Im going to start off by giving a little background information, so this is a little less confusing. 

Back in November of 2010 I bred my bitch.  She had an ultrasound and was confirmed for a larger than normal litter.  Pregnancy seemed to go ok, but when she went into labour it showed a different story.  She whelped easy enough, thats not the problem.  She delievered one pup and then went to sleep.  Took her to the vets because we were expecting more pups, only to find out that there was nothing left in her.  Ok, fine and dandy I thought.  One pup. 
This pup, the vet gave a 10% chance of making it through the night.  The vet asked if I wanted to put the pup down for an extra $150.  To be honest, I didnt have that money (to be put ontop of the cost of the visit, and xray, and such already being charged at an after hours emergency clinic).  So I took her home.  She did make it through the night, so it gave me a little hope.
The next day I took the pup to my own vet and they were more hopeful.  They said that they have seen hernia's worse than what this pup had and they made it to live to be happy healthy adults.  She had her stomach wrapped and I was sent home with bandages and cleaning supplies to keep the area clean. 
Long story short, the pup didnt make it. 
About 3 weeks post delievery my bitch had pus coming out of her vulva which smelled in the worst possible way.  I was so scared.  I lost the pup, a litter, and now I may loose my bitch.  I took her back to the vet and they didn't know what the infection was, but put her on ABs to clear it up. 
I was at a show a couple weeks ago, and the owner of the stud dog asked if I was going to reuse her male on my bitch. I said I was a little worried about doing a rebreed after what happened last litter.  I mentioned about the infection again, and loosing a litter, and she said I had to bred her then, or the infection would come back.  Especially if it was Pyometria.  I thought this was a load of rubbish she was telling me because I knew she wanted a bitch out of mine. 
I went to the vet to pay on a bill and asked them if what she said was true.  Thinking they would come back and say it wasnt, but I wanted to make sure.  According to the vet, it is true.  If I dont breed my bitch this season then the infection is most likely going to return.  They said either make sure you breed her this season, or spay her before hand.  They said even if I did breed her though, it would only delay the infection one season.  And I would have to spay her by her next one. 
I am so confused as to what to do.  I do have a dog lined up to breed her too, when she comes in if I cant get her in to spay her before she comes in (she is due any time - and I still have a bit of wait until pay day).  I am also worried that if the infection comes back again, it will be worse and I could loose more than just a litter.  I am also worried about the spay because this bitch has real problems with anesthetic.  Her throat has closed up each time she has had to have surgery.  This is so hard. 
I guess I am looking for anyone that has dealt with this, or what you would do in this situation, anything.  Because so many things are going through my head and heart right now I can't make sense of them all.  Please help

If she was mine, I'd have her spayed. The fact that she doesn't deal with with being knocked out and the fact that she's produced a puppy with such a severe hernia that it's died would be more than enough to make me decide not to breed from her again, and that's not even taking into account the risk to her own health. At least if she's knocked out for a planned spay, then the vet can focus just on her.

Sorry - probably not what you wanted to read, but just my feelings.

I wouldn't think about the risks of anesthetic when you're deciding whether to have a litter or not - after all, if you have a litter and she needs a C-section, she may well need an anesthetic anyway.  So breeding or not breeding, you may have to face the anesthetic issue and should just discount it as a factor in the decision.

You haven't said much about why you want to breed her - if she has achieved a lot in shows or working, if her lines are desirable or needed in the breed and so on.  You would always have to weigh up what might be gained with what might be lost.

It also sounds like you're in a panic and thinking you need to breed asap to prevent a pyo in your bitch, and this isn't really the right mindset to go into breeding a litter with.  Ie - doing it (now, at this point) mainly to avoid something, rather than because it is something you actively want and would have done anyway.  You have to really want those pups and the breeding experience, not just (mainly) want to avoid something and feel frightened into breeding. 

can someone please also answer posters question re- by the info her breeder said and also the vet if she doesnt breed from said bitch she  will have a pyo ?? I am interested as never heard of it before.?

Roni

Any un-spayed bitch is at risk from pyo. But many un-spayed bitch's go the whole life without ever having a pyo.

but a bitch that has already had a Pyo (the infection that the AB's were for) is most likely to have one on the next season.

Pyo could/would return whether she was mated or not but as this was an infection after labour maybe something retained etc it may not be linked to the repro cycle and just from thing retained after the pregnancy. i know pyo is termed as an infection of the womb but wouldnt it develop just after bleeding and no puppies?

I am curious as to what surgery she has had in the past?

To have a large litter confirmed and only get one pup with a major birth defect would make me very wary of trying for more pups.

But maybe there was infection present throughout pregnancy and thats what was on the scan? which made you think more puppies? Has she had a litter successfully before 2010? This is a toughy but present life before possible life xx

Hi Kory

It never rains but it pours!  A dilemma indeed.  I agree that a bitch, having had an infection once, does seem more prone to another.  And I know how loved your girl will be.

It does sound as if your girl could be at risk if pregnant.  So, you asked what others would do in your situation.  Given that she doesn't do well at GA's then you want the easiest and safest, and fastest option for your girl.

I would plan to have her spayed 12 weeks after her next season, when her hormones are at their calmest.  I say plan, as you may well have to change your mind, should she start with another infection.  And, if that happened, while not ideal, it would be less risk than having an emergency op on a pregnant bitch.

Just my take on things.  :-)   Good Luck Kory.

> You haven't said much about why you want to breed her - if she has achieved a lot in shows or working, if her lines are desirable or needed in the breed and so on.  You would always have to weigh up what might be gained with what might be lost.
>
>

She has done some major winning here in Canada during her show career, both as a pup and as an adult.  Best of Breed, Best of Winners at the Toy Specialty when she was just over a year of age.  Best Brace in Specialty Show last October.  And many many breed wins over top dogs.  Her daughter, has wone Best of Breed several times, Best of Opposite Sex at the Toy Specialty this past October, and Group 2nd in Bred By Exibitor. 
Her Pedigree has some of the most saught after dogs in Canada, and one of the best all time producers that every breeder wants (but he is dead and gone, and no semen left to use that was frozen before his death). 
I do want another litter, the issue was I didnt want a back to back breeding.  I wanted to give her a chance to recouperate from the last litter.  I have not only a long waiting list, of previous buyers, but also new ones who really want my lines. 

> I am curious as to what surgery she has had in the past?
>
>

At thirteen weeks she had her ears cropped, and then at 6 months she had two canine teeth pulled that were retained. 

> But maybe there was infection present throughout pregnancy and thats what was on the scan? which made you think more puppies? Has she had a litter successfully before 2010? This is a toughy but present life before possible life xx

She had a heathly large litter of three two years ago March.  All pups survived and are now living well happy healthy lives.  I have her daughter here, who apart from a broken leg as a pup (jumping off her moms head and then falling three feet - silly dog) she is great!  Healed up very well and one can not tell she ever had a broken leg. 

As you have a daughter of hers, all is not lost.

I would spay her and breed from the young bitch. 

I would not use the dog you used on her mother, as the defect may have been down to something going wrong in pregnancy and why the rest of the litter was lost, but may be an unfortunate combination of genes producing it, which you would wish to avoid.  so I would go for a male unrelated to the one you used on Mum's lost litter.

Yes as Brainless has said you have her lines in her Daughter which is now coming of age, is there any reason why you would breed from mum and not just daughter? Since you do have a daughter from her and i remember your posts about breaking her leg, i wouldnt risk your girls life and get her spayed when you can.

I just had a consultation with my vet, and this is what she said.
1) she doesnt think it was actually PYO because it didnt clinically present as pyo. 
2) If it was pyo, caught early, breeding her if I can't get her in to spay soon enough (before season comes) will prevent a pyo
3) Ultrasound is horrible at actual pup count
4) An ultrasound was done when Cher was taken to the vet because of the pus and it did not show any evidence of pyo.
5) The hernia was a trauma based hernia (Mira was stuck for a moment, and when Cher stood up while pushing, thats when she believes the hernia happened with the pulling on the cord).
6) If I was to breed her, then she would be heavily monitored during her pregnancy to make sure something wasnt starting. 
7) Heavy monitoring would be done post delivery to make sure an infection wasnt coming.
8) She feels that there is no real risk (apart from risks of breeding) to breed Cher for one last litter and then spay her.

Now, I am not saying I am going to breed her.  I just had the consultation with the vet because I wanted to know all the risks and possible complications of either decision.  The risks are also there for a spay, but monitoring will be done based on her history with surgery.  I also spoke to the vet that was Cher's primary vet prior to breeding, during her pregnancy, saw the pup that passed away, and was the vet when I brought Cher in because of the infection.  I thought having the consultation with her, compaired to having another vet just read the file and make a decision based on that, was the best option. 

I do feel somewhat better after talking to my vet.  Basically because she can tell me all the risks medically, for all options, rather than just a yes or no.  I like to know all information before making a decision.  

I feel now with the information from here, fellow breeders, and the vet I can make the best decision possible for my Cher.