So I made the appointment...reassurance needed!

[TankGrrl66]

So I made the appt. for my little Schatzi to get spayed. She has a wellness check tomorrow to make sure everything is awesome, then I schedule the surgery. She doesn't need an appt, but I am feeling so nervous about this surgery I just need a bunch of reassurance from the vet. LOL so I get to pay a good 20-40 extra $$$ for reassurance.

Why am I so on the fence about this? Spaying her is the responsible thing to do. I get to lead by example for other dog owners.

I think of how upset she will be when I leave her there. I don't want to damage the very GSD bond she has with me. What if she doesn't trust me after this?
What if her drives change? I am happy with her how she is. The only reasons I want to do a spay is so I don't have to deal with heats or puppies, or pyometra etc further down the road.

Even calling the vet, I just wanted to hang up and tell myself to wait longer. But I may be moving, and the house I can move into has an unaltered male. She is 11mos, so a heat will be coming up any time now. I also need to get her licensed, and cannot afford $100 a year vs. $24.

I just feel strange putting such an awesome and perfectly healthy dog through major abdominal surgery to remove healthy organs...

So yeah, I need some reassurance from all of you. It would be appreciated.

[msvette2u]

She'll be fine.
Also her trust won't be destroyed. If anything, it will be stronger. You left her, yes. But you also came back for her!

Try to think of the positives - as you said, the licensing is cheaper but also you'll be avoiding mammary cancers (a biggie!) and possible pyos.

You're doing the right thing.

[Remo]

When Remo was neutered, I watched his surgery through the glass wall of the operating room. When they were finished they put him in my lap in the back part of the animal hospital. I stayed with him until he woke up long enough to see me and then feel back asleep. When I picked him up that evening, he was still a little groggy, but very happy to see me. I have fostered a couple of hundred girlies after they spays, and they have all been fine.

[CeCe]

I was so nervous before my girls spay. Both girls were fine-my 8 month old recovered much quicker then my 2 year old so I think its good you're doing her spay now. No change in personality from either one and no worrying about heats. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

[Lenny]

I don't agree with everything Cesar Millan does but I do think there is something to the whole engergy thing he's always talking about. Dog's don't need to be felt sorry for. They live in the moment... if they are allowed to by their owner. Have it done and move on. She'll be fine.

[paulag1955]

We actually made one appointment for the surgery and cancelled it before we finally sucked it up and took Shasta in.

Don't worry about your bond. Shasta doesn't hold it against us for leaving her there and she doesn't hold it against the vet, either; she still loves to go visit. We haven't noticed ANY changes in Shasta's drive or any other behaviors since the surgery.

So even though we wouldn't have had Shasta spayed if we hadn't purchased her on a spay/neuter contract, in hind sight, nothing about the surgery justified our worry about it beforehand.

[TankGrrl66]

I made the appt. for Friday.

Thanks a lot everyone, you all made me feel better about it.