The cost of human medication – the death of a dog
"Those eyes. They just begged for help, for a chance."
Believe it or not, but people actually give human contraceptives to their dogs and often kill them by doing so.
Linda Scrace, a member of Friends of Rescued Animals (Fora) rescued Maliha, a Miniature Pinscher cross on Monday, 6 November and believes that her owner had done just that.
Maliha came into Fora with a massive pyometra (pus-filled uterus) and she was in septic shock, believed to have been caused by being given an injection of Depo Provera, a common contraceptive for women.
Photo: Submitted
“I’m starting Monday off with a rant,” said Linda. “I am angry, and I am disappointed. Before we even opened the doors this morning, I got a call from a pastor at a church in Krugersdorp West. He said a stray female dog that they thought looked heavily pregnant had arrived at the church three days ago and wasn’t well.”
She wasn’t pregnant and Linda decided to take her to the vet. “The ultrasound wasn’t difficult to read. She had pyometra and was in septic shock. The vet put her straight on a drip and drew blood to assess her kidney levels.
While waiting for the results, Linda stood by the dog’s side, stroking her head which was tilted toward her.
Photo: Submitted
“Those eyes. They just begged for help, for a chance,” she said.
The blood results came back, showing that Maliha’s kidneys were taking huge strain and Linda was stuck with a very difficult call – give the vet the go-ahead to remove the pus-filled uterus at a cost, or humanely euthanise her.
The next morning, Linda took the decision to let the vet try and save her.
“I took it with my heart and not my head. I will pay the price if she doesn’t make it.”
She sat down and completed the paperwork while worrying about the dog.
Her thoughts varied from worry to anger. “Her owner spent money having her tail docked, but didn’t spend money on sterilising her.”
Photo: Submitted
Two things could have helped her: being taken to the vet immediately and not having been given the Depo Provera injection.
There is a very strong possibility that the owner, from Krugersdorp West, also spent money on a human prescription drug to prevent the dog from falling pregnant. This causes pyometra and actually adds to the severity of it.
Linda suspects that a local pharmacist dispenses this drug to the public for their animals because it isn’t an uncommon action in the area.
“I will be reporting him/ her to the drug council,” she said. “Right now, I am holding all thumbs and paws for Maliha.”
More about the dangers of Depo Provera:
Depo Provera is a contraceptive method for women. It’s made of a hormone similar to progesterone.
It’s a shot that a doctor gives you in the arm or buttocks. Each shot works for up to 12 to 14 weeks, but you must get the injection once every 12 weeks to get its full protection. It’s 99 per cent effective in preventing pregnancy.
Dr Destini Holloway, a veterinarian said: “The Depo Provera (Medroxyprogesterone acetate) drug is effective immediately and can be used to regulate a pet’s reproductive cycle when given intra-muscularly every 5 months. It has to be strictly monitored by your vet, although I will say that most vets won’t use this drug because it has some serious possible side effects including iatrogenic diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, and pyometra. I myself won’t use or recommend this drug to any of my patients. Other than spaying the female, there are no alternative ways to prevent pregnancy in dogs that I am aware of at this time.”
One simple rule: don’t use human medication for dogs (or cats).
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB) are toxic to both cats and dogs, even in small doses. Many medications can be highly toxic to cats, including Pepto-Bismol, Kaopectate and aspirin.
Alternative pregnancy prevention for dogs:
Spaying is the best method of preventing pregnancies. It involves the removal of the womb and ovaries. It is permanent and irreversible. Although involving major surgery with general anesthesia, the risk is minimal in the healthy animal particularly if she is immature. The removal of the womb eliminates the side affects of animal birth control like obesity and pyometra.
For more information consult your local vet:
Krugersdorp Animal Hospital
011 954 0107
Noordheuwel Dierekliniek / Animal Clinic
011 954 2350
Rant en Dal animal hospital
011 660 3110
Silverfields Veterinary Clinic
011 955 4338
Muldersdrift Vet
011 795 2025
Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at krugersdorpnews@caxton.co.za or phone us on 011 955 1130.
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