Surgery

Remember the panic stricken owner that struggled to get the spay debate all worked out? Well, it all came together in May. I was blessed with the support of my veterinarian who did all of her pre-operative testing. I found a practice that brought  amazing technology to Canada just five years ago.  I am so incredibly thankful for our breeder's recommendation because we're thrilled to have taken an unfamiliar path with laparoscopic ovariectomy.

Her first heat began in November while our son was recovering from pneumonia. Then April rolled around and I was just out of the hospital recovering from a serious case of pneumonia myself (it's been a rough winter). Clover seemed to be full of Spring fever or... wait (counting the weeks and months in my head)... where was the phone? 

She was scheduled, and we prayed, because I wanted to have surgery timed perfectly.  

The week before the procedure, Clover had her annual exam, a DHPP vaccine, heartworm and wellness testing. She has a heart like a champ, weighing in at 45.8 pounds. 48 hours later the bloodwork came back cleared for the operating room.  

Post vaccine exhaustion

William says goodnight to his best friend

After a only a few hours of sleep, the car was packed and we hit the road for a family day trip. William wasn't happy about missing school but he was glad to be close to Clover while she was hospitalized.  The ride was filled with crying, puking, drooling and whining.  My day wasn't exactly unfolding as anticipated.  

We admitted her at 8:30, greeted by a compassionate staff, which is nice when you're exhausted, sweating, covered in bile, tethered to a wired dog.  Plus I brought an insatiably curious kid who was exploring everything in the veterinary wonderland (complete with foam fleas suspended from the ceiling). I barely remember answering questions or filling forms. Honestly, that was the most traumatic part of the day. Phew! Over. 

We needed to get our minds in a positive space so I loosely planned an itinerary.  First stop was to the local co-op but low and behold it had closed down! Mega disappointment. We ended up at a country store instead investigating hunting accessories.  Then off for a leisurely drive up the river and across the countryside to Warsaw.  I had seen online there were hiking routes and caves to explore and possibly canoeing. Well that sounded like a whole days worth of fantastic adventure right?

A 15 foot drop into a cave entrance

Sort of. I think it was closed. The gate was open, but not a soul to be found.  My printer crashed upon departure so I had no information or maps for reference (yes, I'm one on the few travelling around without a data plan).  I had to stop into a local Lakefield realtor where I luckily found a very helpful fellow who outlined directions and provided an area guide. We drove all this way. We're getting out of the Jeep!

On the lookout for animals

The woods seemed quiet with only sweet songs of birds and whispers of mosquitos. The scenery was breathtaking. Definitely suitable for trailing, except, there were no paths. Huh, we needed a compass? No people around mean't no one to help if you fell through a 20 foot crevice or encountered a bear that hadn't moved on from hibernation.  Seems I forgot to pack pepper spray and repelling rope. Did I mention the cellular reception was dead?    Perhaps this Speoleogy thing required more preparation.  Then we encountered a pile of fish carcasses (including a fresh meal) next to large cave.  It was time to high-tail it out of the forest before we ran into some formidable wildlife.

A riverside picnic became the next distraction. We watched the boat locks and ran through the grass. 

After puttering around until 3:00 it was time to stop into the clinic and check the status of our friend. Luckily Clover was alert enough to make the journey home!

Despite many efforts to give positive reinforcement, she's not a great traveller. Clover gave the leather interior a shower of drool but spared me the vomit.

Home at last. 

Two tiny incisions. 

Day one; Lots of rest

48 hours post-op and Clover's supervising projects in the yard. She is also carefully creating a string maze with buoy line.

The Dr. made videos of her spay for us to watch and share with our vet.  Bring on the popcorn!  He also kindly invited me to return to observe more first hand.  That is an incredible opportunity. So excited!

In the end I was glad our girl had a heat cycle. It allowed her growth plates to close and form at a natural rate. I won't worry as much about the possibility of ligament ruptures.  Her protective risk from mammary cancer is still very good. Now that she's sterilized, Clover can participate in dog events and social situations without concern.  We can add a brother anytime and let him mature too. The only real conflicts I face are worries about bone cancers and increased aggression statistics.  Vizsla's as a rule are a trustworthy healthy breed.  I know my pup came from amazing selection on the wonderful experience of Pointblank Dog's.  I have to remind myself is that life is a lottery of circumstance. We just try to make the best individual plan for ourselves, our families and treasured pets.

In case you are wondering why I chose OVE over OVH here were deciding factors;

1. Progressive practice in medicine. There is no reason to remove a uterus from a dog since hormones are the primary source of  pathological issues. 
2. There is controversy that damage  can occur when removing a uterus contributing to urinary incontinence concerns (the lack of hormones is considered primarily responsible).
3. Less invasive. Two tiny incisions, minimal bleeding. That means a much faster recovery rate.  If you have a high energy dog or you're a Vizsla owner, I want you to imagine keeping them quiet for several days. Impossible without someone going insane, yes?
4. Quick procedure means less anaesthesia (roughly 16 minutes).

*Update. 2 weeks post-op. She JUST had surgery right? Clover is 150% back to her daily rousings. Despite the obstacles, we have some memorable stories.