Well, I tried for a second opinion after reading about the new prostaglandin protocol that causes uterine evacuation - it's a medical option over a surgical option for treating uterine infections and pyometra. I knew my vet locally wouldn't be open to the suggestion, so I headed to Beaumont to a vet that I knew to be breeder friendly.
When I called, she didn't have an opening till next Monday. I asked about doing a walk-in and they said yes. So, I was there after lunch, only to find out she wasn't there today (nice to be told *grimace*). The vet I did see only wanted to spay her. The ultrasound showed fluid in her uterus. He scoped her and said the cervix is open with lots of pus coming out. Well, he didn't do a cytology to determine if it was pus, he just based it on color. He kept calling it pyometra even though she doesn't fit any of the clinical signs: no temp, no foul odor, no lethargy, no vomiting, etc. She does have a vulvular discharge and the color today was cream instead of brown like yesterday. I told him it had been switching between the two, but he didn't want to hear it. I got the stink eye because I bred her anyway. Since I didn't see a puppy and she hadn't delivered anything, then she couldn't be in postpartum discharge. He just kept pushing the spay. When I asked about the lutalyse protocol, he said we use oxytocin, but when I pushed him about it, he said you can't use oxy after the first 48 hrs. When I asked again for the lutalyse, he hemmed and hawed and refused. Said she wasn't a candidate because she had been having the discharge to long even though she is stable and the cervix is open. Kept trying to scare me about how the cervix could snap shut and the pus would make her septic, etc. Which is all possible, but there are other options than a spay.
I had also spent the weekend researching off of college vet sites about the new prostaglandin protocol and how it is being used to treat open cervix metritis and pyometra. When I asked for a copy of his findings from the ultrasound and the exam (which he hurt her palpating her uterus, he was rough), all I got was a print out on pyometra and how to prep her for surgery.
Needless to say, I was mad and upset and ready to scream. I called a friend and she contacted Brittmoore hospital in Houston for me. We are headed there tomorrow morning for an afternoon appointment with Dr. Kampschmidt. If he says she needs spaying, then I will trust he is looking out for her best interest and not just being spay happy. He's in the top of the reproductive field.
I tried a local vet first because the protocol requires a series of shots over several days. I'm still at my parent's house helping my mom. She can manage at home by herself now, but she can't drive. Me being in Houston for several days is going to be difficult on her, but I'm at the point I don't have an option if I want to keep Piper intact.
I'm having a hard enough time dealing with Piper being sick without having a doctor try to scare me into a spay. I have her best interest at heart. If I thought for a second that she was in danger, I would have her at the vet so fast my head would spin. I've wrestled with spaying her or trying to keep her intact for showing and a chance at a litter. It has really hurt that my dream dog, the one I have always wanted a puppy out of, is in this situation. I love her like nothing else and this isn't easy. I should have just called Brittmoore this morning and tried to get in with them to begin with. They stopped my friend in her tracks when she was describing the situation and said I needed to get in there for another opinion - they knew about the protocol without her having to say anything.
I know a lot of people are against breeding for various reasons, but I'm writing this so others will know that even when you do everything right, things go wrong. The dog that you love ends up in danger. Having to make the decision to spay her and give up your dreams because of a decision you make is beyond hard. Having to decide to fight for her and your dreams is even harder when you are faced with vets who are resistant to breeding and don't want to use new protocols that have a proven track record from the top reproductive vets in the nation.
I'll try to keep y'all updated about tomorrow, but I know it's going to be tough the next few days. If Piper does undergo the shots, please keep her in your prayers. And trust me, she will be spayed if I even think she is in danger. This evening, she was acting like a puppy and wanting to take on my brother's bull in the pasture. Silly Min Pin!
And, if none of this makes sense, my brain is beyond tired and running ninety miles an hour trying to get stuff done before I head out tomorrow.