Hi there- Snowflake had her spay done 2 weeks ago. It was horrible. She bled too much and had an adverse reaction to the drugs given her. When she came to, she became dysphoric completely unaware of herself and surroundings. She bit anyone who came close to her, bit herself, objects and lost 5 teeth in the process. Apparently the vet had to hold her for an hour while she chewed on a towel. The vet mentioned later that sometimes arctic breeds respond oddly to anesthesia. Anyone ever heard anything on this or had a similar experience? Snowflake is still healing from a post spay bladder infection and incision infection, but her temperament is back to being as sweet and goofy as ever.

Siberians don't often do well under anesthesia it's very true.

My girl isn't spayed as I find it an unnecessary surgery to put her through. Many breeders I've spoken to have warned me about putting them under.

Siku got spayed and was just fine. I've seen warnings online about it, but never heard a vet or anyone else say so.

Ceara- You aren't going to get Bella spayed? You're not worried about pyrometra? That's my biggest fear that Elara will get pyro since she's not spayed. Heard one lady lost one of her bitches to pyro at our last kennel club meeting.

I do know vets use different drugs to put them under. Maybe more should be looked into that and see what's the safest way to go.

Hope Snowflake feels better soon!

I'm on the fence about it, Sara . I've done a lot of reading my initial plan was to spay her after her first heat and them after talking to a few Siberian friends and a couple breeders I was going to wait till about 1.5 years to spay her. My biggest concern was actually cancer - not pyo.

But on top of the associate health risks with spaying or not spaying - the fact that I learned Siberians don't handle anesthesia well and the risk, at least in my eyes right now until she goes back to the cardiologist later this year, is tripled basically by her stenosis. So for me the surgery is unnecessary until I talk at length with my vet and her cardiologist about the risks and of course her well being.

Now if she's cleared by the cardiologist for a spay - she'll definitely be spayed prior to me getting my puppy. But if there is a risk beyond that of a "normal" surgery - then I have a lot pf thinking to do. If she was going to be my only dog though - I wouldn't spay her.

Oh I didn't know she had heart problems. Missed that somehow. What exactly is wrong with her?

Need I say more?

My experience with Kale.

https://www.itsahuskything.com/t3352-kale-s-xrays

I'm a a vet tech and was present during the whole thing.

!!! You didn't??? She was diagnosed with a murmur at 12 weeks and when it didn't go away at six months we saw a cardiologist that diagnosed her with Subaortic Stenosis - which is a narrowing of her aortic valve.

She (her cardiologist) says its not very bad and she -should- lead a long life but realistically she could very well pass at anytime. It'll most likely be when she's a bit older though. She was on beta blockers and she's on human grade 1400mg fish oil pills. And I try to exercise her a decent amount so that her heart stays strong but at this moment in time I can't justify an unnecessary surgery like a spay for her =/

BROOKE!!!! I didn't know that happened to poor Kale!!!!

My heart <\3

Yea, I think I was more traumatized than he was the next day when all those drugs worked outta his system He totally acted like nothing ever happened the next morning lol

Give him a big hug for me!!!!!!

And if you can give yourself one :p

Niraya wrote:

Give him a big hug for me!!!!!!

And if you can give yourself one :p

lol thanks!!

I guess each dog reacts differently. Siku and both the male and female husky rescues my mom got fixed were just fine afterward.

Ceara- That's a bit scary! Well just keep a good eye on her. Not sure what you can look for for cancer, but with an open pyrometra you can usually see a white liquid being produced or if it is a closed one their uterus gets filled up with puss and you can feel that they are bloated around there.

Yeah I keep an eye on her and make sure she's okay. My friends corgi got pyo after her first litter so I'm always like "omg!". But I'm always feeling and looking at her to make sure she's okay.

And cancer I'm jut looking for mammary cancer as that's the most common and that is what my pyrenees had.

nikki was just fine when i picked her up from her spay. she was 2 1/2 years (approx) when she was spayed