My little Olive - succumbed to Anesthesia nightmare

[Princes mom]

I am so sorry.

[Raven]

I am so, so sorry for your loss.

[Yorkiekids]

I am so sorry for your loss.

[kezza]

Originally Posted by YorkieMumma

This is my first time to post a thread. My heart is broken and I feel physical pain and sorrow as I write this. Yesterday, my darling little baby girl, Olive died while undergoing surgery for spaying. She would have been 8 months old this Jan. 27. I am filled with grief, but at the same time my mind is reelling in shock. WHY WHY did this happen? Is this more common than I know?? Olive was a tiny girl, only 2 lbs 13 oz, but very strong and playful.

My vet used the "safest" gas anethesia, and he used the lowest level possible. He said that if he used any lower, she would wake up. Immediately after the spay surgery, he moved on to remove 4 of her puppy teeth. It is my understanding that this is common --- to spay and remove puppy teeth at the same time, so that the puppy goes under only once. By the third teeth, her little heart stopped beating. They immediately tried to get her heart started again. Her heart started beating for a few minutes, then it started to slow down, until it stopped again. Little Olive could not keep her heart beating.

My worst nightmare came true. You hear about this happening, but never think it will happen to you. WE are brainwashed to "spay the puppy before she comes into her first heat, otherwise she will get breast/ovarian cancer", and are thus pressured to spay early or at least 6 months old, for fear of the first heat. But now I question, what is more un-natural for a puppy, coming into a heat (as God intended for reproduction) or putting a young, small Yorkie puppy under anesthesia?

I wish I had waited until Olive was older, maybe 3.5 lbs or heavier before putting her under anesthesia. But because of the "fear of the first heat", lost my common sense. Growing up, I've had many female dogs that were not spayed until later in life. ALL grew to live long healthy lives.

For those who own very tiny Yorkies out there, do you remember how old or weight they were when they were spayed? I am now completely tramatized, and vow never to spay a female Yorkie until they are over ONE year old (heat or no heat).

As a new comer to YorkieTalk, I am thankful to have found such a wonderful, caring community of Yorkie lovers.

Oh i'm so so sorry for you..
I was petrified of getting my little one spayed..she's 3lbs..my vet assured me she would be fine..she also had 7 baby teeth removed and a microchip.
Pixie was 13 months old and had already had her first season..but I wanted to wait till she was older and had got to her maximum weight...but she stopped at 3lbs.
You are right when you say we are encouraged to spay because of problems later in life..but if this happened to me I would question it too. Could your little one maybe have had a health problem that you were not aware of? did they check her blood?
My last yorkie (Around 6lbs) was not spayed..she lived a long healthy life but did develop mammary tumours in old age..she also had congestive heart failure and I had to put her to sleep aged 14.
I wish I could say something to make you feel better...you were just being a good mummy..I hope you stick around...we are all here for you honey...big hug..Kerry xx

[Potter]

I am so sorry

[Txgurl06]

Originally Posted by YorkieMumma

This is my first time to post a thread. My heart is broken and I feel physical pain and sorrow as I write this. Yesterday, my darling little baby girl, Olive died while undergoing surgery for spaying. She would have been 8 months old this Jan. 27. I am filled with grief, but at the same time my mind is reelling in shock. WHY WHY did this happen? Is this more common than I know?? Olive was a tiny girl, only 2 lbs 13 oz, but very strong and playful.

My vet used the "safest" gas anethesia, and he used the lowest level possible. He said that if he used any lower, she would wake up. Immediately after the spay surgery, he moved on to remove 4 of her puppy teeth. It is my understanding that this is common --- to spay and remove puppy teeth at the same time, so that the puppy goes under only once. By the third teeth, her little heart stopped beating. They immediately tried to get her heart started again. Her heart started beating for a few minutes, then it started to slow down, until it stopped again. Little Olive could not keep her heart beating.

My worst nightmare came true. You hear about this happening, but never think it will happen to you. WE are brainwashed to "spay the puppy before she comes into her first heat, otherwise she will get breast/ovarian cancer", and are thus pressured to spay early or at least 6 months old, for fear of the first heat. But now I question, what is more un-natural for a puppy, coming into a heat (as God intended for reproduction) or putting a young, small Yorkie puppy under anesthesia?

I wish I had waited until Olive was older, maybe 3.5 lbs or heavier before putting her under anesthesia. But because of the "fear of the first heat", lost my common sense. Growing up, I've had many female dogs that were not spayed until later in life. ALL grew to live long healthy lives.

For those who own very tiny Yorkies out there, do you remember how old or weight they were when they were spayed? I am now completely tramatized, and vow never to spay a female Yorkie until they are over ONE year old (heat or no heat).

As a new comer to YorkieTalk, I am thankful to have found such a wonderful, caring community of Yorkie lovers.

I lost my Skoshi march 14th 2008 while getting neutered! I know exactly how you feel! It does make you wonder why your baby. why out of all the dogs that get this done why yours! I completely understand!!! The vet said they went to make the first incision and his heart just quit. they tried to give him a shot to make his heart start again and it wouldnt! It is like a bad dream and it will affect your thoughts later on whether to spay or neuter again. Im going throught that now with my other 2 babies and its sooo hard. I dont know if i can go through it again. Its always literally breath taking to loose a loved one. Im sorry! Also skoshi was a year and 3 months at 7 or 8 pds!
So dont think its your fault at all it could happen to any pet but no its not that common

[Vick]

I am so sorry and I know that words can not ease your pain.....just know that you are in our thoughts!

[MyPeanutAbbyGra]

I'm so sorry I wish there was something I could do or say to ease your sorrow.
My Abby was 10.5 months old and weighed approx. 5 lbs when she was spayed. I was scared too.
Who knows which is best?
I'm just sorry this happened to Olive

[yasminv1]

I am sorry for your loss. Hugs and prayers to you and your family.

[YorkieMumma]

Originally Posted by Txgurl06

I lost my Skoshi march 14th 2008 while getting neutered! I know exactly how you feel! It does make you wonder why your baby. why out of all the dogs that get this done why yours! I completely understand!!! The vet said they went to make the first incision and his heart just quit. they tried to give him a shot to make his heart start again and it wouldnt! It is like a bad dream and it will affect your thoughts later on whether to spay or neuter again. Im going throught that now with my other 2 babies and its sooo hard. I dont know if i can go through it again. Its always literally breath taking to loose a loved one. Im sorry! Also skoshi was a year and 3 months at 7 or 8 pds!
So dont think its your fault at all it could happen to any pet but no its not that common

I can't express how healing and comforting it is to read everyone's loving words. It is my second day without little Olive now, and I have been a zombie, stuck in bed in my PJs (with little Violet by my side). All I want to do is stay in bed and try to sleep, or if I can't, loggin to YT to read your kind words. THANK You so much. It is helping me and my husband somehow cope.

Txgurl06, my heart is with you too. We are sisters in experiencing this nightmare together.

Several of you have asked me about pictures of little Olive. I made an album with pics of her, and Violet (her older sister), and some of our furball family.

It was the first I've looked at pictures of Olive since she died, and it was like a knife piercing my heart. I have a terrible headache from crying. But as painful as it is, it was also cathartic to look as some of her pictures again. Oh my little sweetheart, Olive. Mumma loves you so much, and I wish I could kiss you and hold you again. I can still imagine how you smell. I love you so much, my little angel.

I hope you enjoy the pictures of little Olive. Thanks to my YT family for your prayers and support. I love you all.

[Baby Blessing]

We are so sad for you that this happened.
Please know our prayers are with you and your hubby. We just sent you a pm.
Hugs, Patti and Jack

[goofypup]

So sorry to hear of your loss of Olive. I can only imagine what you are going through... I know it is a difficult decision, to spay or not, especially when they are so tiny.... After many agonizing days of researching spaying, and methods of anasthesia, and what could go wrong, we did get Casey spayed, she was only 3 lbs, but I was a basket case all day and on pins and needles, praying she would come through it, she also had afull set of upper teeth removed as well, ... I just couldn't imagine what I would do if we had lost her.. just remember you were only doing what you thought was best for your baby,....as we all would do..

[princesselle]

I am so sorry for your loss. We were almost pressured into having Jasmine spayed 12/26/08, she was 5 1/2 mos. then and about 3 1/2 pounds. We just didn't feel comfortable and decided to wait until she was a year old. Sending prayers your way.

[Ivy Lucille]

I am so very, very sorry for your loss.

[margaritaville]

I'm so sorry. This is a fear each of us have when our pups need anesthesia. Our thoughts and prayers go out to you