Worried about neutering my Yorkie - YorkieTalk.com Forums

yorkiegal · 03-24-2005, 03:43 AM

Hi all

I'm new here, but glad I found somewhere to talk about my Yorkie! I have a 1 year old, Charlie, who is scheduled to be neutered on April 7, along with my Pug, Winston... I am soooo worried! Can someone talk some sense into me? I have called the vet twice already, looking for reassurance. They say they have experience with small dogs and that there is only a small risk, but I still worry! They say that there are more benefits to the surgery than not having it done at all. Is it a big deal for Charlie to get neutered? He is only 3.5 lbs. I put off the surgery because I've been so scared that something would happen to him. Mainly, I'm worried that something will go wrong with the anesthesia, since he is so tiny. I am getting the pre-op bloodwork done, too, so that should help. Does this really need to be done? Part of me is looking for a reason to cancel the surgery. I'm worried about my Pug, too, but he is so big and sturdy that I feel he will be okay.

I guess that part of this fear comes from losing my first Yorkie last year. He was hit by a car when I was on vacation... I just can't stand the thought of going through that again.

Anyway, just looking for some reassurance, advice, similar stories... Any help would be appreciated.

aimee · 03-24-2005, 04:53 AM

Hi and welcome to Yorkie Talk..

It's normal to be worried, but you are really doing your babies a favor by having them neutered. They have a higher risk of cancer if left intact. Some people also reports getting them neutered helping with some behavioral problems.

We all go through this time of worrying about our babies, so we're here for you! I think you're doing the right thing

Take care!

Carters Mom · 03-24-2005, 05:27 AM

Carter was 3.1# when he was neutered at 7 months and is still 3.1# at 8 1/2 months. The vet used the isoflourine (I think that is what it is . . . its the "iso" anesthesia) and Carter had no problems at all.

He has never marked and now shouldn't in the future either!

He came home the same afternoon with his glue stitches.

lickthestar · 03-24-2005, 07:26 AM

I was SO worried when Archie went in to get neutered. I had to leave him overnight...what if he gets hungry, etc.?! Well, I just closed my eyes and did it, and prayed. It turned out OK. However, I made sure that I was completely comfortable with the situation. I asked to see where he was going to be kept, the operating table, what kind of anasthesia, everything I could think of. I also made sure that there would be a nurse or a vet technician there at night in case he needed something, that someone would take him to the bathroom and feed him. Everything was OK. Archie didn't eat the food they gave him, but he ate a lot as soon as he came home and rested. They had put an e-collar on him and i think that was worse than the actual surgery itself! He was a bit zonked for a day or two but he was going at it soon after.

I also went through some sites to see the actual procedure (not for the squeamish), and read about the different anesthetics, etc.

Oh--and by the way, my vet DID NOT ask me to sign a contract waiving liability if something happened, which is important to me. If they did ask me to sign something like that I would start to think they have run into lawsuits and trouble or tend to not be careful. But that's just my thing.

Cairos Mom · 03-24-2005, 08:03 AM

Are you having them done traditionally or by laser? We just had our minpin done by laser, and his recovery time was about 3 hours!! He didn't act at all like he had just had surgery. The vet told us he could take up to 36 hours to get back to normal. The hardest part was trying to keep him calm!

My yorkie is due to get spayed in a month and we are going to do it with laser as well. They also used a anesthesia that he breathed in, so as soon as it was shut off he woke up and it left his system quite quickly.

Hope this helps.

PinkMartini · 03-24-2005, 09:37 AM

I also will be worried if I have Bailey neutered. (We're planning on showing him, but if he turns out to not be show quality then he'll be neutered) I've heard horror stories about people losing small dogs during surgery. My neighbor lost her 6lb chihuahua last year while being neutered. The dog never woke back up!

On the other hand, we lost our male APBT last year from testicular cancer that our vet said probably wouldn't have happened if he had been neutered. My fiance got him for his girlfriend at the time and she didn't want him neutered. And once my fiance got the dog back, he didn't want to have it done.

yorkiegal · 03-24-2005, 03:13 PM

thanks for your advice and experience. i think it is the right thing to do. i will get them neutered, but i'm still so worried! i guess i just have to hope for the best and say some prayers...

Bodhi'sMom · 03-24-2005, 03:31 PM

I'm glad that this came up. Bodhi has the Banfield medical package that includes neutering.

I'm a bit wary of a vet connected to a retail chain, but it was recommended by a Grandmother that I trust.

Watching them give Bodhi the injections and calling us the next day to check on him earns points.

I'm still not sure about having Bodhi neutered. What if he does really well in agility or some other category? Wouldn't that mean he has worthy genetics to pass down?

Keep us posted on Charlie and Winston!

Hugs from Bodhi!

PinkMartini · 03-24-2005, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bodhi'sMom

I'm still not sure about having Bodhi neutered. What if he does really well in agility or some other category? Wouldn't that mean he has worthy genetics to pass down?

That's exactly why I'm not neutering Bailey to begin with. Dogs change a lot in the first year and as much as he fits the breed standard now and is "show potential" that could change.

As far as agility goes, if you intend on competing with him and then want to use him for stud (if he does well) I would wait as well. However, your best bet on preventing him from EVER lifting his leg & marking is to neuter him before he starts. If that's a concern....

azkaty · 03-24-2005, 05:59 PM

I have read alot about surgery on Yorkies. Do NOT let anyone use an injection..look for a vet that will use isofloraine gas " mask down" only! The injection is the reason why yorkies might not wake up. Their livers can not get rid of the injectible substance.. and thats why they might not wake up. I called about 15 vets, and about 5 of them would do gas only. That is the ONLY way to go on these little guys. Also.. this is the time to take out any baby teeth that have not fallen out.

yorkiegal · 03-24-2005, 06:05 PM

i asked my vet which kind of anesthetic she uses and she said "isoflurane" (the gas). she said they give them an injection of pain medication first to sedate them, but it is not an anesthetic... i'm so worried. the more i read about it, the more i worry... the vet says she will intubate the dogs to control their airway while she performs the surgery. is this okay??? she says they haven't had any problems and (KNOCK ON WOOD) hopefully, she will not have any problems with mine!

what should i do? i really don't want my babies to have their lives put at risk, but i think neutering is more beneficial than harmful, isn't it? i'm so confused. on one hand, my yorkie marks a lot and has started humping. my pug has started humping too! not often, but enough that it is bothersome!

i guess there is no real guarantee. i'm getting the bloodwork done, so hopefully both are healthy.

azkaty · 03-24-2005, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yorkiegal

i asked my vet which kind of anesthetic she uses and she said "isoflurane" (the gas). she said they give them an injection of pain medication first to sedate them, but it is not an anesthetic... i'm so worried. the more i read about it, the more i worry... the vet says she will intubate the dogs to control their airway while she performs the surgery. is this okay??? she says they haven't had any problems and (KNOCK ON WOOD) hopefully, she will not have any problems with mine!

what should i do? i really don't want my babies to have their lives put at risk, but i think neutering is more beneficial than harmful, isn't it? i'm so confused. on one hand, my yorkie marks a lot and has started humping. my pug has started humping too! not often, but enough that it is bothersome!

i guess there is no real guarantee. i'm getting the bloodwork done, so hopefully both are healthy.

Charlie's Mom..I was told the same think..but think about it.. if they use the gas-puppy goes to sleep..no pain, right? So they do not need to inject. I would get out the phone book.. start dialing.. let your head tell you when you have found the right vet. I called many , and found three I felt understood and agreed with me on this. You know.. there is no reason why you can not be there while they do the surgery..that might make you feel better..plus you remain in control of what is done to your baby..what do you think about this?

yorkiegal · 03-25-2005, 04:25 AM

i wouldn't want to be there while they did the surgery. i think that would be horrible. anyway, i read on the internet that the gas is safe, but that injections for pain are safe, too. it is more a problem if your yorkie has a liver shunt. she is not going to use an injectable anesthetic to put him to sleep. also, after talking to the vet again - it is better for them to be intubated, so that if something does happen, they have control of the airway and can keep ventilating...

i don't know. it is so hard to make this decision. there are so many things that could go wrong. but i did talk to my vet again, who is very sympathetic. she said that she wouldn't hesitate to do this to her animals and that they haven't had a problem in a really long time. she also said they have experience doing this in small animals. like kittens and other small dogs. i guess i will never feel 100% comfortable with it, but it seems like it is in their best interest to get neutered... it helps that the vet talks to me about it.

anyway, thanks for helping... i'm going to worry until it's over!

PinkMartini · 03-25-2005, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yorkiegal

I have a 1 year old, Charlie, who is scheduled to be neutered on April 7, along with my Pug, Winston...

How old is your pug? I forgot to ask that...

Bodhi'sMom · 03-25-2005, 09:41 PM

Does neutering stop their humping behavior? I don't think it does.

It seems like it's just normal for male dogs to have a little stuffed doggie :Puppy: "girlfriend" hidden away from company.

Now, if the humping is ON your visitors, sigh, something else to teach!

BTW, Banfield's brochure says that they use the "Isoflurane gas general anesthesia".

"... An internal organ function screen and a complete blood count is used to find any pre-existing conditions ..."

"Cardiac & blood oxygen monitoring ... intravenous catheter, intravenous fluid therapy to keep blood pressure normal,... antibiotic injection, ....pain meds" Blah, blah, blah. Good stuff like that.

About Bodhi hiking his leg up. I don't look forward to that because he's using wee pads so well. We'll just have to get used to those early "yawn" morning outings! We're apt. dwellers.

No yard.

03-24-2005, 03:43 AM	#1
yorkiegal Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 78	Worried about neutering my Yorkie Hi all I'm new here, but glad I found somewhere to talk about my Yorkie! I have a 1 year old, Charlie, who is scheduled to be neutered on April 7, along with my Pug, Winston... I am soooo worried! Can someone talk some sense into me? I have called the vet twice already, looking for reassurance. They say they have experience with small dogs and that there is only a small risk, but I still worry! They say that there are more benefits to the surgery than not having it done at all. Is it a big deal for Charlie to get neutered? He is only 3.5 lbs. I put off the surgery because I've been so scared that something would happen to him. Mainly, I'm worried that something will go wrong with the anesthesia, since he is so tiny. I am getting the pre-op bloodwork done, too, so that should help. Does this really need to be done? Part of me is looking for a reason to cancel the surgery. I'm worried about my Pug, too, but he is so big and sturdy that I feel he will be okay. I guess that part of this fear comes from losing my first Yorkie last year. He was hit by a car when I was on vacation... I just can't stand the thought of going through that again. Anyway, just looking for some reassurance, advice, similar stories... Any help would be appreciated.

03-24-2005, 04:53 AM	#2
aimee The Royal Mommy Donating Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: California Posts: 2,010	Hi and welcome to Yorkie Talk.. It's normal to be worried, but you are really doing your babies a favor by having them neutered. They have a higher risk of cancer if left intact. Some people also reports getting them neutered helping with some behavioral problems. We all go through this time of worrying about our babies, so we're here for you! I think you're doing the right thing Take care! __________________ (`'·.¸(`'·.¸ ¸.·'´)¸.·'´) «´¨ `·.¸¸.Aimée, Sandy, and Tia.¸¸.·´¨`» (¸.·'´(¸.·'´ `'·.¸)`'·.¸)

03-24-2005, 05:27 AM	#3
Carters Mom YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: LA Posts: 1,568	Carter was 3.1# when he was neutered at 7 months and is still 3.1# at 8 1/2 months. The vet used the isoflourine (I think that is what it is . . . its the "iso" anesthesia) and Carter had no problems at all. He has never marked and now shouldn't in the future either! He came home the same afternoon with his glue stitches. __________________ Lisa Proud Marine Mom Carter, Cooper & Crissy's Mom and Sebastian's Nana Never underestimate the warmth of a cold nose!

03-24-2005, 08:03 AM	#5
Cairos Mom Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Calgary, AB Posts: 94	Are you having them done traditionally or by laser? We just had our minpin done by laser, and his recovery time was about 3 hours!! He didn't act at all like he had just had surgery. The vet told us he could take up to 36 hours to get back to normal. The hardest part was trying to keep him calm! My yorkie is due to get spayed in a month and we are going to do it with laser as well. They also used a anesthesia that he breathed in, so as soon as it was shut off he woke up and it left his system quite quickly. Hope this helps. __________________ Amanda & Cairo

03-24-2005, 09:37 AM	#6
PinkMartini BANNED! Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: California Posts: 1,043	I feel the same way I also will be worried if I have Bailey neutered. (We're planning on showing him, but if he turns out to not be show quality then he'll be neutered) I've heard horror stories about people losing small dogs during surgery. My neighbor lost her 6lb chihuahua last year while being neutered. The dog never woke back up! On the other hand, we lost our male APBT last year from testicular cancer that our vet said probably wouldn't have happened if he had been neutered. My fiance got him for his girlfriend at the time and she didn't want him neutered. And once my fiance got the dog back, he didn't want to have it done.

03-24-2005, 07:26 AM	#4
lickthestar YT Addict Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NY Posts: 360	I was SO worried when Archie went in to get neutered. I had to leave him overnight...what if he gets hungry, etc.?! Well, I just closed my eyes and did it, and prayed. It turned out OK. However, I made sure that I was completely comfortable with the situation. I asked to see where he was going to be kept, the operating table, what kind of anasthesia, everything I could think of. I also made sure that there would be a nurse or a vet technician there at night in case he needed something, that someone would take him to the bathroom and feed him. Everything was OK. Archie didn't eat the food they gave him, but he ate a lot as soon as he came home and rested. They had put an e-collar on him and i think that was worse than the actual surgery itself! He was a bit zonked for a day or two but he was going at it soon after. I also went through some sites to see the actual procedure (not for the squeamish), and read about the different anesthetics, etc. Oh--and by the way, my vet DID NOT ask me to sign a contract waiving liability if something happened, which is important to me. If they did ask me to sign something like that I would start to think they have run into lawsuits and trouble or tend to not be careful. But that's just my thing.

03-24-2005, 03:13 PM	#7
yorkiegal Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 78	thank you thanks for your advice and experience. i think it is the right thing to do. i will get them neutered, but i'm still so worried! i guess i just have to hope for the best and say some prayers...

03-24-2005, 03:31 PM	#8
Bodhi'sMom Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lynnwood Posts: 154	I'm glad that this came up. Bodhi has the Banfield medical package that includes neutering. I'm a bit wary of a vet connected to a retail chain, but it was recommended by a Grandmother that I trust. Watching them give Bodhi the injections and calling us the next day to check on him earns points. I'm still not sure about having Bodhi neutered. What if he does really well in agility or some other category? Wouldn't that mean he has worthy genetics to pass down? Keep us posted on Charlie and Winston! Hugs from Bodhi!

03-24-2005, 05:59 PM	#10
azkaty & "The Bunny" Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 806	I have read alot about surgery on Yorkies. Do NOT let anyone use an injection..look for a vet that will use isofloraine gas " mask down" only! The injection is the reason why yorkies might not wake up. Their livers can not get rid of the injectible substance.. and thats why they might not wake up. I called about 15 vets, and about 5 of them would do gas only. That is the ONLY way to go on these little guys. Also.. this is the time to take out any baby teeth that have not fallen out. __________________ Katy

03-25-2005, 04:25 AM	#13
yorkiegal Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 78	i don't think i could be there i wouldn't want to be there while they did the surgery. i think that would be horrible. anyway, i read on the internet that the gas is safe, but that injections for pain are safe, too. it is more a problem if your yorkie has a liver shunt. she is not going to use an injectable anesthetic to put him to sleep. also, after talking to the vet again - it is better for them to be intubated, so that if something does happen, they have control of the airway and can keep ventilating... i don't know. it is so hard to make this decision. there are so many things that could go wrong. but i did talk to my vet again, who is very sympathetic. she said that she wouldn't hesitate to do this to her animals and that they haven't had a problem in a really long time. she also said they have experience doing this in small animals. like kittens and other small dogs. i guess i will never feel 100% comfortable with it, but it seems like it is in their best interest to get neutered... it helps that the vet talks to me about it. anyway, thanks for helping... i'm going to worry until it's over! __________________ Charlie's mom - Charlie February 15th 2003 - September 12th 2007. Gone too soon. We will miss you always.

03-25-2005, 09:41 PM	#15
Bodhi'sMom Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lynnwood Posts: 154	Does neutering stop their humping behavior? I don't think it does. It seems like it's just normal for male dogs to have a little stuffed doggie :Puppy: "girlfriend" hidden away from company. Now, if the humping is ON your visitors, sigh, something else to teach! BTW, Banfield's brochure says that they use the "Isoflurane gas general anesthesia". "... An internal organ function screen and a complete blood count is used to find any pre-existing conditions ..." "Cardiac & blood oxygen monitoring ... intravenous catheter, intravenous fluid therapy to keep blood pressure normal,... antibiotic injection, ....pain meds" Blah, blah, blah. Good stuff like that. About Bodhi hiking his leg up. I don't look forward to that because he's using wee pads so well. We'll just have to get used to those early "yawn" morning outings! We're apt. dwellers. No yard.