Spaying and Neutering your Pet
There are two bad words in veterinary medicine. They aren’t the four letter words but that have had an adverse effect on the profession.
They are Spay and Veterinarian
Wow you say. Spay because it makes a major abdominal surgery sound simple and veterinarian because it is too hard to say and spell. Well with a little practice you can spell it right and say it with right emphasis on the right parts of the word.
A "spay" is an ovariohysterectomy which is a real 50 cent word. It is the removal of the ovaries, the horns and the body of the uterus. These organs are located in the abdomen and are responsible for reproduction. Removal prevents a female from having puppies or kittens.
A small incision is made in the abdomen below the belly button. The uterus is identified and exteriorized. The ovaries are isolated and surgically removed. The horns of the uterus are isolated and the body of the uterus is removed. Once bleeding is controlled by sutures the abdomen is closed. The procedure is performed under general anesthesia. While under anesthesia the patient is monitored for vital heart function and other vital factors.
There are risk of bleeding, infection and respiratory complications. While they are rare they do exist. Each patient is an individual and may have underlying problems. This is why the veterinarian will want to perform some blood test to help reduce the risk. The blood work does not eliminate threats to the patient.
Spaying and neutering can be performed very early in the life of the puppy or kitten. Surgeries are sometimes performed at 8 weeks of life. Most are performed between 4 and 6 months of age.
It is not necessary for a female to go through a heat first and it is not even advisable for this to happen.
Spaying while in heat, estrus, involves more risk from bleeding. Also there is the post surgery risk of being breed. Best to do the surgery before they go into heat. Also there is more cost involved in the procedure.
Neutering is the removal of the testicles. While not an abdominal procedure it is still done under general anesthesia. There are risk involved just like to the females. The same techniques used to monitor the female patient are used in the male.
For the specifics of your pet please contact the office.
