My admiration for competent, responsible dog breeders is growing exponentially this week!
In mid August, I picked up a stray (probably dumped) dog who'd been wandering near the corner store all day. I took out ads in the local papers hoping she might be lost and her owner would turn up and took her to the vet the next day. She had a heavy heartworm load, "LOTS" of other worms/parasites, had recently had a litter of pups, and was more than 25% underweight. I could tell from the veterinarian's face that she expected me to euthanize the dog. Glenda, the dog, solid black and has issues beyond the medical ones but I decided to give her a chance at life. My vet regrouped after stuttering and we started her on dewormers and Heartguard but she was much too weak and underweight to survive heartworm treatment or even spaying.
My older Lab does NOT like most dogs so I never expected to be able to keep this girl. My plan was to schmooze a friend in rescue to take her if I'd pay the costs. However, my older chocolate Lab took to her so she stayed and they quickly became quite the pair. Glenda revives Bryde and Bryde provides calm and security for Glenda (who, according to an DNA test turns out to be 3/4 Labrador and 1/4 German Shepherd). And they are a joy to watch together, my wanna be alpha girls :)
16 days later, Glenda went into heat and I went into PANIC. Breeders on several email groups I belong to gave me the guidance needed to survive that heat without pregnancy and with some of my sanity in tact. They scared me to death with stories of dogs tying through chain link and the other amazing ways that dogs can "get it on" but that's exactly what I needed to know to keep this girl safe from the neighborhood studs and her own worst instincts. These breeders generally consider me to be an outsider, incompetent in the field of breeding. They're right and my desire to learn isn't based in a desire to breed but merely to generally understand. With Glenda's heat, it became very real and these breeders had no reason to help me but they DID. I spent last September with a semi-crazed dog who was still terrified from the other traumas of her former life.
Since then, she's been a VELCRO girl but she's learned to trust some that I'm going nowhere, more so if she's constantly with my older Lab who trusts me implicitly. Both breeders and rescuers have assisted me with advice on a number of issues with her. For example, I have cats in the house and it helped to know that her interest in the cats was more "herding" than "prey" interest. Not something I'd have a clue about distinguishing between on my lonesome.
Glenda has 2 speeds. Asleep and HIGH. She is not a good candidate for the dramatic heartworm treatment because of the need to be sedate and confined for extended periods. She's adapted to a crate but she bolts out of it revved up to run. Calmer now than several months ago but still not even close to calm and I just don't think calm is in her nature. After consulting with the vet, she's probably just going to be long term Heartguard Plus treatment and let the heartworms die off because, by the time she's calm enough to treat the other way, they'll be at least half gone and she's probably had the heartworms most of her 3 year life so much of the damage is done already.
Well, Glenda has made great progress. She's up to weight with a beautiful coat and free of parasites except the heartworms. Perhaps I could have rushed her and spayed a couple of months ago but I want her to have the best chance so was willing to endure another heat cycle, despite now knowing more about pyometra than I really want to know. Oh, well, at least I feel like I'm making reasoned balanced choices for her rather than just having to defer to the vet as I've done for most of the last several decades.
About 10 days ago, the signs of heat were pretty apparent. It'd been only 5 1/2 months so I turned again to the breeders for advice. Is that too soon? Is it a problem? Nope and "you know what to do now". Yes, thanks to all of you, I do. THANK YOU!
But, OMG, the difference between a healthy, happy dog in heat and a sickly one is a new experience all of its own! Last time around, Glenda really didn't feel up to wanting a boy because she just plain didn't feel well. This time around, I consider every in tact male on the block to be an attractive nuisance! Glenda is healthy and strong now and she WANTS the boys as much as they want her. Good Grief. You guys deal with this on a regular and repeated basis? With multiple dogs??? Seriously??????
Over the last several months, I have gained a much greater understanding of the pros and cons of spay and neuter and I certainly understand why so many defer the procedures and it is indeed possible to prevent pregnancy without them, especially in a house like mine with only girls. I've seen a few comments from some on how S/N is done for the "convenience" of owners and now I finally understand what you REALLY mean by that. You're RIGHT, it is largely for the convenience and sanity of us casual owners! Even so, as I watch this girl ready to claw her way out of the house to get to the studly boy across the street, I know I'm going to wimp and have her spayed in a few months and before the next heat cycle. Well, provided the vet says she's healthy enough. Oh, please, OH, PLEASE let her be healthy enough so I don't have to endure another week like this one!
My hat is off to all responsible breeders who would deal with these heat cycles. I've looked at the numbers and you clearly don't do it for the money. You must REALLY adore your breeds to deal with what I've seen over the last 6 months day after day, year after year, decade after decade. Yes, I know there are breeders who put the wrong things "first" like putting conformation/appearance over health and I think that needs dealing with but it's not changing my opinion for this week.
Hats off to the responsible breeders out there! (And a note to all the "regular pet owners" out there. You do know it's the breeders' interest in dogs that promotes research on their healthcare? Without them, medical care for our dogs would be downright medieval!)