[charvie]

GRRR!

I've been trying to get my pups "fixed". I have a male and a female from the same litter and they're bother just over a year old now.

Mocha has had her first heat about 8 months oldish (I think) and things didn't go too badly, we were able to keep the dogs seperated, and although they didn't like it much, we all got through it alright.

We can't afford much in the way of vet bills and we've already had some unexpected expenses as far as the pups go that ate what little savings we did have.

But since they had been to our vet a few times now I called and asked about getting them fixed, costs, and if we could do a payment plan or something.

Just to get Mocha done is going to be about $200! And they don't do a payment plan for it because apparently it's considered an "elective surgery" ... it's not an emergency so no payment plan.

So we have to save up and get them done one at a time - we figure Mocha first cause she's the smelly, drippy one that has the chance of getting pregnant.

In the mean time, Mocha's gone into heat again! This time is a LOT worse. She's REALLY smelly and drippy and Beldin will NOT stop whining. No matter WHAT we do.

My partner is about ready to go ballistic ... we've been losing sleep. We keep them seperated but Beldin has figured out how to get under, over or through pretty much every barricade we've put up.

I put him in the bathroom and closed the door so Mocha could eat in peace, but he started howling (he's never howled before).

REALLLLLY loud! The neighbours complained so we had to let him out of the bathroom.

He's tried to mount anything that moves. The whole time with a high pitched whine.

My partner ended up losing his temper today and scared the kids by yelling at the dogs so I told him to get out of the house for a while and calm down.

It's not the dogs fault but I feel like I'm on my last nerve as well.

Mocha's not whining at all - but no matter what we do we can not get Beldin to shut up. Nerves are a little frayed right now. He's normally really good and quiet and I know it's probably the smell and the hormones etc that's driving Beldin crazy.

We are DEFINATELY going to be doing everything we can to try scrape together the funds to get Mocha and Beldin fixed. Tomorrow I'm going to be calling the SPCA to see if there's anything they can possibly do to help with regard to funding - I'll be able to pay them back - I just can't afford the fees all at once. I HOPE they can help. We can't go through this again heh.

I was just wondering if anyone else (maybe some of you breeders?) who has a "whole" male and "whole" female and what do you do when they're in Heat and do any of the males just whine constantly like this? What do you do to shush them?

I've read about collars and stuff that zap the dog when they whine but I don't know if that's humane or what? And again with the thing about costs.

I think once we get them fixed things'll be fine again. Normally the dogs are pretty quiet.

Anyway ... just kind of venting - needed to get it out of my system... going to go take some deep breaths now heh.

I figure if I let the dogs stay with the vet for a night like this maybe they'll change their mind about the "non emergency" part *hehe*

 

[Guest]

Maybe an alternative to get the male fixed first. Its usually cheaper. I know that prices vary greatly. My niece wanted to get her male neutered. She foumd the prices here in the Detroit metropolitan area to vary between 200 and 400 dollars. Her mother has a place in rural northern Michigan (Alpena) and she ended up being able to get the work done by a more rural (farmer's) type vet for $50. Unbelievable difference. I figured a farmer with a bunch of farm dogs isn't going to pay $200 to get each dog fixed, to the vet has to adjust. Check around. It might be worth a longer drive to find a cheaper price.

Hopefully your SPCA might have some ideas. I know this has to be driving you nuts.

Janet 'n Twinkie

 

[charvie]

*nods* I know the males are cheaper but Mocha smells and leaks all over the place. So my partner wants to get her done first.

They both should be but if we can only do one right now it's probably going to be her. Especially after this time.

We're going to have to get our carpets cleaned and one of the couches redone too. She's a mess hehe

 

[Mikey T]

We're going to have to get our carpets cleaned and one of the couches redone too. She's a mess hehe

Simple Solution Diaper Garments

 

[Basset Momma]

The diapers work fairly well... a cheaper alternative is boy's underwear with pads- but regardless it is messy! A kennel, or a friend to keep Beldin might be easier this time around. Getting Beldin fixed first would give you a chance to save up money for Mocha since you'll have a few months lag time for her. You have about three weeks worth of this... and it may get worse before it gets better- Good luck!

 

[Guest]

Sometimes, when I'm up against a financial wall, I charge what needs to be done, and set myself up on a payment plan.

It's just a suggestion. Good luck to you!

 

[Guest]

The vet will probably want to wait until this estrus is over to spay and it takes a few days for the hormones to subside after the male is fixed so either way it looks like you'll have time to save up. I'm a student and when Francis got sick last fall with his eyes I really grovelled abjectly with Angell Medical Center and it worked ( I mean absolutely shameless. It must have been a picture) My credit is totally used up and I had to really hustle to pay tuition but somehow it all fell into place. Good Luck

 

[shallhb]

Yes--Call the local SPCA ASAP. Ours does spay and neuters for much, much reduced prices (I think it's $25.00).

 

[charvie]

Originally posted by Hub & OhDee's:
Sometimes, when I'm up against a financial wall, I charge what needs to be done, and set myself up on a payment plan.  

It's just a suggestion.  Good luck to you!

We would but we don't have charge cards either ... bad financial situation put partner in "bad credit" bracket so we don't use plastic - easier to not get burried too deep - although it would be nice for times like these!

 

[charvie]

Originally posted by S. Hall:
Yes--Call the local SPCA ASAP.  Ours does spay and neuters for much, much reduced prices (I think it's $25.00).

That's what I'm hoping ... I know we'll probably have to wait until Mocha's back to "normal" to get her done but first thing in the morning I'm calling for info!

 

[charvie]

Originally posted by Basset Momma:
The diapers work fairly well... a cheaper alternative is boy's underwear with pads- but regardless it is messy! A kennel, or a friend to keep Beldin might be easier this time around. Getting Beldin fixed first would give you a chance to save up money for Mocha since you'll have a few months lag time for her. You have about three weeks worth of this... and it may get worse before it gets better- Good luck!

Thank you!

Actually today I tried the boys underwear thing ... they fit pretty good on her but she had them off in about 15 min... my partner is suggesting duct tape ... heh :roll:

 

[Basset Momma]

We used velcro and/ or a baby diaper pin to tighten it a bit... they are very good at getting out of things

 

[Miss Emmas Daddy]

I agree to check out alternative vets/groups to do this. We were only charged $75 to get Emma spayed and we have a male dog that cost $60 to get neutered. I see you are from BC and I know things are more expensive but $200 sounds pretty steep. It is a shame it costs so much to do the "responsible" thing.

Good Luck!

 

[charvie]

I have to wait another day to call the SPCA now - I just called and apparently they are closed on Mondays.

I called a few other vets in town. They're all pretty standard as far as pricing for having the dogs fixed ... none are willing to do payment plans ... and the thing is that most of the other ones that I haven't been to yet would actually be more expensive because they want to book me for check ups, etc first and I've already been through all that with my current vet.

Of course none of those prices would be included in the price of having the Spaying/Neutering done.

Some of the others want payment in advance.

What happened to people caring for animals because they care for animals and not the money?

Also... considering the big push to "Have Your Animals Spayed / Neutered" ... they sure as heck make it difficult to do so! Gah

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

I have another question:

Is this typical? Beldin is basically refusing to eat now. He didn't even want a cookie or treat or anything. He's also not drinking.

There doesn't seem to be anything wrong with him other thasn his fixation on Mocha and trying to get at her right now.

Mocha is barely eating (probably because Beldin is highly distracting) when she does eat she nibbles.

I'd say in the last 4 days the dogs together have eaten maybe one day's worth of food.

I put Mocha outside to try entice Beldin with some canned food and he just went crazy scratching at the door to get outside and digging at it, whining, barking, etc - he was completely and totally not interested in the food.

I thought maybe if I put some in his mouth he'd realize what it was and eat it ... but nope.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

I've seen a whole new side to my partner's temperment during all this - heh.

 

[Basset Momma]

I know vets don't charge near as much as physicians but still...

Just spent $140 at the vet this morning. Sami neded a refill on Heartwom meds (no labs needed this time) and they trimmed her nails ($9- can't miss that!). Indy needed an exam, heartworm refills (again no labs) and his annual shots.

My husband almost gagged... and that is why I explained I try to scatter our check ups at different times- With 4 dogs it can get expensive!

 

[Aruuuu]

It's not unusual for a male to go off his food when a female is in season.

I know what you're going through, because before Charlie was neutered the only way we could get any sleep was to put him in his crate in the car at night!!!! Life is so much easier now. Good luck!

 

[charvie]

I think it's almost over ... I must have missed the first half of her heat because now both Mocha and Beldin have eaten today ... Mocha seems less swollen and drippy .

Beldin still keeps trying to get at her but I only had to get up a couple times last night to hush him up. So we actually managed to get some sleep last night.

They also seem calmer today. Still not back to normal but certainly not as bad as the last week has been.

Also I managed to get in touch with the SPCA. They said I can have Mocha fixed for $105 and Beldin for $85. So I can get them both done for the same price as having just Mocha done at the vets!

Thank you all SO much for your supportive words of encouragement and for letting me vent

 

[Jeff&Sandy]

Hi Chuckles! Sandy and I took Bessie to a spay/neuter clinic and it cost about $55 we also had the micro chip implant for another $30. Most Vets in our area were asking $150 but asking around is how we found the clinic. Everything went fine and they kept her over night.

 

[Valerie and George]

We had George and Rosie at the same time and neither was fixed (George still isn't, and Rosie has since passed away) and when she was in heat it was UGLY for all of us. He whined and cried and barked and basically made a HUGE nuisance of himself, and one or the other had to be confined to the basement for the duration. Rosie took it very well -- she was a good dog -- but HE raised Cain the entire time, whether he was confined or she was. Makes you wish they had doggie condoms so you could just let them go at it. LOL

Here we have low-cost spay and neuter programs but you have to be low-income to qualify and we don't, yet we still couldn't afford to lay out the $200 or more to get either one fixed, and the last time we took a dog in to get neutered, he had a bad reaction to the anesthetic (according to the vet, anyway) and died. We no longer use that vet, but I'm still afraid to risk it, so we just made a resolution to have only one dog at a time now that Rosie's gone and never again to have opposite sexes together, EVER.

Have you any rescue or no-kill shelter type organizations (besides the SPCA -- the one here is singularly UNhelpful) in your area? Maybe they know of a low-cost program you could use.

 

[charvie]

Originally posted by Valerie:
Makes you wish they had doggie condoms so you could just let them go at it. LOL

**LOL** I dunno 'bout you, but -I- wouldn't want to be the one to try put something like that on my dog! hehe What a mental picture!