heat his first summer. Did you call poison control about the bulb? It could be that. I called once and discovered fall blooming crocus bulbs are poisonous and spring blooming ones are not. If poison control will not talk to you about a dog ask them about a human child the same weight, it's the best you can do. Or you can google, there was no internet when I called over 20 years ago. I agree, I hope you were not going to spay her soon? There is a lot of research now to show spay/neuter, especially before puberty, is not the great thing we were all told. There's some bad along with the good. Would you like me to post links to the research list I have? There is a lot to read. |
#17
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Quote:
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#18
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Hey all, the bulb thing was quite a while back, so I don't really think this is related, but you never know. She has had the limp for some time now, can't recall exactly how long, but well over a month. It would seem to me if it was a strain it would be better by now. The lethargy is not just heat related, she's been a lazy walker forever. She just seems to lack the stamina Nikki has. It's not new to the heat. Now saying she has no stamina did not stop her and Nikki from frolicking in the flower garden this morning at 6:00 am. I had the front door open and they both were out in the yard. I look out and there they were, both standing in the flower box digging up the dirt. Fortunately today they didn't uproot any bulbs! Then I look out and Lupa is laying on the lawn with what looks like a turd hanging out of her mouth. I go to investigate and it's a hard piece of wood that even once I had it in my hand looked like a turd! LOL
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#19
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Longblades, yes please post the links and I'll take a look at them. My biggest concern with not spaying her before her heat is that we also have a male pup who is too young to be neutered. Not sure how much fuss my DH could handle about not letting them be together. I have lots of research to do.
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#20
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You would absolutely have to keep them apart. I know some people send the boy out to live somewhere else for a month or so. Grandma's maybe, or a good friend.
This is a reading list of articles and papers by Veterinarians, breed clubs, trainers and others on the pros and cons of neutering or spaying your dog that I have found helpful and very educational. Most are based on extensive Veterinary research and also provide references you can check further. If you are wrestling with the question of when or whether to neuter/spay these may help. They do not all agree and one is even a rebuttal of another. One is a link to a radio show interview. One is a link to a medical testosterone suppressant not yet available in N. America but is in the U.K. and Australia. Some are not easy reading. I think I personally found the first two in the list to be of most help and I appreciated the non-biased way the information was presented. The list is in no particular order, articles were simply added as I discovered them. If the links are not clickable I have tried to include the name of the paper and author in case you have to search for them. I hope this helps folks out and good luck with your decision. A tip, I went to my Vet to discuss the first two articles with her. http://www.naiaonline.org/pdfs/LongT...uterInDogs.pdf Long-Term Health Risks and Benefits Associated with Spay / Neuter in Dogs Laura J. Sanborn, M.S. May 14, 2007 http://avmajournals.avma.org/doi/pdf...ma.231.11.1665 Determining the optimal age for gonadectomy of dogs and cats, Margaret V. Root Kustritz, dvm, phd, dact http://www.savethedals.org/earlyneuter.htm Veterinary "Review" Article on Neutering, with Implications for Dalmatian Stone-Formers Abstracted by Carroll H. Weiss Study Group on Urinary Stones Research Committee Dalmatian Club of America http://www.showdogsupersite.com/kenl...vet/neutr.html NEUTERING MALE AND FEMALE DOGS Mary C. Wakeman, D.V.M. ©2003 for BREEDERVET http://www.littleriverlabs.com/neuter.htm The Question Of Neutering and at what age (Put together by Gregg Tonkin, Little River Labradors from postings by Pam Davol PHD and Chris Zink DVM, PhD, DACVP) http://leerburg.com/pdf/neutering.pdf Should You Neuter Your Dog? Ed Frawley, Leerburg Kennels * words are l e e r b u r g.com and L e e r b u r g Kennels http://www.traciehotchner.com/dt/fil...Villalobos.pdf The Bond and Beyond for VPN December 2008 by Alice Villalobos Will We Change on Early Spay-Neuter? http://www.showdogsupersite.com/kenl...ionindogs.html ISSUES REGARDING CASTRATION IN DOGS Mary C. Wakeman, D.V.M. ©2003 for BREEDERVET http://www.petresource.com/Articles%..._neutering.htm New Views On Neutering By Ruth Marrion, DVM http://www.acc-d.org/2006%20Symposiu...ession%20I.pdf Non-reproductive Effects of Spaying and Neutering Proceedings of the Third International Symposium on Non-Surgical Contraceptive Methods for Pet Population Control • www.acc-d.org SESSION OVERVIEW - Dr. John Verstegen http://www.peptech.com/HTML/Animal_H...n_general.html A non-surgical method to suppress testosterone http://prdupl02.ynet.co.il/ForumFiles_2/23999370.pdf Pros and Cons of Neutering E. Hardie Department of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA. http://www.doglistener.co.uk/neutering/rspca.shtml RSPCA Admit to Spaying and Castrating Puppies AT SIX WEEKS OLD Stan Rawlinson MTCBPT.MPAACT Doglistener Behaviourist and Obedience Trainer http://users.lavalink.com.au/theos/Spay-neuter.htm#vacc Should I spay or should I no..? -- pros and cons of Spay-neuter Hungarian Vizsla Health Resource http://www.doglistener.co.uk/neuteri...eutering.shtml Spaying and Castration (Neutering) Dogs and Cats A Stark Warning Stan Rawlinson, a full time Dog Behaviourist and Obedience Trainer. http://www.wholedognews.com/ Spay, Neuter, and Cancer: Revisiting and Old Trinity Myrna Milani, BS, DVM http://www.caninesports.com/SpayNeuter.html Early Spay-Neuter Considerations for the Canine Athlete One Veterinarian's Opinion © 2005 Chris Zink DVM, PhD, DACVP http://www.columbusdogconnection.com...ebuttal%20.pdf Rebuttal to “Early Spay-Neuter Considerations for the Canine Athlete” Lisa M Howe, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVS Associate Professor, Small Animal Surgery Co-Chief Surgical Sciences Sect Dept of Vet Small Animal Clinical Sci College of Vet Med and Biom Sciences Texas A&M Univ College Station TX 77843 http://www.pluggd.tv/audio/channels/...episodes/4njnh Dog Talk Show #96 Tracie Hotchner (10-18-2008) Early spay/neuter may be harming our dogs! Hear Dr. Christine Zink, DVM, PhD, DAVCP on the physical benefits of delaying neutering and trainer Parvene Farhoody on how it can reduce aggression. http://www.antrozoologisenteret.no/a.../art_breed.pdf Effects of breed, sex, and neuter status on trainability in dogs James A. Serpell* and Yuying Hsu† http://users.skynet.be/fa242124/a-en...tion-dogs.html Gonadectomy and behavior Dr Joël Dehasse http://homepage.psy.utexas.edu/homep...lityReview.pdf Temperament and personality in dogs (Canis familiaris): A review and evaluation of past research Amanda C. Jones *, Samuel D. Gosling http://www.skeptvet.com/index.php?p=...s-of-Neutering Evaluating the Benefits and Risks of Neutering The SkeptVet – the owner of this blog is not identified but the articles referenced are searchable. http://www.petfinder.com/for-shelter...ay-neuter.html Pediatric Spay/Neuter Dr. Lila Miller, ASPCA http://k9harmony.co.uk/spaying-and-castration/ Spaying and Castration – What Your Vet and the Rescue Centres May Not Tell You Pauline Waller, member #178 Professional Association of Applied Canine Trainers, - articles referenced and searchable http://www.champdogsforum.co.uk/cgi-...ate#pid1123732 To Castrate or Not? – Interesting discussion regarding a young male targeted by an aggressive older male. http://www.cdoca.org/downloads/files...20Behavior.pdf Non-reproductive Effects of Spaying and Neutering on Behavior in Dogs Deborah L. Duffy, Ph.D., and James A. Serpell, Ph.D., Center for the Interaction of Animals and Society, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania http://www.2ndchance.info/spayneuter.htm At What Age Should I Spay or Neuter My Dog or Cat? What Are The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Neutering My Pet? Revisiting The Idea Of Early-Age Neutering Ron Hines DVM PhD 10/05/09 http://saveourdogs.net/category/health/ Articles and links to Veterinary organizations opposing mandatory spay/neuter http://askdryin.com/blog/tag/dog-beh...n-spay-neuter/ Can Spaying Make Dog Behaviour Worse? Sophia Yin, DVM, MS March 5, 2009 http://www.associationofanimalbehavi...neutering.html The Effects of Spaying and Neutering on Canine Behaviour James O’Heare, Based on section from Aggressive Behavior in Dogs, 2006, http://www.petfriendlyworld.com/chat...ad.php?t=23096 The Behavioural Effects of Canine Castration Hazel Palmer, 1993 See post #8 in the chat forum at Pet Friendly World. http://www.cdoca.org/downloads/files...20Behavior.pdf Does Spaying and Neutering Reduce Aggression? Dr. Polley DVM, 2001 American Dog Breeders Association http://www.gpmcf.org/respectovaries.html A Healthier Respect for Ovaries (in dogs) David J. Waters, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACVS Director, Center for Exceptional Longevity Studies Gerald P. Murphy Cancer Foundation http://news.uns.purdue.edu/x/2009b/0...nResearch.html Message for women and dogs: keeping ovaries is linked to longevity To the Purdue Research Park, http://www.purdueresearchpark.com http://www.rockllewellinsetters.com/...talDec2009.pdf Exploring mechanisms of sex differences in longevity: lifetime ovary exposure and exceptional longevity in dogs David J. Waters,1,2 Seema S. Kengeri,1 Beth Clever,1 Julie A. Booth,1 Aimee H. Maras,1 Deborah L. Schlittler1 and Michael G. Hayek3 http://www.avma.org/onlnews/javma/may09/090515j.asp AVMA: Mandatory spay/neuter a bad idea Javma News, May 15, 2009 http://www.pet-informed-veterinary-a...neutering.html Veterinary Advice Online: Male Dog Neutering http://www.pet-informed-veterinary-a...g-spaying.html Veterinary advice Online: Dog Spaying (Spaying a Female Dog) Dr. Shauna O’Meara Pet Informed: http://www.pet-informed-veterinary-a...com/index.html http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.c...114-7/abstract Breed differences in canine aggression 1, Dec. 2008 Deborah L. Duffy, Yuying Hsub, James A. Serpella http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/content/11/11/1434.full Endogenous Gonadal Hormone Exposure and Bone Sarcoma Risk Dawn M. Cooley, Benjamin C. Beranek, Deborah L. Schlittler, Nita W. Glickman, Lawrence T. Glickman, and David J. Waters http://www.stbernardhealth.co.uk/pyometrainthebitch.htm Pyometra in the Bitch Jenny King http://www.akcchf.org/news-events/mu...nd-neuter.html Early Spay and Neuter Podcast with Dr. Benjamin Hart http://www.akcchf.org/canine-health/...r-in-dogs.html Bone Cancer in Dogs Dr. Jaime Modiano http://news.ucdavis.edu/search/news_...lasso?id=10498 Golden Retriever Study Suggests Neutering Affects Dog Health UC Davis, News and Information. Media Contacts: Benjamin Hart, School of Veterinary Medicine, (530) 752-1555, blhart@ucdavis.edu; Pat Bailey, UC Davis News Service, (530) 752-9843, pjbailey@ucdavis.edu http://www.plosone.org/article/info%...l.pone.0055937 Neutering Dogs: Effects on Joint Disorders and Cancers in Golden Retrievers Gretel Torres de la Riva, Benjamin L. Hart ,XThomas B. Farver, Anita M. Oberbauer, Locksley L. McV. Messam, Neil Willits, Lynette A. Hart |
#21
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Okay, I doubt I'm reading all of those... yikes. I will start with the first two. See now, I don't know anybody I could send a 6 month old Alaskan Malamute to for a month. Nor would I want to be apart from him for that long. Just the thought of shipping him off hurts me. For that alone I would be more inclined to get her fixed early. Hmmmmm - guess I better go start reading!
Thanks for the list. |
#22
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too bad I don't live closer, he'd be a hoot!! Bayley would likely enjoy his company and what's a little more hair in the house!!
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#23
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pattymac, don't underestimate the amount of hair a Malamute can blow! LOL. I gave them all a bath on the weekend and I have tumbleweeds of hair all over the place. DH is not amused! But nor does he help comb them so tough luck.
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#24
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DD, there is an amazing vet that I take my dogs to for chiro/accupuncture/laser therapy type treatments. He is a lameness specialist and really gets how dogs are put together and why they are having issues. He is actually traveling to spain this month for the World Agility Championships as the vet chiro for Team Canada.
He lives in Pemberton and easiest to see in Whistler if you are okay with a nice day trip but does come to Vancouver every two weeks to Vancouver Animal Wellness Centre. His name is Dr. Lane. He has helped a lot of dogs I know have amazing recoveries when other vets were recommending surgery. The first session isn't cheap (approx $200) but is money well spent imo. Follow up visits run about $100. He has really helped both Riley and Stella! A strain can take a long time to heal especially with rambunctious puppies. Stella hyper-extended her shoulder just after Christmas and it took 3-4 months before it stayed settled down (touch wood, yikes!).
__________________
"Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead |
#25
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The spaying/neuter issue is a tough one. Large dogs rarely come into heat before about 10 months and can easily be much later than that. Stella was just over the 10 month mark. I have opted to wait until she is fully matured before spaying based on a lot of the research that is shown in Longblades post. My breeder also requires a minimum of one year old before she could be spayed. Her second heat was 8 months after the first one. We likely will have to do one more cycle before spaying as I am hoping to finish her conformation title and also the best timing would be about three months after the heat started so that all the organs are in their full "resting" phase.
I will spay but will choose to do the ovariectomy which leaves the uterus. The surgery is much less invasive and is the common procedure in Europe. The uterus in a dog that has gone through a heat cycle is much bigger than one that hasn't even if they haven't been bred so that is another reason I would opt for that. The actual heat is a bit of a pain. Stella isn't all that bad to deal with but Riley was a pain in the @ss. The second heat I had xpens set up and things went a lot smoother. The actual cycle is usually three weeks but dogs are only fertile and receptive for one week of that. I did a blog post on my experience if you are interested. http://lifewithrileystella.blogspot....eat-cycle.html
__________________
"Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead |
#26
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I've had 35 years of keeping intact dogs and bitches. Being in never bothers the girls, they go on eating and only start to flirt madly when they are right in. The boys are a pita! They can know weeks in advance that one is coming in. But anyway, TeriM is right, easy enough to manage if you have somewhere to lock them up separately. That would be better for you both than parting with either for even a matter of weeks.
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#27
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Teri, thanks for that vet name. I will keep him in mind if things don't shape up with Lupa's limp. It is likely just a sprain/strain as the vet said, so I guess I'll give it a bit more time before I go drastic on it.
Since Nikki is not neutered I'm not sure I want to have Lupa go into heat. Our breeder says around 7 months should be fine. I'll see what the vet says, but won't go earlier than that. Since I'm not home during the day to oversee the dogs, I don't really trust DH to be vigilant enough. |
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