The Stitches are Off

The stitches are off! Dog Neutering Vet Bill Cost edition.

Not the vetties again. I know the vets are real pretty, but I've been put to shame more than enough.

Yes, after one week of feeling down and lonely for having lost his balls, Puppy Brown is now a bonafide offspring-less bachelor.

Warning: Do not try this at home. Dr. M is a licensed vet with a few years of experience under her belt.

Dr. M snipped the stitches as quickly as possible. No more E-collars for us! Of course, he still had to deal with a few hands restraining him on the vet's metal table during the process.

Not all hands were there to restrain him. One was just keeping him distracted. Puppy Brown is a sucker for chin scratches.

Castration Costs:

Procedure: 2,500 php (roughly $70)
Antibiotics: 4.50 php x 2 capsules/day  x 7 days= 63 php (less than $2)
E-colllar: Free (but if you need one, shih tzu sized e-collars cost around 200-350 php)
Betadine (for wound application): 100 php ($2.5)
Cotton: 15 php (less than $0.50)
Transportation: Location dependent.

Approximately, $75. Not bad. We're so lucky Dr. M didn't charge us for having the stitches removed.

Some things to consider:

Bloodworks: 900 php (roughly $23)
Additional Medication and Recovery food: 500-1000 php ($12 - $24)
Additional Vet Check-ups: 250 php/visit ($7/check-up)

How much was your vet bill when you got your dog neutered?

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What Puppies Do...

That's simple... puppies play, feed, look cute and walk clumsily. I forgot to mention they poop and still look cute.

Update: I haven't done much blogging due to the busy schedule. I would like to thank everyone who have left me messages. I am hoping to have everyone vaccinated this month. Having 10 dogs to tend to is no easy business. Both adult and youngins are due for their vaccination except for Chooey.

Good news!I have found a cheap neutering and spaying program in our locality. I also asked permission from the real dog owners (my sister and BIL) if it were okay to have Whitey and the pups neutered (and Chooey and Rin spayed) and they said yes ^___^. But I  can't risk doing it along with the vaccination. I also read that spaying/ neutering should take place just before the 5th-6th month. I plan to finish the vaccination first... then we go Coney Island ^___^.

Puppies... wow, they're cute. They're clumsy and cute. I just had to share our puppy adventures.

WHAT DO PUPPIES DO....

1. Puppies eat.

Puppies eat... in some of the laziest positions.

More often than not, they exhibit "dog pack"sharing behaviors while eating... or maybe the other one has fallen asleep.

2. Puppies play.

Puppies play with toys you let them play with. Sometimes, you catch a glimpse of serenity amidst the puppy chaos. As you could see, Timothy the Turtle is still alive!

Other times, puppies play with something they're not suppose to play with. *Cough... whose slippers are those?!?

3. Puppies are innately curious.

Cherish the days a dog looks at your camera innocently because someday, you'll never get opportunities like these.

4. Puppies are smart!

Beneath that puppy facade is a cunning, sleuthing, super genius canine. So beware the days following their first "sit" trick!

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4 Reasons to Spay Your Dog

Previously, I posted the 5 Importance of Altering your Doggy. Now, I'll delve into the details of why spaying should be considered.

Here are some myths in spaying:

1. Waiting for the dog to have been "in heat" once before spaying is advantageous.- According to some rescue groups, spaying before she matures will help her avoid mammary cancer and pyometra (a painful disease in the uterus of non-spayed older dogs) later in her life.

2. Spaying should be done after her first litter. Although it's so wonderful to have to see your grandbabies, you'll have to put that off if you're unable to provide them good homes. Reality check, 4-6 million pets are being euthanized each year- maybe more!

If you're so tempted to give in, go to your local pound and see the many homeless dogs they have. Better yet, adopt one if you (can afford) are willing to add one more dog in your family. You'll not only make him happy, but you'll certainly save his life.

Source

Or you can simply look at her. This is how owner-less dogs typically look in my country. Most people here are not into "altering their dogs" because of its cost. The picture above clearly depicts what happens to unwanted and abandoned ones roaming the streets. The dog above was lucky enough to get rescued, but what about the others?

Why is it a big deal to spay your dog?

1. You won't need to deal with a dog actively seeking a mate. Since she's in heat, her male counterparts will also be able to smell her a block away. Male dogs even go into fights just to get one female. Stray dogs may also appear in front of your house/gate.

2. You won't need to deal with her "Estrus period". A female dog "going in heat" will pee in different unpleasant places (frequent urination). She will also be rubbing her blood off your floors. This period occurs for approximately 21 days.

Some may not have known this since it only occurs twice a year (for most dogs). I have only seen it occur once with my now deceased dog (thankfully, due to very old age) when I was 9. With most "street dogs", it will only be noticeable once she's already pregnant (the thing we are trying to avoid in the first place). Other dogs are into cleaning themselves well, reason why we hardly know this fact.

3. Once spayed, your dog will be less aggravated, anxious and short-tempered. When she's in heat, these traits will normally come out including restlessness.

4. If she doesn't get pregnant during that period, she'll probably go through "false pregnancy". There mammary glands may enlarge and produce milk. She'll also be more whiny and needy of attention. You might even catch her "mothering" a toy.

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5 Importance of Neutering and Spaying

The term "altering your dog" is widely used as a general term for spaying and neutering. I've previously added sterilization as a tip to lessen the aggression in your pooch. Here are additional pros to it:

1. No risk of bringing unwanted puppies into this harsh world. Awhile ago, I found a controversial news regarding the PETA and ASPCA regarding the number of dogs and cats they euthanize yearly. The author made it a point that approximately 90% of the dogs rescued are put to sleep. I'm not sure if this is real, but hearing how many of these innocent doggies are being put to such an ordeal is heart breaking.

Be a responsible owner. If you don't plan on taking care of puppies, neuter or spay your pet to prevent overpopulation.

2. Lessens aggression. According to some books, altered dogs are calmer and less agitated. This also means that the males are less likely to pick a fight with other dogs.

3. Surprisingly, you'll no longer need to worry about the mess your female dog's monthly period will cause.

4. Lessens the risk of dog cancers. This includes female breast, ovarian, uterine and cervical cancer. For the male dogs, prostate infection and testicular cancer.

5. Female mood swings. Don't forget that dogs have hormones, too. And they can act the same way as your daughter or wife, with mood swings. Spaying your dog will lessen the tendencies of mood swings.

There are some speculations saying that spaying an aggressive female can even worsen her aggression, I suggest to consult a dog trainer or a canine behavior consultant to see if her aggression should be worked on before spaying.

Altering your dog doesn't change his character. Spaying and neutering only takes away the innate desperate instinct of your dog's breed.

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