Gasps and groans. I'm sitting at the vet with Olli. My sweetest Malinois.
I have made the decision that I will have to spay her. Not with my good will. Because I am actually a big advocate of leaving our dogs intact. BUT, as fate would have it, Olli has been terribly falsely pregnant the last two heats, and it is actually so severe that it is both a shame for her and destructive for our relationship.
Olli is a "recycled dog" and therefore I haven't had her since she was a puppy. Therefore, it wasn't until her second period of false pregnancy with me that I realized that this was what was happening.
During her periods of false pregnancy, she has been destructive, smashing everything she can get her hands on. Pillows, duvets, Mac cables (yes, she didn't become popular then!), USB sticks, flowers. Yes, everything.
She hasn't been able to be alone. At all. Without whining, stressing, and destroying things.
She has been extra alert outdoors to everything. Everything that moves, everything that is in the picture. For long periods of time, she has not been able to concentrate on going to the bathroom on walks, as she has been completely stressed and intense about everything, including smells.
She has been licking herself, her stomach and breasts have been swollen, she has produced a lot of false pregnancy hormones. At times she has not wanted to go out at all (!!! when you have a catfish that does not want to go out, something is COMPLETELY wrong!!)
She has built a nest and been a sticky mess for both me and my boyfriend.
So, in collaboration with the vet, we agreed that sterilization was the only right thing for her. Even though I HATE taking my animals to the vet, and even more so when they have to go under anesthesia.
Her period of false pregnancy is actually so long that it is almost impossible to hit a good time because her hormones are fluctuating and not stable at the time other bitches are. So we started the morning with a vaginal scrape to be ABSOLUTELY sure it was the right time. And that was also the "big round" on the table, so we were sure that the uterus was not sick or anything like that.
Little Olle-molle. Of course, I was with her when she was examined. When she was put under anesthesia and when she came out of the operation, she was with me. So I could be there when she woke up. I WANT to be there. My dogs should not wake up alone or be put to sleep alone. I think it gives security to both parties to be present and not to pity them, but to be there for them.
Now she's lying down and sleeping off the intoxication. I can reveal that my arm muscles will be strengthened when lifting 35 kg of dead weight, especially down from the 2nd floor.. Giggle! But as long as Olli is OK and she becomes more stable in her mood and hormones afterwards - then I can live with it!
A big thank you to Højesle Dyreklinik, who performed the sterilization. In addition to taking the time to provide good and thorough guidance on the phone before the appointment was booked, there is room for dog owners like me who need to be there for my animals, from start to finish. And then it was just really good treatment and caring veterinarians and veterinary nurses.
Behind the scenes of this week's blogger
Tina Hougaard is a trained dog trainer, currently training to become a behavior therapist and is passionate about training, especially Nose Work, and runs PowerDog. She is the happy owner of the beautiful and cheeky Tibetan Terrier Pilou aka PellePirat, with whom she trains obedience, tricks and Nose Work.
Olli is the newest member of the house. A Malinois bitch who will hopefully also step her beautiful paws into LP, tricks and Nose Work.
Sterilization of little Olli
Gasps and groans. I'm sitting at the vet with Olli. My sweetest Malinois.
I have made the decision that I will have to spay her. Not with my good will. Because I am actually a big advocate of leaving our dogs intact. BUT, as fate would have it, Olli has been terribly falsely pregnant the last two heats, and it is actually so severe that it is both a shame for her and destructive for our relationship.
Olli is a "recycled dog" and therefore I haven't had her since she was a puppy. Therefore, it wasn't until her second period of false pregnancy with me that I realized that this was what was happening.
During her periods of false pregnancy, she has been destructive, smashing everything she can get her hands on. Pillows, duvets, Mac cables (yes, she didn't become popular then!), USB sticks, flowers. Yes, everything.
She hasn't been able to be alone. At all. Without whining, stressing, and destroying things.
She has been extra alert outdoors to everything. Everything that moves, everything that is in the picture. For long periods of time, she has not been able to concentrate on going to the bathroom on walks, as she has been completely stressed and intense about everything, including smells.
She has been licking herself, her stomach and breasts have been swollen, she has produced a lot of false pregnancy hormones. At times she has not wanted to go out at all (!!! when you have a catfish that does not want to go out, something is COMPLETELY wrong!!)
She has built a nest and been a sticky mess for both me and my boyfriend.
So, in collaboration with the vet, we agreed that sterilization was the only right thing for her. Even though I HATE taking my animals to the vet, and even more so when they have to go under anesthesia.
Her period of false pregnancy is actually so long that it is almost impossible to hit a good time because her hormones are fluctuating and not stable at the time other bitches are. So we started the morning with a vaginal scrape to be ABSOLUTELY sure it was the right time. And that was also the "big round" on the table, so we were sure that the uterus was not sick or anything like that.
Little Olle-molle. Of course, I was with her when she was examined. When she was put under anesthesia and when she came out of the operation, she was with me. So I could be there when she woke up. I WANT to be there. My dogs should not wake up alone or be put to sleep alone. I think it gives security to both parties to be present and not to pity them, but to be there for them.
Now she's lying down and sleeping off the intoxication. I can reveal that my arm muscles will be strengthened when lifting 35 kg of dead weight, especially down from the 2nd floor.. Giggle! But as long as Olli is OK and she becomes more stable in her mood and hormones afterwards - then I can live with it!
A big thank you to Højesle Dyreklinik, who performed the sterilization. In addition to taking the time to provide good and thorough guidance on the phone before the appointment was booked, there is room for dog owners like me who need to be there for my animals, from start to finish. And then it was just really good treatment and caring veterinarians and veterinary nurses.
Behind the scenes of this week's blogger
Tina Hougaard is a trained dog trainer, currently training to become a behavior therapist and is passionate about training, especially Nose Work, and runs PowerDog. She is the happy owner of the beautiful and cheeky Tibetan Terrier Pilou aka PellePirat, with whom she trains obedience, tricks and Nose Work.
Olli is the newest member of the house. A Malinois bitch who will hopefully also step her beautiful paws into LP, tricks and Nose Work.