Help... need to make a decision in regards to my Golden.

[Mycookoonest]

UGH! The FOA cert is only good for up to 50 pounds... then there is an additional charge at the vets for heavier dogs... she's 53 pounds. So it'll probably be $250 at this other vets office which a heck of a lot better! But she can't get in until Aug 19th, the receptionist said she would call (noticing my urgency) if there is a cancellation... so I had to forgo the immediate appointment for a lower cost spay. I'm hoping that she can get in sooner... I'll probably call a couple times to make sure she doesn't overlook any openings.

 

[glowworm]

Did you check all the vets in your area? Gestation is counted from the first day the dog was bred...so your girl will be pretty far along by August 19th...It would be nice if you could get in at least a couple of weeks before that.

 

[Mycookoonest]

I hear ya... like a hole in the head.

If she was to get pregnant from this "encounter" however brief it was, do you think August 19 would be too far along in her pregnancy? I think assuming she's in the middle of her cycle she would be about 3 weeks along?

Ugh!

 

[Mycookoonest]

Of the 4 places I've called they are close to $300 with a ther cert from FOA, and well over $400 normal. The one place that I made her appointment with is $215 including everything but this is the aug 19th appointment.

Talk about rock and hard place... lesson learned... spay before 6 months!
Thank goodness we did a staycation this year because we need all the money we can for this pup and our chicks! Oh and the section of roof that needs to be repaired...

 

[Cara]

You certainly need to shop around for another vet. Ours is almost too reasonable (we've told them to raise their prices!), but spaying and tacking the stomach on my Bloodhound was around $150 with no discount. The other females i've had were spayed as part of humane society programs, one was $80 (for a 90lb dog) and the other was just $40. Most humane societies have discount vouchers available. If you contact your local humane societies and shelters, they may be willing to help you even if they don't have established programs, just to save them having to deal with the puppies.

I really believe that the responsible think to do is spay. My favorite of our dogs is a mutt; she was from an unwanted litter at the pound. I adore her, and am so proud of her (she's a SAR dog), BUT none of her littermates found homes and out of respect to her I could never knowingly add to the homeless dog problem.

 

[patandchickens]

Well, the cost of spaying is just part of the cost of responsible dog ownership. By all means shop around to find the best deal you can, but it is just *going* to cost a bit, you know?

There are already so many puppies and perfectly good young dogs being euthanized at shelters for lack of homes... the world really doesn't need more of them. Inconvenient though the timing of all this may be for you.

Good luck and best wishes,

Pat

 

[verthandi]

Mycookoonest, there is always the opinion of talking to your vet and arranging a payment plan. If you have been with your vet for any amount to time, they will usually work with the owner to do what needs to be done at the appropriate time.

That said, my critters have a credit card that is used for only their expenses. I have been caught between a rock and a hard place before and I never want to be there again. It's horrible to worry how to balance out my funds when a medical emergency happens.

Best wishes and I hope it all works out for you soon.

 

[glowworm]

On that day the dam will be at 46 days. The starting age to xray for puppies is day 45 and later because that's when their bones are ossified (done going from cartilage to bone) and their skeletons will show up on xrays. However, the puppies are not quite to the age yet where they could live outside mom. 63 is average gestation, but puppies can be born up to a week earlier and live.

Your girl will obviously look pregnant at this time if she did get pregnant, and it might be physcologically harder for you. I think it really sucks the hospital can't make room for you in this situation!

 

[s6bee]

I will only say if you decide to spay, do it earlier in her pregnancy.

 

[FlockEweFarm]

WOW!

Spays are crazy expensive where you live!!! I had both my 5 year old, 120lb,Bloodhound and my 10 month old, 140 lb Mastiff neutered and treated for an injury at my vet yesterday, and everything, including medications, was under $250! Last time I had all my female dogs spayed, I had 3 done for $360, and that included all their shots! Have you contacted North Shore Animal Welfare League? What are all these animal welfare groups that raise money for spay neuter programs doing with the money, because I know that I have never been able to get any help with getting any of my critters fixed, and I am on a very limited income. I had to save up for a couple of weeks to get my boys taken care of, and they hit me up for a donation for the less fortunate as I was paying for my boys!
What about getting her a Mismate shot??