SPAY PROCEDURE
WHEN TO GET YOUR FEMALE STERILISED?
It is much easier on the pet to be spayed before going through a “heat” cycle, due to the smaller size of the reproductive tract. Best age to spay pets is 6-8 months of age. Surgery is performed painlessly while your pet is under general anaesthesia. Surgical risk is very slight due to modern anaesthesia and techniques, but there is always to be some small risk when an aesthetic is used. Postsurgical pain is minimal. Most pets go home the same day surgery is performed.
WHY TO GET YOUR FEMALE STERILISED?
(Spaying – Ovariohysterectomy)
- Prevents signs of oestrus (heat).
- Prevents blood stains on the carpet from the “heat” cycle.
- Decreases surplus of puppies and kittens.
- Decreases the chance of developing breast tumours later in life.
- Decreases the chance of cystic ovaries and uterine infections later in life.
- Anaesthesia is a much less risk at the younger age.
- Prevents breast development if done before breeding age.
WHAT IS THE PROCEDURE?
OVARIOHYSTERECTOMY: Medical term for “spaying” the female pet. It is a surgical procedure, which removes both the ovaries and the uterus. In the dog and cat, one of the major reasons for performing the sterilization surgery is to eliminate the annoying “signs of heat” which cause males to be attracted. If the uterus alone were removed, the pet would still “come into heat,” but could not get pregnant. Removal of both the ovaries and uterus completely eliminates the annoying signs of being “in heat.” And will prevent your female from falling pregnant.
POST-OPERATIVE INSTRUCTIONS:
You may give your pet dinner as per normal. Anaesthesia and abdominal surgery may cause nausea and vomiting after surgery, do not be alarmed if your pet refuses to eat dinner. She should happily eat breakfast the next morning, if not consult with the doctor for some nausea medication.
Give water when you get home and at frequent intervals before bedtime tonight. Do not let her drink a large quantity at one time—or vomiting will occur. If no vomiting occurs by bedtime, leave water available for her during the night.
Do not give Aspirin or Tylenol. These can be toxic to her. A pain injection has been given just after the operation and pain medication will be discussed at time of discharge.
Restrict jumping as much as possible until the sutures are removed.
Return in 10 DAYS for suture removal. There is no charge unless sedation is required.
If she was “in heat” when spayed, keep her away from male dogs until suture removal. If accidentally bred, of course she cannot get pregnant, but internal suture could be torn causing internal bleeding and even death.
Keep her warm and dry until sutures are removed.
Be sure vaccinations are kept up to date because her resistance to disease will be lowered for a few days due to the stress of any surgical procedure.
NOTIFY THE CLINIC IF ANY OF THE FOLLOWING OCCUR:
- Vomiting after 24 hours
- Diarrhoea
- Refusal to eat after 48 hours
- Severe pain
- Continuous lick or pulling at the sutures. (Restraint Collar May Be Needed).
OVARIOHYSTERECTOMY: occasionally, pets will lick and chew at their incision site to excess. Since little tongues and teeth can do a lot of damage in just a short time, this must be prevented. If she continues to lick and/or chew at her incision site it will be necessary to fit her with an Elizabethan Collar until the wound is healed. These are available from us at nominal extra cost.
Despite our best efforts, occasional pets will manage to get their surgical wounds open and infected. This is nearly always due to over activity, and/or excessive licking and chewing at the incision. We make every effort to avoid complications, BUT surgery complications are always possible with any procedure. Complications might include infection, wound dehiscence (breakdown), or sutures chewed out by her. Please contact the hospital at once if you feel she may have opened or infected her incision. In most cases, the incision will not need to be re-sutured. Antibiotics may be required. Post-op rechecks are performed at no charge, but the client is responsible for the cost of all drugs and materials used. THE CLIENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY AND ALL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH ANY COMPLICATIONS OF SURGERY BEYOND OUR CONTROL.
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