Accidental mating

[feebee102]

Unfortunatly on Thursday my bitch who was in season accidentally mated with our male (All efforts where made to keep them seperate but he found a way to get to her), and they tied. I got incontact with our vet and went to see the on Friday.They informed me that I needed to see them two days in a row ie.Monday and Tuesday to give her an injection to terminate any possible pregnancy. As she is a Great Dane they told me it would cost �150.Are they having a joke! We where waiting for her to finish her season and where going to get her spayed. I enquired if they could just spay her instead of giving the injections but they said no. They also told me that the injection is not fool proof and she might retain a pregnancy. Are they just trying to get as much money out of me or not. You would think that they would make this kind of treatment a bit more affordable so there are no unwanted puppies brought into the world. They also said I could just wait and see if she is pregnant which seems a bit drastic.I don't know if they just don't care ( money signs flashing infront of them). Do you think I should seek out another vets advice.

[lankeela]

Some vets do not like giving the injection, as it can interfere with the bitches normal cycles and has been known to cause pyometra in some cases.

Also, the best time to spay a bitch is between seasons i.e. about three months after her last one. This gives her 'bits' a chance to return to normal.

As the vet said the injection may not always work.

As for making the injection more affordable to prevent more unwanted puppies, well sorry but I think that is down to the owners to manage their dogs/bitches better rather than rely on a cheap 'get out of trouble' card.

[feebee102]

Although I partialy agree with your answer what happens if it is an elderly person who lets there dog out into the garden and nextdoors dog jumps the fence.Would you take the same attitude.
I think vets prey on misfortunes, knowing that owners want the best for there pets.
Where I used to live (300 miles away from where I live now), was a vaccination clinic.The vet who ran it got a lot of abuse from many vets as she provided a affordable service.Five years ago I had two bitches spayed,vaccinated (boosters) and micro chipped and it cost �60 for the two of them.
I have looked at some of your postings and I find you advice good but patronising.
I do love my pets but unfortunately this was a genuine accident.In your experience have you NEVER had an accidental mating.Maybe your a vet so it poses as no problem to you.
All I was asking advice on was if �150 was expensive, and the vets attitude of "Well you could leave it and see what happens".
If I could readily afford it I would pay without batting an eyelid, but unfortunatly my husband has skin cancer and is unable to work (this happened after we got the dogs).
So what do I do, scrape together the money and hope the injection works or hope for the best and maybe end up with a little of unplanned pups.

[Kimmiebear]

Many vets will spay even with a pregnancy especially early in the pregnency. It means that there is some more bleeding on the table and the surgery does take longer so it is ususally more exspensive than your normal spay. I personally am not a fan on injectable abortion medications and sinse you want to spay her anyways my advice would be to find a vet that is comfortable doing so. Be aware that with surgeries there is a bit of you get what you pay for; so make sure you are comfortable with the vet you choose to use. Opt for IV fluids if it is an option as Danes will have low pressures during surgery often and this will allow for open venious access as well as a way to bolster pressure. Rotten luck with the mating. Have you thought about castrating your male? Hope this helps
Kim

[ProperBoPeep]

I am not going to join a massive slanging match here because I am bored of defending the veterinary profession.

However I must make several points.

{} The drug used is called "Alizin" and is a very expensive drug (believe it or not, the vet has to buy the drug from the pharmaceutical company!!).

{} Bigger dogs need more drug volume

{} Once a bottle is opened it has to be used or thrown away so the client has to pay per entire bottle

{} The injection has to be given twice to be effective and it is nearly 100% effective and safe.

{} There is a cheap option called Mesalin. This also is given two days apart and is a fraction of the price. However it is only about 75% effective, can cause puppy malformations and horrific abortions.

{} You can spay if pregnant (often after an ultrasound scan to confirm pregnancy) - there are higher risks associated with the surgery, mainly through increased risk of severe haemorrhage. This is especially true with large dogs.

___________________________

So, if cost is an issue, vets can deviate from "best - practice" but this is not without associated risks! Also please bear in mind that your �150 is not all profit! Most of that is for the cost of the drug itself.

[ProperBoPeep]

.. and I am afraid that it is SOOO common to have matings where you have an entire male and an entire female in the same house. Without being rude, I feel you have slightly brought the situtation on yourself and therefore should be a little less accusatory when people give you advice!

[lankeela]

I currently have three entire males and two entire females. As i do not wish to breed from the females at present I am going to the expense of having them both injected to prevent them coming into season, as an alternative to having them spayed, as I may wish to breed from them at some point.

In the past when I have had males/females I had paid to have either one or the other boarded for the duration of the season so as to avoid any unplanned matings.

As for vets not caring, I really don't think they would have gone to the trouble of all that training to undertake a job like theirs if they did not care about the animals.

You asked whether you should seek out another vets advice - my answer reflected the fact that another vet would probably say the same thing, and as this was a preventable occurence, did not see why it should be made more affordable. You did not ask me to give my view on your personal financial status, or personal circumstances, which I did not do.

Sorry if you think I sound patronising, but after a year of trying to give honest advice to people on this site I am starting to get a little less tolerant of people's ignorance
and whereas at first I became very upset and offended when people had a go at me for offering them the advice they were asking for, now I have become rather more thick skinned and have adopted a 'take it or leave it' attitude.

[smurfchops]

Just to be safe, get her speyed before her next season, best all round.