Being force to spay my Yorkie

[Fiona-Marie]

Hello Yorkietalk community,
I am new to this and this is my first but most important post. My yorkie poo's name is Fiona Marie. She is my first small dog ever. From the first day of taking her to the vet, i was being told that i should spay her. That theres a lot of complications i and a lot of scary and expensive thing that will come with it. I just came from the vet because Fiona had something going on that scare me the night before. She was shaking and scratching her face. I thought she was having a seizure. Turned out that she had a loose tooth and she was scared and tried to pull it out herself with her . At the vet i was told that shes at that age where she will be getting her adult teeth.

Here's the weird part AGAIN, they asked me if i made a decision to neuter her. I said "im not sure" because i am really not sure. That i have less then a week before my plan covers it or it will be costly out of my pocket.

Back to the weird part. I brought her in for a check on her teeth. The doctor then said to me that i need to neuter her, something that has to do with her teeth and needing to pull them out if they dont fall out.

Now that i am rereading this post i feel like i am boring you and just straight to my question.

Are yorkie poo's REALLY prone to complications if not spayed?

I am NOT looking to breed and breed and breed with my girl. I just really want a kid from her and thats it. She is not around other dogs and i know she will not get pregnant.

[OwnedByJezebel]

If you're not going to breed and your girl is healthy (good results on her pre-op bloodwork, etc), I would spay.

Your vet is correct about teeth and spaying. Sometimes toy dogs don't lose all of their baby teeth as they should. The teeth that don't fall out on their own tend to cause problems -- stuff gets stuck in between them and the adults teeth, pain, really BAD breath, etc. If they don't fall out, it is best to have them pulled when you have your pup spayed/neutered. That way they only have to be put under anesthesia once. Safer for the pup and it will also save you some money over having two separate procedures.

[capt_noonie]

Welcome to YT! If I'm reading your post correctly, you are wondering why you need to spay for your baby's teeth? Well in order to take out the baby teeth that aren't going to come out on their own, they need to be put under anesthesia to take the teeth out. If the teeth aren't taken out, the adult ones will come in crooked, and your dog can have double teeth, bad breath, which leads to tooth decay. In the worst cases, the bacteria in the dog's mouth can make the dog sick.

Spaying isn't as dangerous as you think. Just make sure your vet have a lot of small dog clients, and the best anesthesia is isoflourvane (sp?) or iso for short. If your dog is not spayed, she can get a condition called pyometria and it can kill her, and you won't know she's sick until it's too late. If she is spayed, the probability of her getting this is zero.

Also spaying has been proven to cut down on the chance of getting certain cancers such as cervical and other reproductive cancers.

The best thing about having a spayed dog is never having to worry about the bleeding and the heat cycles.

If you want another puppy in the future, I would suggest to rescue one from the shelter or rescue organization. Mixed breed puppies are easier to find, and only about $100 or less to adopt in many cities.

[lynzy420]

post above!

[BabyGirl Rosie]

Originally Posted by capt_noonie

Welcome to YT! If I'm reading your post correctly, you are wondering why you need to spay for your baby's teeth? Well in order to take out the baby teeth that aren't going to come out on their own, they need to be put under anesthesia to take the teeth out. If the teeth aren't taken out, the adult ones will come in crooked, and your dog can have double teeth, bad breath, which leads to tooth decay. In the worst cases, the bacteria in the dog's mouth can make the dog sick.

Spaying isn't as dangerous as you think. Just make sure your vet have a lot of small dog clients, and the best anesthesia is isoflourvane (sp?) or iso for short. If your dog is not spayed, she can get a condition called pyometria and it can kill her, and you won't know she's sick until it's too late. If she is spayed, the probability of her getting this is zero.

Also spaying has been proven to cut down on the chance of getting certain cancers such as cervical and other reproductive cancers.

The best thing about having a spayed dog is never having to worry about the bleeding and the heat cycles.

If you want another puppy in the future, I would suggest to rescue one from the shelter or rescue organization. Mixed breed puppies are easier to find, and only about $100 or less to adopt in many cities.

Very very good info!

[rubymoon2072]

welcome to yt and we agree with capt noonie!

[megansmomma]

No one is forcing you to spay your puppy. It sounds like there are several things going on in the situation that you are describing in your post.

1. She is a puppy around 4-6 months old and you had a vet visit because she had a loose puppy tooth. While there the vet explained to you that small dogs like Yorkies have a tendency to retain their puppy teeth. This common issue needs to be addressed very soon for proper oral hygiene issues and the way this is done it under anesthesia which can be expensive. But it's usually a routine part of spay/neutering a puppy and included FREE or very close to free. Anesthesia cost is a large part many surgical procedures for most pets and it's just economical to to them together.

2.

That i have less then a week before my plan covers it or it will be costly out of my pocket.

It sounds to me like you could possibly have some type of puppy insurance that reduces the price of the procedure. If I'm correct, this is why your vet is highly encouraging you to do this now since it's covered by your pet insurance. They are not forcing you but trying to explain to you the benefits of your coverage which benefits both you and your puppy. Most puppies are spayed (btw females are spayed & males are neutered) around the 6 month or so range so I am guessing that your policy covers this only up until a certain again then it becomes an out of pocket expense.

3. You want to use her to breed some time in the future. Here's what I can offer you regarding breeding your little one. I'm guessing that you have no experience as a breeder since you didn't realize that she was losing a puppy tooth and needed vetting assistance. What will you do when it's time for her to whelp a litter of puppies? What if she has complications and needs a c-section or a puppy gets stuck in the birth channel? What is a puppy is breech or not breathing? What if she were to die (yes that has happened and there are posts right here on YT) during birth?

4. Do you have breeding rights for your puppy and where was she purchased?

5. Birds and the bees here.....you need a male to mate with. Where are you planning on finding a male to mate with your little girl? Usually, there is either a cost or you need to agree to pick of the litter to the owner of the male.

6. There are risks to not spaying your female puppy.
a. Pyometra Pyometra is defined as an infection in the uterus. Pyometra is considered a serious and life threatening condition that must be treated quickly and aggressively. Pyometra is a secondary infection that occurs as a result of hormonal changes in the female's reproductive tract. During estrus ("heat"), white blood cells, which normally protect against infection, are inhibited from entering the uterus. This allows sperm to safely enter the female's reproductive tract without being damaged or destroyed by these immune system cells. Following estrus ("heat") in the dog, progesterone hormone levels remain elevated up to two months and cause thickening of the lining of the uterus in preparation for pregnancy and fetal development. If pregnancy does not occur for several consecutive estrus cycles, the uterine lining continues to increase in thickness until cysts often form within the tissues (a condition called Cystic Endometrial Hyperplasia). The thickened, cystic lining secretes fluids that create an ideal environment for bacteria to grow in. Additionally, high progesterone levels inhibit the ability of the muscles in the wall of the uterus to contract and expel accumulated fluids or bacteria. The combination of these factors often leads to infection.

Canine Mammary Tumors
Mammary tumors in dogs are most frequent in intact bitches; they are extremely rare in male dogs. Ovariectomy before the first estrus reduces the risk of mammary neoplasia to 0.5% of the risk in intact bitches; ovariectomy after 1 estrus reduces the risk to 8% of that in intact bitches. Bitches neutered after maturity have generally been considered to have the same risk as intact bitches. However, questions remain regarding the impact of ovariohysterectomy at the time of tumor excision. Questions also remain about the timing of such surgery relative to survival. In one study, dogs spayed <2 yr prior to tumor excision lived 45% longer than either intact dogs or those spayed >2 yr prior to tumor excision.
* take note of the BOLD statement above

Let me add this as a little food for thought. If you were to decide to breed your puppy in the future after even one litter of puppies and you added up the costs involved in breeding (vetting, tail docking, dew claws, puppy shots for the litter, and even the possibility of an emergency c-section which could easily be over $1500 and then eventual spaying her) is it really worth the cost or possible dangers to her health both during a whelping or her future health? Wouldn't it just be cheaper and less worrisome to spay her now under your insurance and buy another puppy in the future?

I hope this gives you a little better understanding of why your vet has been discussing and not becoming more insistent on the idea of spaying her now while she is young, needs puppy teeth remove(they can't be left or there will be decay) and covered by your insurance. Makes total sense to me.

[Yorkiemom1]

Originally Posted by megansmomma

No one is forcing you to spay your puppy. It sounds like there are several things going on in the situation that you are describing in your post.

1. She is a puppy around 4-6 months old and you had a vet visit because she had a loose puppy tooth. While there the vet explained to you that small dogs like Yorkies have a tendency to retain their puppy teeth. This common issue needs to be addressed very soon for proper oral hygiene issues and the way this is done it under anesthesia which can be expensive. But it's usually a routine part of spay/neutering a puppy and included FREE or very close to free. Anesthesia cost is a large part many surgical procedures for most pets and it's just economical to to them together.

2. It sounds to me like you could possibly have some type of puppy insurance that reduces the price of the procedure. If I'm correct, this is why your vet is highly encouraging you to do this now since it's covered by your pet insurance. They are not forcing you but trying to explain to you the benefits of your coverage which benefits both you and your puppy. Most puppies are spayed (btw females are spayed & males are neutered) around the 6 month or so range so I am guessing that your policy covers this only up until a certain again then it becomes an out of pocket expense.

3. You want to use her to breed some time in the future. Here's what I can offer you regarding breeding your little one. I'm guessing that you have no experience as a breeder since you didn't realize that she was losing a puppy tooth and needed vetting assistance. What will you do when it's time for her to whelp a litter of puppies? What if she has complications and needs a c-section or a puppy gets stuck in the birth channel? What is a puppy is breech or not breathing? What if she were to die (yes that has happened and there are posts right here on YT) during birth?

4. Do you have breeding rights for your puppy and where was she purchased?

5. Birds and the bees here.....you need a male to mate with. Where are you planning on finding a male to mate with your little girl? Usually, there is either a cost or you need to agree to pick of the litter to the owner of the male.

6. There are risks to not spaying your female puppy.
a. Pyometra Pyometra is defined as an infection in the uterus. Pyometra is considered a serious and life threatening condition that must be treated quickly and aggressively. Pyometra is a secondary infection that occurs as a result of hormonal changes in the female's reproductive tract. During estrus ("heat"), white blood cells, which normally protect against infection, are inhibited from entering the uterus. This allows sperm to safely enter the female's reproductive tract without being damaged or destroyed by these immune system cells. Following estrus ("heat") in the dog, progesterone hormone levels remain elevated up to two months and cause thickening of the lining of the uterus in preparation for pregnancy and fetal development. If pregnancy does not occur for several consecutive estrus cycles, the uterine lining continues to increase in thickness until cysts often form within the tissues (a condition called Cystic Endometrial Hyperplasia). The thickened, cystic lining secretes fluids that create an ideal environment for bacteria to grow in. Additionally, high progesterone levels inhibit the ability of the muscles in the wall of the uterus to contract and expel accumulated fluids or bacteria. The combination of these factors often leads to infection.

Canine Mammary Tumors
Mammary tumors in dogs are most frequent in intact bitches; they are extremely rare in male dogs. Ovariectomy before the first estrus reduces the risk of mammary neoplasia to 0.5% of the risk in intact bitches; ovariectomy after 1 estrus reduces the risk to 8% of that in intact bitches. Bitches neutered after maturity have generally been considered to have the same risk as intact bitches. However, questions remain regarding the impact of ovariohysterectomy at the time of tumor excision. Questions also remain about the timing of such surgery relative to survival. In one study, dogs spayed <2 yr prior to tumor excision lived 45% longer than either intact dogs or those spayed >2 yr prior to tumor excision.
* take note of the BOLD statement above

Let me add this as a little food for thought. If you were to decide to breed your puppy in the future after even one litter of puppies and you added up the costs involved in breeding (vetting, tail docking, dew claws, puppy shots for the litter, and even the possibility of an emergency c-section which could easily be over $1500 and then eventual spaying her) is it really worth the cost or possible dangers to her health both during a whelping or her future health? Wouldn't it just be cheaper and less worrisome to spay her now under your insurance and buy another puppy in the future?

I hope this gives you a little better understanding of why your vet has been discussing and not becoming more insistent on the idea of spaying her now while she is young, needs puppy teeth remove(they can't be left or there will be decay) and covered by your insurance. Makes total sense to me.

All excellent points you must consider, especially the bolded / underlined section above. Do not think you can have a litter of puppies and the pups will automatically have the wonderful disposition, character, attitude, personality, looks, etc, that momma has. Even CLONED animals do not have the exact personality and emotional capacity of either parent dog..... This fact negates any emotional reason you may have for wanting to breed your little girl, and with that in mind, re-read the lengthy post above, bullet point by bullet point, and you will see, in your current situation and with your limited knowledge base with regards to breeding and all the complications and expenses that involves, to both momma as well as the litter, spaying your little girl is most assuredly the best course of action for you!

[Cha Cha]

I think your vet is trying to tell you that if your puppy needs to be put under anesthesia for dental work, it would be good to go ahead and spay at the same time. That way, she'd only need to be under anesthesia one time instead of two different times. Lots of time, dental work or puppy teeth pulled is done during neuter/spay.

[Lil Sis]

All excellent advice.

In my humble opinion I would just spay now... just be sure your vet is experenced in small dogs.

Good luck

[megansmomma]

Originally Posted by Cha Cha

I think your vet is trying to tell you that if your puppy needs to be put under anesthesia for dental work, it would be good to go ahead and spay at the same time. That way, she'd only need to be under anesthesia one time instead of two different times. Lots of time, dental work or puppy teeth pulled is done during neuter/spay.

It sounds too like she has some type of puppy plan insurance (maybe Banfield) that will cover the spay/dental issues but only for a certain period of time. But maybe I'm misunderstanding that portion of the post.

Hopefully the OPer will return to clear of this question in her post.

[Batgirl38]

Originally Posted by megansmomma

No one is forcing you to spay your puppy. It sounds like there are several things going on in the situation that you are describing in your post.

1. She is a puppy around 4-6 months old and you had a vet visit because she had a loose puppy tooth. While there the vet explained to you that small dogs like Yorkies have a tendency to retain their puppy teeth. This common issue needs to be addressed very soon for proper oral hygiene issues and the way this is done it under anesthesia which can be expensive. But it's usually a routine part of spay/neutering a puppy and included FREE or very close to free. Anesthesia cost is a large part many surgical procedures for most pets and it's just economical to to them together.

2. It sounds to me like you could possibly have some type of puppy insurance that reduces the price of the procedure. If I'm correct, this is why your vet is highly encouraging you to do this now since it's covered by your pet insurance. They are not forcing you but trying to explain to you the benefits of your coverage which benefits both you and your puppy. Most puppies are spayed (btw females are spayed & males are neutered) around the 6 month or so range so I am guessing that your policy covers this only up until a certain again then it becomes an out of pocket expense.

3. You want to use her to breed some time in the future. Here's what I can offer you regarding breeding your little one. I'm guessing that you have no experience as a breeder since you didn't realize that she was losing a puppy tooth and needed vetting assistance. What will you do when it's time for her to whelp a litter of puppies? What if she has complications and needs a c-section or a puppy gets stuck in the birth channel? What is a puppy is breech or not breathing? What if she were to die (yes that has happened and there are posts right here on YT) during birth?

4. Do you have breeding rights for your puppy and where was she purchased?

5. Birds and the bees here.....you need a male to mate with. Where are you planning on finding a male to mate with your little girl? Usually, there is either a cost or you need to agree to pick of the litter to the owner of the male.

6. There are risks to not spaying your female puppy.
a. Pyometra Pyometra is defined as an infection in the uterus. Pyometra is considered a serious and life threatening condition that must be treated quickly and aggressively. Pyometra is a secondary infection that occurs as a result of hormonal changes in the female's reproductive tract. During estrus ("heat"), white blood cells, which normally protect against infection, are inhibited from entering the uterus. This allows sperm to safely enter the female's reproductive tract without being damaged or destroyed by these immune system cells. Following estrus ("heat") in the dog, progesterone hormone levels remain elevated up to two months and cause thickening of the lining of the uterus in preparation for pregnancy and fetal development. If pregnancy does not occur for several consecutive estrus cycles, the uterine lining continues to increase in thickness until cysts often form within the tissues (a condition called Cystic Endometrial Hyperplasia). The thickened, cystic lining secretes fluids that create an ideal environment for bacteria to grow in. Additionally, high progesterone levels inhibit the ability of the muscles in the wall of the uterus to contract and expel accumulated fluids or bacteria. The combination of these factors often leads to infection.

Canine Mammary Tumors
Mammary tumors in dogs are most frequent in intact bitches; they are extremely rare in male dogs. Ovariectomy before the first estrus reduces the risk of mammary neoplasia to 0.5% of the risk in intact bitches; ovariectomy after 1 estrus reduces the risk to 8% of that in intact bitches. Bitches neutered after maturity have generally been considered to have the same risk as intact bitches. However, questions remain regarding the impact of ovariohysterectomy at the time of tumor excision. Questions also remain about the timing of such surgery relative to survival. In one study, dogs spayed <2 yr prior to tumor excision lived 45% longer than either intact dogs or those spayed >2 yr prior to tumor excision.
* take note of the BOLD statement above

Let me add this as a little food for thought. If you were to decide to breed your puppy in the future after even one litter of puppies and you added up the costs involved in breeding (vetting, tail docking, dew claws, puppy shots for the litter, and even the possibility of an emergency c-section which could easily be over $1500 and then eventual spaying her) is it really worth the cost or possible dangers to her health both during a whelping or her future health? Wouldn't it just be cheaper and less worrisome to spay her now under your insurance and buy another puppy in the future?

I hope this gives you a little better understanding of why your vet has been discussing and not becoming more insistent on the idea of spaying her now while she is young, needs puppy teeth remove(they can't be left or there will be decay) and covered by your insurance. Makes total sense to me.

I like the info you posted. I was feeling like the OP. I wanted my yorkie to some day have a puppy. But after reading your post, I will be getting her spayed ASAP because the Vet has been asking me too every time I got for a visit. It's just not worth putting her health at risk when I can just buy another pup. I'm so ashamed that I even considered mating her one day. Again, THANK YOU very much. I really didn't know how serious it was.

[megansmomma]

Originally Posted by Batgirl38

I like the info you posted. I was feeling like the OP. I wanted my yorkie to some day have a puppy. But after reading your post, I will be getting her spayed ASAP because the Vet has been asking me too every time I got for a visit. It's just not worth putting her health at risk when I can just buy another pup. I'm so ashamed that I even considered mating her one day. Again, THANK YOU very much. I really didn't know how serious it was.

You are very welcome! I'm glad that you are getting her spayed.

[Cha Cha]

Originally Posted by megansmomma

It sounds too like she has some type of puppy plan insurance (maybe Banfield) that will cover the spay/dental issues but only for a certain period of time. But maybe I'm misunderstanding that portion of the post.

Hopefully the OPer will return to clear of this question in her post.

That's how I read it too. Our Humane Society here gives out spay/neuter certificates to anyone who needs one, but they do expire so I also thought she may have something similar to that. Either way, I hope she reads the info you posted and understands the benefits to spaying for her baby.

[Verbena]

Galen is a little guy and was neutered and had 17 puppy teeth pulled. . .