Tinkers OP dilemma - would appreciate your thoughts ;)

[lindseyp]

Title says it all really  - After extensive talks with our vets Tinker is due to go for her OP to be spayed soon but at the same time she will have one of her eyes removed (for those of you who don't know, she was born with microphthalmia of both eyes & one is none existant - no eye ball & eye lashes rolled in etc + ineffective tear production    ) Other eye is virtually blind but not causing problems (at the moment.) When she was examined by ophthalmologist when little, he recommended removal of the eye but to do it at the same time as spay - to minimise the amount of risk from anaesthetics etc. She's nearly 4 years young now. As well as the microphthalmia, she also has an elongated soft palate, possibly causing breathing 'irregularities' that have never been investigated (mainly because with careful management it causes her very few problems & also because I haven't wanted her messed about with  ) Tinker doesn't/can't breath through her nose but through her mouth & only sleeps soundly when in a good position to open her airway (usuall on my pillow with her head resting on mine  ) My dilemma is this :- do I
A.  Put her in for the OP - All done & over with - eye might be more comfortable for her (specialist 'thinks' it 'may' be uncomfortable for her) no threat of pyometra, mammary tumours or phantom pregnancies BUT the risks for her are high - with the trauma she will suffer to her face & as the eyes, nose etc are all linked, it may cause swelling that could make her breathing problems even worse - depending on what else there is going on in her little head...or do i
B. Leave things as they are & take a chance that her eye will be OK & hope that she never gets any of the above conditions (pyo etc) - she's 4 now & doing just fine. I really REALLY don't want to do anything to jeopardise her health any further & can't bear the thought that I could make matters worse for an OP that 'should' be done & not need to be IYSWIM

I know you can't make the decision for me but just wondered what your thoughts might be & help me think a little more rationally
 Thanks for reading ...Lindsey x   (sorry for long post - did try to condense it    )

[Crazy Cocker Gang]

I really dont know what to say as im going through a similar dilema with Liv.

Shes quite high risk for aneasthetic and I had her teeth done because she was in agony but I just cant decide about having her spayed and her tumour removed  

Everyone i speak to makes a really good point for or against.

One thing that has stuck with me tho is someone saying, "its easier to spay a 10yr old dog than a 10yr old dog with pyo." Which i imagine applies to Tinker but replace old with high risk IYSWIM

Then again pyo can be caught early and treated with anti bs.

Obviously with tinker its not just pyo you have to worry about.

Sorry this is a rubbish reply I just really dont know.

If you think shes in pain with her eye than go for the op but if you dont think it bothers her and as aneasthetics are high risk for her I would probably leave it and her spay.

[lindseyp]

Sorry this is a rubbish reply I just really dont know. If you think shes in pain with her eye than go for the op but if you dont think it bothers her and as aneasthetics are high risk for her I would probably leave it and her spay.

Not rubbish at all Jo - thanks for replying 
 some of the advice you've been given makes good sense -If we do the OP now we are in control (& she would be well in herself, which would aid recovery) but if she became poorly & it became an emergency, then she would have that to cope with aswell.

Sorry you're in the same position as Liv   .....doG, it's not easy is it   

[Poppsie]

You seem to be in the same situation that I have just been in, your dammed if you do nothing and dammed if you do?. The point being that only you can make that decision, it's hard I know  if you have seen the thread I posted about Pebbles yesterday you will understand, you see Pebbles is nearly 14 yrs old so you see I know how you are feeling. I think you should talk in more detail to your vet (as I did) weigh up the pros and cons and think what is best for your little tinker hope this helps? love Dianne x x x

[bluegirl]

Very difficult call and as you say no one can give the final decision but you.

I would feel the same anxieties as you. I think if I were in your situation I would probably need a long talk with the vet intending to operate. I'd want to know all the risks involved with each each area and risks involved with multiple incsisons during the same procedure. I may even be tempted to ask for another referral to the specialists for her eye and her palate and see what their views were with regards to whether or not it was time for surgery for her eye and palate and especially with her palate would surgery make a difference to her and how significant would it be.

I'm not a believer of routine spaying or castration where my own dogs are concerned so in truth if Tinker was in pretty sound health and coping with her disabilities well then I would assume her risks for reproductive illnesses would be the same risk as every other bitch. The risk of mammary cancer at age 4 would probably still be as high as a bitch who was not spayed (depending on number of seasons she'd had)so at best you are reducing her risk of pyo and extreme phantoms. If her eye were causing pain then it would be better if it were removed. I think the palate issues would be the one to cause me most concern meaning  does it conpromise her breathing atm or would it be likely to in the future as at least operating on her now whilst she is still relatively young to safe guard her future health may be something to consider (which I'm sure you have done)

Guess I'm really saying if it were me I'd probably only be going for essential surgery rather than prophylactic surgery.

[Eve]

Whatever you decide will be the right decision because she is your dog and you know her better than the rest of us.

Just to say I'm thinking of you at this difficult time.

Eve

[Ninasmum]

Guess I'm really saying if it were me I'd probably only be going for essential surgery rather than prophylactic surgery.

I feel the same thoughts as bluegirl Linds    The main thing i would worry about is if Tinker is any kind of pain with her problems.    You obviously know her best Linds & if none of her conditions have worsened i would leave the spay op.  My way of thinking, (rightly or wrongly) as humans don't get routinely spayed/castrated because of health risks then why should dogs  & as long as dog owners are aware of the possible small health risk then i personally wouldn't do it.

I am sure Linds you will do the best for Tinker whatever you decide. 

[lindseyp]

thanks  Dianne (I'm glad Pebbles is doing OK after her OP    )
....you make a very good point there......age is another big risk - she could go for years without a problem, only for her to need it when she's older  .....an added concern to concider.


bluegirl - thankyou too ...all very good points 
opthalmologist who Tinker used to see is now retired from practice (Mr I Mason) but could get to see his replacement if needed I suppose. Her eye doesn't 'seem' to cause her pain & with good eye care we've managed to 'never' have any infections (something Mr Mason thought she would have & would be a reason to operate) but could well do at anytime.
Tinker does have breathing problems & the plan is to do noninvasive test to see if it's the palate causing it or other conditions.
She's had two seasons now & the plan was to OP before her next one.
 Poor bloke has had numerous visits from me & a long letter voicing my concerns  ..... but WTH, he can have some more     can't do it until I'm sure & you've raised some good points - thankyou   
 
 
 

[Sheryl]

They can do an op on the elongated palate.  I spoke to the surgeon in Edinburgh about it all because although Kali has a non fused palate on one side, she also has an elongated piece and that is what causes her coughing, when it doubles on itself.  Just pm me if you want to know what the surrgeon said re risks and chances of it helping xx

[Poppypuppy09]

Ohhhh Linds  I am no expert this sort of thing and am ill qualified to give any medical advice but you know Tinker is a favourite of mine  and your dilemma is a big one.

I really don't know how to help you with this one, I think (and I am torn) that unless you have noticed any significant changes with Tinkers eye and if she is a girlie who is not too bothered about seasons I think I would be inclined to leave well alone.

I know you will make the right decison for her 

She is such a special little girlie, lots of  to you both.

[lindseyp]

They can do an op on the elongated palate.  I spoke to the surgeon in Edinburgh about it all because although Kali has a non fused palate on one side, she also has an elongated piece and that is what causes her coughing, when it doubles on itself.  Just pm me if you want to know what the surrgeon said re risks and chances of it helping xx

have Pm'd you Sheryl 

thanks Jennie - knew you'd be concerned - I won't do anything to her that isn't necessary...promise 

[MaggieR]

  's Linds.... I have no idea what I would do in your shoes, tho I suspect I would also be inclined to leave alone unless I thought it was causing her problems.  But then I guess you also need to look further forward....  

As others have said, whatever you decide will be the right decision for your girl - you will always do whats best for her  
  for you - I can imagine how much you are agonising over this - she's a gorgeous special girl  

[Bluebell]

Linds I am more of the opinion if it not broken don't fix it If she isn't in pain and she can cope with her
Seasons......
I am sure you will make the right decision for your special girl 

[MacTavish Boys]

Linds I am more of the opinion if it not broken don't fix it If she isn't in pain and she can cope with her
Seasons......
I am sure you will make the right decision for your special girl 

I am inclined to agree with Bluebell, why fix something, that is not broken, just in case it goes wrong at a later date, as long as she is not in any pain, i know at the end of the day, you will make the right decision for Tinker 
Stephanie, George and Hamish xxx

[sharonmansfield]

I am not the best one to advise as this is so hard, I have had huge problems over whether to get my girlies spayed or not. Its not that I am against spaying I just have huge issues about taking them in for a massive operation when its not needed BUT I also have huge issues about them maybe getting pyometra!! I am totally torn and keep putting off making a decision. I ask my OH for his opinion and he says he will go along with whatever I decide - very non commital   

If they needed to go in for an operation for something else a medical condition then I would have no issue with getting them spayed at the same time, providing my vet agreed it was ok to do so.

If I was you I would have a long one to one chat with my vet to see what exactly is needed and talk openly about your feelings. The decision is yours at the end of the day and whatever you decide you are doing it for the love of your dog and because you want what is best for her.

Good luck.
Sharon xx