Spay and Gastropexy

[mezmerelda]

It's finally nearing the time for Indy to get snipped. If we weren't planning on getting a boy Swissy over the summer (who will show and who knows what else) I would likely hold off. But since we are, it's time.

Her litter mate, Vasey, had a spay and gastropexy done last summer. Their vet, who happens to be my neighbor's sister, recommended the procedure be done laparoscopically by a different vet. We are considering doing the same thing in April with the same vet. We have to speak with ours, first, but I think that's the way we will go. Having a laparoscopic procedure should increase her down/healing time, which is necessary for her.

And I'm just now realizing the timing will fall into pack hike season. Oh well, she may not get as many legs in the spring as we'd hoped.

Has anyone had both procedures done on their girl dogs? If so, laparoscopically?

[SapheraGirl]

Saphera had both. The closest vet, and the one I was most comfortable with, was 2 hours away and would cost $1800.00 for lapro; compared to my local vet whom I love (but doing it the old fashion way) for $500.00. We opted for the vet in our hometown doing the surgery for a few reasons. While the healing time is much better with the lapro, it was still a lot more money. Also, our vet used some time of laser which helped with bleeding. Saphera was home in a day and a half and absolutely fine. She wanted to play and jump and romp like it was an ordinary day...I think keeping her still for a week was the hardest part.

her are some pics. The scar was pretty significant and she got a rash when her fur was growing in. Other than that, she did great.

[mezmerelda]

Wow. That's a lot for the Laparoscopic. The people up here charge about $1000 for both procedures. Still more than the standard, but I'm not sure how much. The plus side to the non-lap is that the vet is walking distance away. And since she's been there frequently (we stop in a lot on walks to weigh her) less stressful for her. The other place is about an hour away. I'm not sure if it's going to come down to money or not. We're in the red a bit after the last couple of months (surprise need for a new boiler, Gryffin's vet bill, etc) but not in a bad way. Our insurance won't cover this procedure no matter how it's done. (But it covers a whole ton of other stuff.)

[SapheraGirl]

Good luck with the decision process. I'm sure either way, Indy will be in the best care!

[gotbigdogs]

when I've had it done on rescues its usually at teaching schools with spays its usually just a bigger incision, being done on rescues, Ive never spent the $ to do it lap. because we all know rescue financially is a black hole! My two danes were done laprascopically, However the incision was done on their sides right between their ribs. About a 4 inch incision, I think Shamus still has a scar but he has a thin thin coat anyway. Both boys were rip roarin ready to go the next day- the stitches dissolved on their own and we had no issues.

[mezmerelda]

So I talked to both vet practices today. The one I'm trying to switch to annoyed me. I sat on hold for about 15 minutes and spoke to someone trying to get a consult scheduled (since Indy's never been there) about about 5. Bottom line is they may not take her because, other than one experience with Alex, our visits have been emergency. And while they aren't actually the ones our vet refers us to for emergency (closer by far) they still have a good relationship with our vet and don't know if it's ethical for them to take her. But they will take the new pup as a client if we want.

My existing vet called me and spoke with me (not a tech, mind you) for about 15 minutes about the procedures. They don't do gastropexies frequently, but they do them. He's been doing several a year for about 26 years. They don't do lap procedure for a couple of reasons. He mentioned that unless you're board certified and to the lap procedure a lot, it's likely the dog will spend more time on the table under sedation than you would with the traditional. He went through his procedure with me in layman's terms, but detailed. And the cost is about half. So we'll see. If this other place can figure it all out, I'll still speak with them to get both sides. My vet also referred me to someone about an hour away that does both procedures if I want more info.

Now we just have decisions to make.

[howsefrau32]

Can I ask what a gastopexy is? Is this a surgery to prevent bloat or something like that? I'm just curious.

[SapheraGirl]

Can I ask what a gastopexy is? Is this a surgery to prevent bloat or something like that? I'm just curious.

Gastropexy is a surgical operation in which the stomach is sutured to the abdominal wall. It doesn't prevent bloat but it prevents the stomach from twisting, cutting off blood flow which, more often than not, is what causes the death. In essence, it buys more time to get your pet to the vet.

[Baroooo]

We're going through the exact same decision process with Xena right now. I want to get her spayed in March (timed halfway between cycles to allow for the changes from her heat cycle to dissipate). I have found a very expensive vet I don't know who'll do both laproscopically, but would require a day's drive to get to him and a hotel stay. He comes highly recommended and does many, many of these procedures.
Or I can have it all done with the very large zipper by my local vet, for a lot less money and hassle.
I'm very torn. I want the best for the princess.

[SapheraGirl]

We're going through the exact same decision process with Xena right now. I want to get her spayed in March (timed halfway between cycles to allow for the changes from her heat cycle to dissipate). I have found a very expensive vet I don't know who'll do both laproscopically, but would require a day's drive to get to him and a hotel stay. He comes highly recommended and does many, many of these procedures.
Or I can have it all done with the very large zipper by my local vet, for a lot less money and hassle.
I'm very torn. I want the best for the princess.

Just curious, who is it?

[Baroooo]

Don't have his name in front of me at the moment. He's associated with the University of Virginia, but comes up to Maryland once a month to work out of a practise there. He was recommended by a really good ortho guy we've used down in Maryland. I knew the orthopedic guy was going to be good when I walked into his office and saw photo of Jan Collins' Calvin on the wall with a thank you note.

[mezmerelda]

Well, if Jan likes him, he must be good.

Well, the vet that I want to switch to hasn't even called me back 24 hours later, so I think they may be out of the running. I think I will speak with Vasey's vet, who is my neighbor's sister, since she is the one that suggested the place they used for Vasey's procedures.

[mezmerelda]

The other vet still hasn't called me back. I view it as a sign. They'll remain my emergency vet, but that's it. Other than maybe Chiro or Acupuncture.

I have Indy scheduled with the practice we go to now. With my favorite vet that lives around the corner from me, is a raw supporter, and has been a vet for 26 years. She's going in on 3/18. I'm already nervous.

[Yeti_Girl]

She'll be fine

[Baroooo]

Shall I see if I can get Xena in on 3/18 too so they can be spay & 'pexy buddies? That we can cram all the worrying into one day lol!

[mezmerelda]

Ha! Perfect!

[Myzoocrew7]

I really wish I could have done the pexy today when Echo was spayed. But it was paramount that her tail be docked and I just couldn't swing all three things right now.....

[SapheraGirl]

May I ask what was wrong with her tail?

[Myzoocrew7]

Echo had horrible "happy tail." It's always been a problem for her, but for the longest time, we'd go through a week or so of it being split open and bleeding but then it would heal and be good for a month or so. But for the last several months, it wouldn't heal and had gotten so bad that about 4 inches of the tip was like raw hamburger meat and constantly dripping blood. I was so worried about infection, even though I tried to clean it and bandage it......all to no avail! So the docking was our last option The vet talked me out of it months ago, saying she didn't think it was that bad. But when she saw how horrible it had gotten, she agreed it needed to be done now....that it was the worst she had seen in her 20+ years of practicing. Poor Echo.......

[Nanaba]

Echo had horrible "happy tail."

I need to fully wake up before I start reading here. Huh? Echo had what? No he didn't... Oh...

Echo was the name of our Cavalier growing up. I was reading this as a post from Karen about him. I'm going to go get some caffiene now.