Ok guys need your help. I have a big dilema on my hands. I have unsuccessfully tried to breed Suede (my female black lab in signature picture) twice now. Yes, the stud has litters on the ground so it's not him. This last try I took her to the vet for an ultrasound to check for puppies not only were there no pups the vet thinks she has a cyst on her ovarie preventing her from dropping an egg. The vet told me if I really want to breed her, which I REALLY want to do, we could try some sort of hormone therapy that would cost around $800 and would still be only a 50-50 chance on whether or not it would work.

Does anyone have any experience with this and any advice? It's killing me to think I might have to spay her before getting one of her pups, I really wanted to keep her lineage going. She's an outstanding dog and a real special retriever. She is 5 years old so I don't have a whole lot of time left to breed her. I will do what's best for her of course but just wanted to see if you guys had any advice.

Thanks

Sounds more like you are asking for financial advice.

More emotional than financial I think.

Sure you want pups out of a great dog. Sometimes it is just not in the cards. If you want to proceed, maybe that will 'clear your conscience', but the odds are long. She's getting old too.

Maybe a new pup for mama to raise and you get a do over.

Not asking for financial advice. I'd pay much bigger money to get her pregnant. I was simply asking if anyone here has any experience with this or gone through this with their dog.

Have you checked in to having the cyst surgically removed? Depending on placement of the cyst, this may be a more effective option. Just a thought... I'm no vet. But they can do a spay for $120 and I wouldn't think removing a cyst in the same area would be THAT much more expensive. I don't know, but ask your vet and see. It may create too much scar tissue though and exacerbate the issue.

Thanks for the advice. The vet is telling me removing the cyst is not an option without spaying her. I'm considering just taking her to a different vet for a second opinion. Although they have 3 different vets at the clinic and all 3 are sayingbthe same thing.

Can anyone recommend a great vet in the Tyler Longview area?

If you are serious there are vets that specialize in reproduction. I would send her to one of those rather than a local guy. I am sure you could post on the RTF and they could point you in the right direction.

Not probably what you want to hear but there are a lot of good dogs being bred and I personally wouldn't risk the potential for problems. If good dogs weren't so easy to get I'd have a different opinion but there are a ton of great labs being bred and that is what I'd do.

Having said all of that...I had mine spayed early on having that exact opinion and not wanting to deal with heat cycles.

Good luck and I hope Suede is alright.

Thanks Judd and Leonardo, my vet is actually a reproduction specialist and she recommended I spay her. Looks like I just got to come to grips with it. Thanks for the help guys.

It's probably best to spay her as this could quickly turn into something much worse. I wanted to advise this but I spayed Issie when she was young and regret it now. So I did not. Best of luck man.

I completely agree Judd. There are very well bred litters all over the place. Plenty of information on the internet to find the kind of dog that fits your lifestyle. Making sure the sire and dam have all their health clearances isn't cheap. Not too mention finding the right stud or if you get into artificial insemination.

With the health issues and cost to produce a litter that benefits the breed I think your options are limited.

Is there a chance that your dogs health issues would be passed to the litter?

what is her lineage that you want passed on? whate ere her ofa csore and her cnm and eic status

Take her to Dr Kirk Esmond at Josey Ranch Vet Clinic 972 446 0667. Canine reproductive specialist.

Never hurts to get a second opinion. I highly recommend Josey Ranch Vet Clinic.

Angie

I have always taken my dogs to Jeff Lancaster at Tyler Veterinary Center.

Take to the vet school at A&M and get their opinion

Look for a pup from the same lineage. Maybe there are other dogs from the exact same breeding as yours. Pup from a breeder with a littermate to your dog, etc. For example the grandsire to my youngest dog is the sire to my oldest dog, but each of my dogs came from different breeders.