Almost neuter time...

[Atingles10]

So I will start by saying I've been mia for awhile due to lots of changes going on in our lives but I have missed the group! As we approach Reds 2 year birthday in June I started to prepare for the neuter piece. Of course my vet recommended be be tested for VWD, and he tested positive. She never brought up how severe but instantly recommended me to a specialist.

I'm hoping it will still be an affordable process, not that I wouldn't make it work, but man lol. Honestly im not an expert but I would think after having 2 incidents that called for staples (running full speed through EVERYTHING in the woods) and an ear crop if it was serve wouldn't I have known already? Ive been waiting for 9 days know for the specialists call back Good thing I love my boy. I'll also include some recent pictures since we have been mia

 

[Oh Little Oji]

Sounds like a money-making policy.

Your boy's looking good! I love the Kong pic!

 

[Gelcoater]

To be clear here, he was tested as positive or effected?

And, considering the whole C-19 going on now?
Will they even do a neuter right now?
At the end of the day I think they need at least 2 whole years to grow and develop with all hormones in place.
If it happens to go to 2.5 years, it’s not a bad thing.
Probably better for him.
Unless you have females about I wouldn’t sweat it time wise.

 

[Atingles10]

Sounds like a money-making policy.

Your boy's looking good! I love the Kong pic!

Thank you! And I have to agree, I was considering the stomach tac too so she said they required the test.....it was $350 for just that, hence why I'm doing it in stages to spread out the financial costs

 

[Atingles10]

To be clear here, he was tested as positive or effected?

And, considering the whole C-19 going on now?
Will they even do a neuter right now?
At the end of the day I think they need at least 2 whole years to grow and develop with all hormones in place.
If it happens to go to 2.5 years, it’s not a bad thing.
Probably better for him.
Unless you have females about I wouldn’t sweat it time wise.

Honestly my vet didn't say whether the results said he was positive or effected. I was trying to get an idea of costs for the procedure so I could financially prepare for this summer.
I did have to bring him in a week and a half ago for a mass on his ear that wasn't going away and they just brought him in without me. After bringing him back out to the car the vet actually called me from inside to go over what she saw. I have to admit I thought she was being a little bit dramatic about things. She said we would keep an eye on the mass on his ear and if it didn't go away they could draw blood and run tests. She was like but now that we know he came back with VWD I dont want to do that and then have him bleed out everywhere.....um how is that different then when you drew blood for the test and he didn't bleed everywhere then...

 

[Gelcoater]

Honestly my vet didn't say whether the results said he was positive or effected. I was trying to get an idea of costs for the procedure so I could financially prepare for this summer.
I did have to bring him in a week and a half ago for a mass on his ear that wasn't going away and they just brought him in without me. After bringing him back out to the car the vet actually called me from inside to go over what she saw. I have to admit I thought she was being a little bit dramatic about things. She said we would keep an eye on the mass on his ear and if it didn't go away they could draw blood and run tests. She was like but now that we know he came back with VWD I dont want to do that and then have him bleed out everywhere.....um how is that different then when you drew blood for the test and he didn't bleed everywhere then...

As far as I understand it, and I’m no vet or even educated above HS, it isn’t a positive or negative test.
Give this thread some time to build.
@strykerdobe ? @Archer ?

 

[Atingles10]

As far as I understand it, and I’m no vet or even educated above HS, it isn’t a positive or negative test.
Give this thread some time to build.
@strykerdobe ?@Archer ?

I thought the same thing, but again I'm no expert either. I was under the assumption that there were different levels as to how severe, or not severe, it could be. I am starting to think this vet probably doesn't have much experience with this either.

 

[Gelcoater]

I thought the same thing, but again I'm no expert either. I was under the assumption that there were different levels as to how severe, or not severe, it could be. I am starting to think this vet probably doesn't have much experience with this either.

The way I remember it, positive is positive. Bleeding disorder.
Effected means he doesn’t necessarily have a bleeding disorder but can pass one to any litter he may produce.
Negative is negative.
But again, I’m no expert.

 

[Panama]

The in-house test they used to use gave a vWF % and the Clear / Carrier /Affected status %'s overlapped. That measures protein levels at the time of the test only.

vWD Affected can be either Genetically Affected & Clinically Affected. Genetically Affected does not mean they will have extreme bleeding. Clinically Affected means they will have excessive bleeding with injuries & surgeries.

I would call them and ask what the results (%) was. And while waiting for all this Covid-19 to go away, maybe consider doing the DNA swabs. There are several labs that do it.

I had a boy who's vWF was only 9%... then I learned of the DNA test for it, did it, and he was Affected. Over 13 yrs, he had his share of cuts, scraps, molar extraction at 10 or 11... never had any heavy bleeding. Lived to a little over 13.

The girl I tested the same time was 128%.... DNA'd as Clear...

 

[Atingles10]

The in-house test they used to use gave a vWF % and the Clear / Carrier /Affected status %'s overlapped. That measures protein levels at the time of the test only.

vWD Affected can be either Genetically Affected & Clinically Affected. Genetically Affected does not mean they will have extreme bleeding. Clinically Affected means they will have excessive bleeding with injuries & surgeries.

I would call them and ask what the results (%) was. And while waiting for all this Covid-19 to go away, maybe consider doing the DNA swabs. There are several labs that do it.

I had a boy who's vWF was only 9%... then I learned of the DNA test for it, did it, and he was Affected. Over 13 yrs, he had his share of cuts, scraps, molar extraction at 10 or 11... never had any heavy bleeding. Lived to a little over 13.

The girl I tested the same time was 128%.... DNA'd as Clear...

Thank you! I will reach out today and ask for that information!

 

[Panama]

Clinically Affected means they will have excessive bleeding with injuries & surgeries.

To rephrase this.........Clinically Affected means they could potentially have excessive bleeding with injuries or surgeries.

Even though the male I had tested 9% vWF (which I thought was devastating), he obviously was not "clinically Affected"

 

[JanS]

And while waiting for all this Covid-19 to go away, maybe consider doing the DNA swabs. There are several labs that do it.

This is what I was going to suggest as well. I've used both Vetnostics and VetGen and they'll send you the results saying either clear, carrier or affected.

Honestly im not an expert but I would think after having 2 incidents that called for staples (running full speed through EVERYTHING in the woods) and an ear crop if it was serve wouldn't I have known already?

That's definitely something to take into consideration.

He sure is a handsome boy!

 

[strykerdobe]

Just throwing it out there. There are alternatives for the traditional Spay/Neuters. Like Modified Spays and Vasectomy.
These are important hormones that dogs need as puppies for growth of bones and muscle. As well as there are some studies that not having these hormones causing Endocrine issues later in life.

On Vwd I would do the Genetic test with Vet Gen. there is a Type I, Type II and Type III
Here is lots of information on Vwd

VetGen: Veterinary Genetic Services - Canine - vWD Type I - VetGen

Genetic Test for Von Willebrand's Disease - AKC Canine Health ...
Jun 15, 2009 · It is also one of the most common as it is found in a wide variety of dog breeds. In von Willebrand's ...

 

[Panama]

vWD testing:
Vetnostics: $65
VetGen: $55
GenSol: $40

 

[Ravenbird]

... and again, if he has no problems why neuter at all? It sounds like you are a totally responsible owner and all neutering does is prevent making puppies and make gaining weight easier; very little, if any behavioral changes.

 

[Kaiser2016]

Save the Jolly Balls!

 

[Atingles10]

I did get a chance to speak with my vet today and she said the results were that he was a 8% carrier. I still need to research what exactly this means but the 8% sounds like it is possibly better than it is worse? Lol

 

[Panama]

I did get a chance to speak with my vet today and she said the results were that he was a 8% carrier. I still need to research what exactly this means but the 8% sounds like it is possibly better than it is worse? Lol

I haven't been able to find the actual chart, and trying to draw from memory, the In House vWF (von Willebrand's Factor alisa essay test) has an overlapping scale of percentages. The overlap was what had people confused about it.

Affected: Less then 35%
Carrier: 30-65%
Clear- 60% and above

From results I've had in the past with my personal dogs.
In-House vWF VetGen DNA
Male 9% AFFECTED
Female 128% CLEAR

Again, that particular male was not CLINICALLY AFFECTED (had a molar extracted at almost 11 yrs old w/no heavy bleeding)

 

[GennyB]

 

[Atingles10]

@GennyB thank you for the information!!


The specialist finally called me back. She said they reviewed the results of him being a CARRIER with 8%. She said it's encouraging that he's had his ears done, and had to get staples without a presented bleeding issue. That being said they are quoting me between $3400-$4100 for his neuter and if he did need a transfusion it would be an additional estimated $1000-$1500.

This is not at all what I had planned for financially when I was saving away for his neuter. My vet won't do it since they recommended me to the specialist so I think I'm going to call around for second estimates or opinions. I will always do what's best for my boy I am just so shocked by that number!