The Gold Standard of Spay & Neutering

When it comes to responsible pet ownership, you will often hear about spaying or neutering. Not only will this procedure take away your pet’s ability to reproduce, but it will also help to prevent many serious conditions that could impact them later in life. Though spaying and neutering are extremely common procedures, it doesn’t make you less worried as a pet parent. 

In order to help you ease your mind during your furry friend’s procedure, we’ll dive into the details of the gold standard of spaying and neutering. Let’s get started!

 Pre-Op Exam

Before your pet is prepped for their surgery, the veterinarian will perform a pre-op exam to make sure they are healthy and ready for the procedure. This exam will often include checking their temperature, listening to their heart and lungs, and checking their body for any sign of illness or injury. 

By performing a pre-op exam, your veterinarian is able to give your companion the best chance of having a smooth surgery and recovery process. Not only will this help to ensure your pet’s safety going forward, but it can also tip you off to any possible conditions you may not have been aware of. 

Pre-Op Blood Screening 

The best way to make sure that your pet is ready for surgery is by performing a pre-op blood screening which includes a complete blood count (CBC) and organ function tests. Anesthesia and other medications they may receive during the process have to be flushed through the kidneys and the liver, making it so important to make sure these organs are functioning properly. 

Pre-surgical blood work will check their kidney enzymes, their liver enzymes, and other values that your veterinarian wants to stay on top of. They will also perform a CBC, which checks the numbers of the red and white blood cells within the body. By checking these values, they can ensure that your pet is not fighting an active infection and that they are not anemic, among other things. 

Though it’s an extra expense, performing a blood chemistry and CBC is the best way to ensure a smooth surgical process for your furry friend. This cost is often part of a complete surgery package. 

OHE/Spay/Castration/Neuter

In order to make sure you are fully aware of the surgery your pet is receiving, let’s dive into the terms and discuss their meaning. 

• Spay/OHE: Sterilizing a female animal by removing the ovaries and usually the uterus. The surgical site will be in the lower abdominal region and will have a small to medium sized incision.
• Neuter/Castration: The surgical removal of a male animal’s testicles. The surgical site is either directly above the testciles in the lower abdominal region or at the base of the scrotum. 

Whether your furry friend is male or female, these procedures will remove their ability to reproduce and offer them a healthier future going forward. 

IV Catheter Placement

Just like when humans have surgery, our furry friends should have an IV catheter placed as well. An IV catheter is the best way to ensure that your veterinarian has instant access to the vein, especially in the case of an emergency. Your pet’s IV catheter will be a direct portal for IV fluids during surgery which are needed to help support blood pressure and organ perfusion, access for injectable medications, anesthesia, and any other drugs that may be needed throughout their surgery. 

Think of an IV catheter as a safety net for your beloved pet. Having instant access to your animal’s vein helps to offer them the instant care they need, as well as save precious time if the vet needs to give any emergency drugs. 

Keep in mind that your pet will need to have their arm shaved in order to receive an IV catheter. The area will need to be prepped and cleaned before placing it, meaning all fur will need to be removed in order to make it as sterile as possible. Though an IV catheter is not surgery, it still requires extra care and sanitation. 

IV Fluids & Set Up

Once your pet has an IV catheter in their arm, they will be started on IV fluids. Though the procedure itself is short and you may wonder why they need fluids, there are actually multiple benefits to this extra step.  

Remember how your pet was fasted of food in the hours leading up to their surgery? Well, IV fluids will help to replenish any fluids that were lost in this process. IV fluids will also help to offer them an extra boost of hydration after their surgery, as your pet may not be interested in eating or drinking for the rest of the day. 

IV fluids will also help to support your pet throughout their procedure; they’ll help to keep their blood pressure stabilized as they undergo anesthesia, as well as help their body flush the anesthesia and medications throughout their system. IV fluids also offer the kidneys and the liver the extra support they need to metabolize these medications with ease. This will make your pet’s recovery smooth and help them bounce back to their normal selves in the days following. 

Anesthesia

Now that your pet has their IV catheter placed and started on IV fluids, it’s time to administer the anestesia. Anesthesia will help your pet stay asleep through the surgery and will prevent them from feeling any pain. Though every hospital is a bit different in the anesthesia they offer, you can have a general idea of what to expect. 

First, your pet will be given a pre-med for pain and to make them a little sleepy. Then they will be given the anesthetic medication to make them fall asleep. This medication will often put them to sleep quickly, and a technician and vet will be standing by and ready for the next step. Next, your pet will be intubated and hooked up to a machine that delivers oxygen and anesthetic gas. They do this by placing an endotracheal tube in their mouth and down their trachea, which is a direct path to the lungs. 

By having them intubated, your pet will receive a calculated mixture of oxygen and anesthesia throughout their surgery. This will allow the staff to adjust their depth of sleep quickly, as well as adjust their anesthesia levels whenever necessary.  

Surgery Monitoring & Equipment

When your pet is asleep and undergoing surgery, the staff will monitor your pet’s vitals closely with their surgical monitoring equipment. This equipment helps to make sure that your pet is handling anestesia well and makes sure they are free of any pain. These surgical monitoring tools include:

• EKG: The EKG offers a recording of the electrical activity of the heart. The EKG is applied with tiny clips that hook to your pet’s skin and help to monitor for any heart abnormalities or irregular heart beats.
• Pulse Ox: The pulse oximeter is applied to your pet’s tongue once they are asleep and helps to monitor the levels of oxygen in the bloodstream. This tool ensures that your pet is receiving adequate ventilation throughout the procedure.
• Blood Pressure: The blood pressure cuff/doppler helps to monitor your pet’s blood pressure throughout the surgery. This tool lets your vet know if there are any sudden drops in pressure and allows them to address it if needed. Keeping blood pressure within the normal range is important to protect all the organs of the body as well as keep your pet stable while under anesthesia. 

Not only will your pet be monitored by equipment, but they will also receive their own technician that is responsible for monitoring them throughout the procedure. This technician will have a constant eye on your pet and will immediately inform the veterinarian of any changes in their vitals. Not only will they monitor them during the surgery, but they will monitor them throughout their recovery as well. Think of this technician as your pet’s advocate throughout the surgical process. 

Surgery

Your veterinarian will be in charge of performing the spaying or neutering procedure. Though each pet is different, you can expect your pet to be put under anesthesia and done with surgery usually within an hour. Once they wake up from their procedure, they tend to be extremely drowsy for a few hours and often quite sleepy for the rest of the day. 

Pain Control

During your pet’s surgery, they will likely receive an injection to help relieve their pain once they wake up from the procedure. Your pet will likely be sore when waking up, so this helps to take the edge off and make them more comfortable. This will also help them have an easier transition when waking up from anesthesia. 

Medication To Go Home & The Elizabethan Collar

Now that your pet is awake and doing well, it’s time to send them home with tools to help them recover. Your pet will likely be prescribed an NSAID, which is a pain medication that also targets inflammation. This will help to relieve their pain as well as help limit any post-op complications due to swelling. 

Perhaps the most important part of your pet’s recovery is the Elizabethan Collar (E-collar). All progress can easily be ruined if your pet chooses to lick or bite at their incision site. Most post-op complications are the result of pets gaining access to their incision, so it’s important to prevent this possibility with the use of an E-collar. 

Summary

Now that you understand the spaying and neutering process from start to finish, you can ease your mind with what’s to come. The gold standard of spaying and neutering is the best option for your furry friend and will offer your pet the best chance at a safe procedure! Don’t forget the spay is a once in a lifetime opportunity to bank your pups young healthy stem cells for use later on. Learn more