Can you spay a dog without removing ovaries?
A female dog has three options – remaining intact, traditional spay (ovariohysterectomy), or an ovary sparing spay (hysterectomy). An ovary sparing spay involves removing the uterus and cervix, while leaving one or both of the ovaries intact for physiologic, health, and/or behavioral reasons.
If the answer is yes, plenty of us here want to know. Call your vet today and ask, but don’t ask the receptionist. S/he might just look up the list of surgical procedures on the computer and give you a no based on the absence of a code. So ask your vet directly, instead. If they say yes, add his/her name and hospital to the comments below. Inquiring minds … we want to know.
Which is endlessly frustrating to those among you who have read this blog’s posts on tubal ligation and vasectomies for canine sterilization and decided this approach might just be best for your pet. Some of you have even gone so far as to track me down at my workplace, asking why the heck I seem to be the only veterinarian in tarnation willing to consider this easier alternative to spays and neuters.
Now that I’ve had my say (and will again in an upcoming article addressed to veterinarians in Veterinary Practice News), here’s where you come in: I’d like to know where in this country veterinarians are willing to perform vasectomies and tubal ligations. To that end, I want you to ask your veterinarian if, theoretically speaking, he or she would perform one?
…especially when that method is an unverifiable one. I mean, how would you know whether a dog has been vasectomized or had her “tubes tied”? It’s argued that these procedures might leave a telltale scar, but that’s no proof. The proof for males is in the absence of testicles, and for females, the absence of a heat cycle. Yet I’d rebut that there’s scant verifiability there, either. If it’s legal proof we’re concerned with, a veterinarian’s say-so should be enough, right?
Of all the e-mails and phone calls Fully Vetted brings my way, the single most commonly queried issue has to do with how to source a tubal ligation or vasectomy. Apparently, it’s near-impossible to find veterinarians willing to take on these simple procedures.
How much does it cost to have a dog’s uterus removed?
Pyometra surgery typically costs between $1000-$2000, since it is an emergency procedure and is more labor-intensive than a regular spay. This leaves low-income clients with an extremely difficult choice: pay money they do not have or euthanize their dog.
Tubal Reversal Costs & Outcome | Q & A
During lab lets think about what is needed before you place an ET tube as it matters in a clinical situation. This will help you learn things in order and help with your flow in live animal lab next year and help you be a more active learner during this coming summer at externships, volunteering and working in clinics! We’ll presume your patient has had adequate premed and placement of IV catheter, pre-oxygenation, and induction, patient is unconscious and ready for ET tube placement.
Here are a couple ET sizing charts…realistically they are not very helpful due to breed differences and BCS variability:
6. Insert prepped ET tube into trachea between the arytenoid cartilages/laryngeal folds say “I’m in.” Some anesthetists prefer using a sytlet to make the ET tube a little stiffer and easier to manipulate if very soft tube-caution must be used so as not to damage the tracheal lining.
7. Tie the tie-in around the muzzle tying on top with bow to release easily for most dogs or at the back of head for cats and smaller patients. *There are many variations of tying in ET tubes, so be on the lookout for your favorite!
8. Next steps are to attach patient to anesthesia machine and turn on O2 and give your patient a breath, being careful not to go over 20 cm of water pressure.
9. Perform an “ET tube fit check” also confusingly called a “leak check” (not the same as checking for leaks in the ET tube cuff). The “ET tube fit check/leak check” is the preferred method to determine how much air to put in the ET tube cuff vs. just putting in a bunch of air (eek! many clinics skip this important “ET tube fit check/leak check” step, once you are accustomed to preforming it goes quickly). NOW SAFE TO TURN ON THE VAPORIZER!
10. Removal– untie or loosen ET tube tie, have scissors ready in case cant untie fast enough, and have a syringe ready to deflate cuff of ET tube. Timing is important! Patient should swallow a couple times and starting to move a bit to assure proper gag reflex=patient able to self regulate and prevent aspiration of fluids. Remove air from cuff and slide ET tube gently and swiftly out.
If you wait too long to pull ET tube-patient may bite tube or may be too fractious to pull ET tube safely!
If you pull ET tube too early-patient may aspirate as unable to protect own airway until able to swallow. Be ready to cut tie with bandage scissors, if needed-as is faster than untying, generally remove air from cuff, untie and gently pull tube, observe patient closely! Tip Sometimes cuff is left inflated and used a squeegee, to remove accumulated fluids such as saliva, vomitus, blood etc…having suction close by is always an excellent preparation measure as well! One must be careful to to damage the delicate ciliary cells lining the trachea
Answers to questions above: We lube the cuff to prevent cuff from sticking to inside tracheal surface, and to allow for lubrication between inside tracheal surface and the cuff in case ET tube moves during surgery
Place and Check– push base of tongue down LIDOCAINE FOR CATS, wait 30 sec, push base of tongue down-ET tube between arytenoid cartilages condensation, feel breath, chest rises with breath, capnograph!
Tie ET tube in place, small amt air in cuff, hook up to anesthesia machine O2 on, give breath
Cuff Check-pop-off valve closed, give breath 20 cm H20 via manometer, listen for leak? if leak add a bit more air in cuff and repeat.
Size and good fit are important-the V-gel fits snugly into the laryngeal area creating a seal blocking passage to the esophagus so air is able to travel into the tracheal opening.