A spay operation for a female puppy or kitten is recommended at 4 months of age. The operation is much better tolerated at a young age than as an adult. On a large breed dog, it is easier on them when they are 20 pounds at 4 months, versus 80 pounds at a year old.
The entire uterus and both ovaries are removed through a midline abdominal incision. It is recommended to perform the operation before the first heat cycle, which is usually 6 to 10 months of age depending on the breed.
Advantages of Spaying
- Avoids the inconvenience of a 3-week heat period
- No chance of mis-breeding and adding to the significant overpopulation problem
- Removes certain health risks, such as breast cancer and pyometra (serious uterine infection)
Our Approach
The operation is performed under general anesthesia using isoflurane gas anesthesia, considered the safest agent for general anesthesia. Pre- and post-operative pain medications are administered. Pre-anesthetic blood testing and laser surgery are both options available for the safety and security of your pet.
To increase the safety of your pet during general anesthesia, we recommend that all pets have a pre-anesthetic blood screening. These tests are required for all pets seven years and older, but we recommend them for all pets.
We normally schedule spay surgeries on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, but other arrangements can sometimes be made if necessary.
Dr. Bleish has over 25 years of experience doing this operation. If you would like to schedule a pre-surgical consultation or an appointment, please call our office at (816) 741-8338.