My little Olive - succumbed to Anesthesia nightmare
 

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 am so sorry to hear about your baby. :( My heart goes out to you.

I can't help answer too well because mine isn't tiny (nor a full Yorkie), but when she was spayed she weighed approx 4 lbs (full grown now she is 9 lbs). I think she was 4-5 months old (I can look it up, but I think thats a close guess).

I am sure many of our other members will reply to you with more info than I can give, I just wanted to give my condolences to you. :cry8:

:cry:I am so very sorry for your lost. I don't have any experience yet, as my Maddie is only a little over 4mos. old, but I too dred the day that I will have to take her in to have it done.

I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your Olive. I know you must be numb with grief at the moment. When the fog clears, I hope you can recall some of the happier moments you shared with her during her short life. She was very fortunate to have had such a loving human mother.
God bless...

I am so sorry for your devastating loss. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your sweet baby.

I am so, so sorry about your Olive. I have heard they need to three pounds for anesthesia, but Olive was so close.

Did you have pre op bloodwork done? A bile acids test? Could she have had an underlying health issue that caused the problem with the anesthesia?

This is devestating I know..and her being so small it is hard to say what went wrong..God thought he needed her is all I can think of..
I also lost a young yorkie.. so I know and feel your heartache..anne

I am so sorry that this happened to your precious little one. :( There are other members here that have also lost their beloved babies in this way. My vet will not spay or neuter until 6 months and a minimum of 5 lbs which is what Doodlebug was when he was neutered. Bogey was 5 lbs and almost 2 years. Indianagirl lost her Jezebel last year following her spay and also feels the way you do. Such a sad and horrible thing to have happened.

Yes, she had pre-op blood work. I even took her to the vet, 2 days before her surgery for a complete checkup. I guess you can never be 100% sure...

I dont have any answers for you, but I wanted to say I am truely sooooo sorry for your loss.

oh, I am so sorry for your loss!

I\'m sorry. :(

I just wanted to say that I am so very sorry for your loss!

i am so sorry to hear this...my sympathy to you and your family!

so sorry to hear about your little Olive. My thought are with you and your family.