A few questions...

Hi All,

I havent been on for a while so I hope you're all still Gr8...

I've booked Lola in to be spayed next Monday...but now I'm wondering if I'm doing the right thing
I would love another pooch and to have one of her pups would be great
I never bought Lola to breed or show her, I only want her as a pet to spoil,give hugs and love...
..Decisions...Decisions....

Friday night I had a bit of a fright...
Lola was going for late night walkies when she was couping down for poops but she just couldnt go,she took ages but just didnt go..she seemed to be in a bit of pain so I rubbed her belly took her home (which took ages cos she kept stopping to try) and put her in a warm bath...there was soft poop around her bottom and on her tail
As far as I know she hadnt eaten anything different and I'm confused as to whether she was constipated or purged!?!
Either way she was in pain and after the bath her bottom looked sore and quite red.
After the bath she settled down and slept all night...I didnt though I was worried I very nearly called the emergency vet (My Husband was away and my daughter thinks I over react where Lolas concerned...)...next morning Lola was fine and has pooped normally since but this has fightened me, she was in pain and at one point she did shriek...

I spoke to my MUm about it and she said when they pooch sat in Oct the same thing happened...
I am going to ask the vet about it but has this happened to anyone else? any ideas?

Sarah - my lot have done this occasionally. Sometimes they have gone to the loo and because it hasn't "fallen" off, the next time they go, it's stuck, so it can't come out - so it looks as though they're constipated as they keep trying to squat. Once the offending article has been removed, and they can poo properly again, they're fine.

Sounds disgusting, but I hope you know what I mean!

Yep I have been there in the same position as Kirsty says, once the offending blockage is washed from the bottom, it usually is fine next time they go.

Hi Sarah

Same thing happened with Chino the other day and I had to put himin a warm bath to remove the offending blockage! Felt terribly guilty for not noticing but he's such a ball of fluff it was easily missed. Alfie has his rear end shaved slightly as well as his tum (I call it a hygiene trim) and has never had this problem so think I'll be doing the same with Chino too. Its good because the tail fur hides the bare botty lol, we don't do bare botties in this house!

Cheers Guys...part of me knew I was over reacting...she seemed to be in a lot of pain tho...
Debs do you co the 'hygiene trim' or do you take Alfie somewhere to have it done?...Lolas getting to the stage where she needs one and I was tempted to have a go myself

No I don't do it, (yet) only because Alfies coat's a nightmare at the moment and I like the groomers to give him a good going over every now and then...plus they always coming away smelling divine! I've just this minute dropped the pair of them off for a bath and tidy up...

You weren't over-reacting Sarah because if there is poo stuck over the hole then it can cause a blockage in the bowel because she can't go (an impaction) and she may well have shrieked because it would hurt as it comes out. So it is really important to check that this area is clear. it isn't usually a problem unless the dog has had a slightly loose stool or as Kengai says it has dropped off when shih tzu have a lovely way of trying to rid themselves of it (and making the matter worse )
Its not easy to do on a hairy being i can tell you!!

As for cutting the hair there - I am on the opposite side of the fence for this because I have known people have problems exactly because they have cut the hair - the shorter hair around the anus makes it easier for the poo to stick whereas if the hair is allowed to grow it falls away from the hole so to speak but there are many who do cut around there - but they still need to be vigilant and also need to keep cutting it

If Lola is a little sore there today you can put a bit of vaseline on to help make it feel a little more comfortable till the soreness dies down.

Thanks again for all advice...always welcome

Where do you get Alfie and Chino trimmed Deb?
I only know of one in Pontnewydd...

Oooh where's the one in Pontnewydd? I take mine to Canine Corner Croesyceiliog. Here's a link for you. Canine Corner

First of all I had Poppy spayed a few weeks ago. I was like you booked her in then felt all guilty and awful I was having her spayed. But like you when I brought Poppy I had know intentions of breeding 1) because I would end up keeping them all and 2) I wouldn't know where to start. Anyway Poppy was fine, but I wasn't I worried all day about her.

As for the other years ago when I was still at home I had a Rough Collie he was my life loved him to bits if you saw me he was always with me. I took him out one day and like your little one he kept getting down but nothing. When I got home I told my Mum and she said he must be constipated I will keep an eye on him. I don't know what made me look at his bottom but when I did ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh He like people had said on here must of had an upset stomach at some point and it was stuck to his bum. Well rubber gloves on warm water and some scissors I sorted him out. The poor thing went straight to the back door to go out after was and yes blast off.

Hiya

I feel a bit guilty..should I put her through an op, should she have pups?
OH says I made the decision when I booked her in so I should just go with it....and like you I wouldnt want any of them to go...I'd end up with a houseful!!

let me tell you Sarah from experience it is hard work, there can be heartache and also it is very difficult to let them go

I bet it is very hard work, a friend of ours had boxer pups they were blinkin gorgeous but sadly 4 out of the 5 died...it was heartbreaking the vet said sometimes it just happens...heartbreak city!
Like my OH says...I've made the choice now I'll stick with it
XxX

I had two litters with no problems - well she needed a c section second litter but all the puppies were healthy. I was on a roll and so decided to have a litter from this bitch's daughter. I lost every puppy, was hand feedding teo for 4 weeks and still lost them and the bitch was very poorly and I nearly lost her. Apart from the expense it was emotionally and physically draining. I don't want to put anyone off because having puppies is one of the greatest experiences I have ever had but I think people need to be aware of the problems that can arise. (I know I didn't realise how awful things could be).

I would agree with your OH - you won't regret it I am sure

Sarah wrote:Hiya

I feel a bit guilty..should I put her through an op, should she have pups?
OH says I made the decision when I booked her in so I should just go with it....and like you I wouldnt want any of them to go...I'd end up with a houseful!!

Sarah you sound just like me I was just the same. But she was find and im glad I did it I dont know what I would do if I lost her having puppies. You are doing the right thing for her think its natural for us to question ourselfs if we have done the right thing.

The best of it is I want another little girl so will have to go through it all again.

I had pups from Coco last year (hence Saska, is Coco's daughter) thankfully nothing went wrong but things can and do go wrong. I was extremley lucky that nothing did go wrong, she delivered 5 healthy pups and they all thrived.

Its very hard letting them go, wondering if you have made the right choice with the people you have chosen to be their new mum's & dad's, not all stay in touch, although they all promise the will do. The only one I am still in touch with now is Jacqui, she has Cinnamon, Coco's last puppy born.

And it is extremly hard work, thank god my mum helped out in those 1st few weeks, she watched over Coco and pups so I could sleep through the day whilst she slept at night, it nearly killed me.

But would I do it again.....No. I did enjoy it and was glad I had done it, but so much can and does go wrong, and I wouldn't want to risk it, I thought I was lucky this time. Sometimes none of the pups make it, sometimes the bitch doesn't make it, its just a risk I am not prepared to go though again. I got what I wanted from the litter (B&W bitch, smaller than her mum, flatter face than Coco and a good tail). She is very different to her mum, in fact after chatting with Lesley the other day and she sent me a link to Saska's Gt Grandfather (Ch. Rosaril the chimney sweep) I think she looks very much like him.

You could end up not selling your puppies, then you've to keep them all until you can, and its exhausting feeding, cleaning and playing with a litter of pup's, its hard work with just the one, but when you have a few, running around and getting into mischeif, not to mention trying to toilet train them all.

That is why I have decided not to breed. If I did let Mimi have puppies they would not be pedigree anyway, I know I could still get £200-300 on freeads or somewhere similar but to me it's just not worth it. Firstly I would be devastated if I lost Mimi or even one of the pups. Secondly I don't think I could bear the worrying (I am a terrible pessimist) not just about things going wrong; ceasarian, haemorrhage, still-birth, runt not thriving etc etc but I'd be imagining terrible things could happen to the puppies in their new homes (I guess wicked people pretend to be nice & kind but are puppy farmers I'm sure ).
I also have to confess I really did not enjoy Mimi's babyhood; when she was pooing & peeing everywhere & defying us, chewing everything etc. I know they can't help it & it is their nature but I found it very hard work & with on average four of them I don't think I'd be a very good at it.
So Mimi will also be having the chop next year . (Got to save up - it's £160 )

Hi Jax where abouts in East anglia are you? I am in Norfolk and it will only cost £60 to have Biscuit castrated. Yours sounds very expensive. Sorry looking at the date of your post you probably had him done now.

Hey, if you didn't plan on breeding or showing her then I'd go for it...I've just had Pancakes castrated and I was soooooo scared, worried all day and everything and my sister was with him all day as she's a ANA at our vets so I shouldn't have been so worried knowing he was with someone I knew but I was...and he was totally fine.
As for the pooping problem, as long as it seems to be okay now I wouldn't worry, Pancakes struggles sometimes thinking he just HAS to go because I'm walking him, when he doesn't even need it he just wants to please me and be a good boy for pooping outside!