Yesterday was horrible! Warning: Sad

[TiffanyK]

So we had Daisy spayed Wednesday. She died Thursday morning. ;( The vet did an autopsy to find out what exactly went wrong. Turns out she had some sort of blood disorder that didn't show up on the bloodwork they did before surgery? So yes, our household is very sad and we've all been crying off and on for 2 days now.

Question: This has made me very afraid of having another girl dog in the future. Maybe it's not as bad with males? What do we do when we go to spay/neuter our next GSD?

I guess I just have all of these "what-ifs" in my head and now I'm terrified to spay/neuter but at the same time I'm afraid not to.

Also, how long do we wait to think about getting a new dog? Our kids are already asking for a new one (our oldest child is 7 and taking it the worst. He says he wants a new dog to have a friend since Daisy is in Heaven)

And then I also worry that the next one won't be anywhere near as good as Daisy. LOL. We adopted her as an adult and she was already trained and mellow. I've never seen a dog like her before. However, she was my first GSD. My husband had one growing up and remembers his being just as well behaved. So do we think about getting an adult again and taking the chance that he or she may not be what we are used to? Or do we get a puppy and train it and raise it to be what we want for a companion?

Sorry for rambling - but I needed to get this out and I have these questions and no one I know can answer them.

Thanks

[LeftyGinger]

I am so very, very sorry for your loss. I wish I had better words for you, something to comfort you in your time of sorrow.

[sagelfn]

Very sorry for your loss

Daisy

[onyx'girl]

I am so sorry for you and your family. How devastated you must feel. Was she home when she passed?
I would let the kids take some time to grieve(you as well) and then contact a local GSD rescue to see if there is one that may fit your family. And hopefully already fixed, so the stress of going thru that again won't happen to you.

Males are very nice and you wouldn't be comparing a boy to Daisy so the memories of her will be easier to bear.


Rest in Peace Daisy, I hope you and Shadow, who passed tonight are romping together at the bridge meeting all the great ones who've already gone.

[APBTLove]

I am so sorry. That is always a fear in the back of my mind... Rest in Paradise Daisy.

Get a new dog when YOU are ready... When you want to hear pattering feet on the floor and a jingling collar, when you won't feel subconsiously resentful to the new dog.

I suggest going to the local shelter and spending some time with the dogs, not even looking to get one, just to be around new dogs, it helped me. I cried, but it was nice to hold a dog who had nothing and was going through pure joy at being touched.

Again, I am truly so sorry... What a tragedy.. Good luck.

[KZoppa]

i'm very sorry for your loss. I cant even begin to imagine how you feel. I've lost pets but never after a surgery or during one. Puppies are difficult but so much fun at the same time. You can get a puppy and you have a blank slate. Getting another adult, well can be good and bad. It really depends on the dog. Getting an adult, go through a rescue that will work with you on placing a dog that fits you and your family but also fits the dog. I understand your new fear. If you go through a rescue, most dogs are fixed before they're even put up for serious adoption. Most rescues will not adopt out a dog for 30-60 days after the dog comes into their rescue simply because the animal needs to be fixed but also so the foster family can get to know the dog before its placed so the animal has the best chance of staying with that one forever family. So going with another adult (through a rescue), the dog would already be fixed so no worries there.
Please keep in mind that even a simple standard vet visit can go downhill so there are always risks. But the rewards outweigh the risks. Life is a risk. I'll be honest and tell you that i have no intention of spaying my girls until they're 2 years old or older, if i ever do spay them. But thats a personal choice on my part. Again, its a risk thing. either way i go with them, there will be risks of getting this or that. If you feel your family is ready for another furry member so soon, then by all means begin the search. If you're not 100% which is sounds like you aren't, i would advise waiting until you're sure you're 100% ready for it. I hope this helps some. And dont worry. Daisy is always watching over you and your family. Good luck.

[TiffanyK]

Thanks. Yes, she was home. She was still very sleepy from surgery and they had said it would take up to 24 hours for her to not be so groggy. She had been acting a little better that night after the kids went to bed. I woke up in the morning and let her outside to go to the bathroom. She came in and laid down. When the kids woke up for the day I took her to my bedroom (where she sleeps - on the floor on my husbands side of the bed) and put her food and water bowls in there. I came back in to check on her about 45 minutes later (got the kids breakfast) and she had moved to the tile in the bathroom and was gone. Worst day of my live minus my dads death.

She came home late on Wednesday. Our vets office doesn't keep them overnight and didn't recommend that she be taken to a facility that does. Although I didn't think to ask if that would have made a difference. :/

I had never thought of getting one that was already spayed or neutered - because I'm sure I'll be a nervous wreck for a week or so after surgery. lol

[JeanKBBMMMAAN]

I am very, very sorry.

I also think it's a good idea to go through a rescue that spays dogs before adoption.

There is a clotting disorder GSDs can have called von Willebrand's disease

More clotting problems:
coagulation disorders

More on Von Willebrand's disease:
Von Willebrand's Disease

I think you can do a DNA test for it.

I am not sure if it's that effective, but I always ask for a bucosal bleeding time test (I think it's called) done before surgeries on any dog who has not had a surgery before. www.nwlabs.co.uk/tp5-bleeding-time.htm* in addition to the regular bloodwork before surgery.

Again, I am very sorry.

*don't know why that link is not working.

[KZoppa]

Originally Posted by TiffanyK

Thanks. Yes, she was home. She was still very sleepy from surgery and they had said it would take up to 24 hours for her to not be so groggy. She had been acting a little better that night after the kids went to bed. I woke up in the morning and let her outside to go to the bathroom. She came in and laid down. When the kids woke up for the day I took her to my bedroom (where she sleeps - on the floor on my husbands side of the bed) and put her food and water bowls in there. I came back in to check on her about 45 minutes later (got the kids breakfast) and she had moved to the tile in the bathroom and was gone. Worst day of my live minus my dads death.

She came home late on Wednesday. Our vets office doesn't keep them overnight and didn't recommend that she be taken to a facility that does. Although I didn't think to ask if that would have made a difference. :/

I had never thought of getting one that was already spayed or neutered - because I'm sure I'll be a nervous wreck for a week or so after surgery. lol

I was a nervous wreck when i brought Zena home after her surgery because her family from what we knew of them, had a history of issues involving surgeries. Its completely understandable. Rescues will fix the animals that come in almost immediately unless there is a reason they have to wait. An example of them having to wait would be the animal needs heartworm treatment before spay/neuter surgery. Another perk, i guess you could say, with going through a rescue and you get an animal that is already fixed, you never had to worry about the during or after surgery part. The foster parents already did the worrying!! And more often than not, the dog will go home with you completely healed like nothing ever happened.

[Norfpo]

I'm sorry for your loss...I would get another dog when you are ready,the kids may want another dog right now but they need to understand it won't be another daisy he/she will have their own personality