- The process of having a dog or cat spayed begins with a pre-surgery fast. At about 10 p.m. on the evening before surgery, begin withholding food from your pet. She should not eat again until after the surgery. Most veterinarians now allow pets to have water overnight before surgery, but recommend pet guardians to remove it early the morning of the procedure. It is important that your pet go into surgery with an empty stomach to prevent her from vomiting while she is anesthetized.
- Some veterinarians and pet guardians opt to do pre-anesthetic blood work to ensure there are no underlying health issues. Blood is drawn from the pet, and a blood screen is performed. The blood tests allow the veterinarian to know about the overall health of the pet's major organs.
- The pet is put under general anesthesia before surgery begins. The anesthesia most often used for dogs and cats is Isoflorane gas. The amount of gas given is closely controlled and usually administered through a face mask for cats and a tube in the throat for dogs.
- Your pet's abdomen will be shaved and scrubbed before surgery. The surgery is performed using sterile instruments and a sterile surgical field.
- In dogs and cats, spaying is an ovariohysterectomy, which means the ovaries and uterus are removed. A small incision is made in your pet's middle to lower stomach. The uterus and ovaries are located and removed through the incision and blood vessels are tied off. The surgery is then finished with the closing of the incision over three layers--the abdominal wall, the loose tissue under the skin and then the skin. Most veterinarians now use dissolvable sutures so it is unlikely you will have to bring your pet back for the removal of the stitches.
- Your pet will now go into recovery. Within 10 to 15 minutes, she will begin waking from the anesthesia. You may want to ask your veterinarian to give her pain medication at this point and pain medication that you can take home with you. Some clinics do this automatically, but, at others, you have to specifically ask for pain medication and pay extra for it. However, it is worth it if you consider studies have found effective pain management speeds healing.
The spay surgery is more invasive than the altering of a male, which is called a neuter. Because it is an invasive surgery, it will be a few days before your pet is back to her normal activities.
Many animal hospitals now release pets on the afternoon of their surgery, meaning your pet may not be required to stay at the clinic overnight. Other clinics still keep patients until the next morning. Regardless of how long your pet stays at the clinic, provide her a comfortable, quiet place at home to rest until her recovery is complete.