What Is A Spay & What Types Exist?
If your furry friend is scheduled for a spay procedure, you may have a few questions as to what this process entails. Though spaying is an important part of responsible pet ownership, many pet parents don’t fully understand the procedure and how this process sets them up for a healthier future.
In this article we’ll dive into the details of what a spay is and the different types of spay procedures that exist for our beloved companions.
So What Is A Spay?
In general, the term spay is used to describe the ovariohysterectomy of a female animal. By performing a spay under general anesthesia, the veterinarian is able to successfully prevent the female from producing future litters and avoid future health concerns that intact female pets can face.
A spay is one of the most common procedures performed in veterinary medicine, is performed in a sterile environment and pets are provided ample recovery time at home. Most pets can go home the day of surgery and only need a few days to recover and feel like themselves again. Although they need to follow the veterinarians directions and not be active for 10-14 days to prevent causing any complications.
What Is Removed During A Spay Procedure?
When a pet undergoes a spay procedure, there are a few tissues that are removed. By making an incision in the abdomen of the female, the veterinarian will successfully remove the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus. By removing these tissues, your pet will be freed of their heat (estrus) cycles as well as many instinctual behaviors that come along with having their reproductive organs. The best way to understand what a spay procedure is would be to understand that it is the same procedure that a woman undergoes when she has an ovariohysterectomy.
Did you know you can help your pup have a healthier longer live by banking her stem cells from the tissue they remove in the spay? Learn more
Why Should You Spay Your Pet?
Though we all understand that spaying your pet is recommended by animal health professionals, you may wonder why this procedure is recommended in the first place. Many pet owners that don’t plan on exposing their female pet to other males often think it’s not necessary, however there are multiple benefits to being spayed that don’t involve preventing pregnancy. Some of the many benefits of spaying your pet outside of pregnancy prevention include:
- Preventing life threatening uterine infections such as pyometras
- Preventing mammary tumors, which are often cancerous and malignant
- Preventing uterine cancer
- Preventing the stress of recurring heat cycles and the behavioral changes they bring
- Eliminate the mess of a heat cycle
In addition to the reasons we’ve listed, spaying your pet will of course prevent unwanted pregnancies and life threatening complications that can potentially come along with them. Spaying your pet will promote an overall healthier and happier life for your beloved companion.
Different Types Of Spay Procedures
Though the end goal is the same, there are a few different types of spays for our furry friends. There are officially two recognized methods of spaying and one alternate approach to the traditional spay as well. The different types of spay procedures include:
Traditional Spay: A traditional spay involves a small-to-medium sized incision through the lower abdomen in the female. Through this incision, the veterinarian is able to surgically remove the ovaries, the uterus, as well as the fallopian tubes. This is the most common approach to spaying in cats and dogs, and usually requires 10-14 days of strict rest after surgery.
Laparoscopic Spay: During a laparoscopic spay, the ovaries are removed using two small incisions in the abdomen. These tiny incisions offer a reduced recovery time and come with 7-10 days of restriction following the surgery. Since more surgical equipment is required for this type of spay, it is typically more expensive than the traditional spay.
Lateral Flank Spay: The lateral flank spay is another approach to the traditional spay. Though it’s not widely accepted by all veterinary professionals, it’s another option for clinics that work with spaying feral cat colonies and even small canines. The flank spay gives you the option to monitor the spay incision from a distance, making it easier to monitor stray animals from a distance.
Which Is Best For Your Pet?
With all of these spay methods, you may begin to wonder which option is best for your pet. Let’s break down the benefits of each option to help you come to a more informed decision.
A traditional spay is readily available at animal clinics around the world. This procedure is well known and perfected by most veterinarians, so you can always rest assured that your pet has access to a traditional spay when needed. This method does require 10-14 days of strict rest to prevent complications, so you will need to be able to offer your pet a calm environment following their surgery.
A laparoscopic spay is not as available as a traditional spay but can be found in your area with a simple search of a clinic offering lap spays. Though these procedures typically cost more than the average traditional spay, it is a great option for active or working pets. Since the healing time is slightly reduced due to a less invasive surgical approach, pets are able to return to their normal activities a little sooner.
Each procedure has its own benefits, so be sure to consider your pet and consult with your veterinarian.
Spaying your pet is a necessary part of pet ownership, so it’s important to understand each method and what it entails. Be sure to review the information we discussed above and feel comfortable and confident with the idea of spaying your pet in the future.
Don’t forget you can bank your pups stem cells during the spay procedure. Click here to learn more!
