A Pet Owner's Guide To Dog Spaying Procedures For Female Animals

By Elsa English


Veterinarians and other people who work with animals make a point of emphasizing to owners of female dogs, just how important it is to get the animal sterilized. The only exception is a dog which is intended for breeding, otherwise dog spaying, that is removal of the uterus and ovaries is recommended before the animal turns a year old. This simple procedure eliminates messy heat cycles, the possibility of unexpected puppies, and prevents certain diseases of the reproductive tract.

The average age for a dog to undergo this surgery is between five and eight months old, but some vets will even perform it as early as two months of age. A younger dog will need different anesthetics and its temperature will need to be monitored carefully, but with these precautions in place, it should be fine and in most cases younger dogs will even recover more quickly.

It's important that the dog fast the night before the operation, so she will not become sick from the anesthetic, for this reason, these procedures are normally performed early in the morning. The animal will be given a sedative to make her sleep so she can be prepped for surgery, this includes applying a protective ointment to the eyes, securing her to the table, and inserting an IV into one of her legs.

The veterinary assistant is usually the person who prepares the dog's belly by thoroughly cleaning the skin and shaving off the fur in the section that will be operated on. It is then treated with an antiseptic iodine solution, and the pet's body is covered with surgical drapes, exposing only the site of the surgery.

A surgical tray is assembled containing all of the instruments and materials needed, namely a scalpel, hemostats, needle and suturing thread, scissors, gauze, and towels. The veterinarian then inserts a trachea tube into the dog's throat and administers the anesthetic gas that will keep her unconscious during the surgery. The animal's vital signs will be monitored constantly throughout the procedure.

The vet makes a small incision in the lower section of the dog's belly with the scalpel, separating the muscle and skin tissues. Feeling inside the abdomen, the doctor then locates and pulls out the reproductive organs. The arteries attached to the ovaries are first clamped with hemostats and tied off, then they are removed, and a similar method is used to excise the womb.

An inspection for indications of abnormal hemorrhaging will be done before the vet removes the gauze padding and stitches up the incision. Now the tracheal tube can be removed and the dog will be comfortably wrapped up in towels and left to recover in a kennel.

Sometimes the animal will stay overnight for observations, but in most instances her owner will be able to take her home several hours later. The veterinarian will provide the owner with a list of instructions for caring for the dog in the post-operative period. Most animals recover quite fast, and are back to their usual, waggy-tailed selves in a few days time.




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