Charlie's Spay

Here is a cute counterpart to our "Tiny Neuter" blog last week. Meet Charlie who is here today for her spay, or overiohysterectomy. This procedure removes the uterus and ovaries, helping prevent potential future medical issues and pregnancy. An intact female dog (one that has not been spayed) has a higher risk of developing mammary cancer and pyometra (life-threatening uterine infections) as she ages.

When you drop your pet off in the morning, the first thing to do is draw pre-surgical bloodwork. This will screen for any underlying health concerns before anesthesia. The doctor will also do a complete physical exam the morning of surgery to make sure your pet has no concerns that need to be addressed before or during the procedure.

     

 Charlie got a clean bill of health! Here she is posing for her blood draw.

 

  

A premedication is given 1-2 hours before surgery to help reduce anxiety and as a sedative. Here Charlie is getting "induced" for her spay, in which an anesthetic agent is given in the vein.

Once Charlie is under anesthesia an endotracheal tube is gently placed in her airway. This tube is hooked up to the gas anesthesia machine which will maintain Charlie at an adequate level of anesthesia for the procedure

For surgery she is placed on her back and ties are used to secure her to the table. Monitoring equipment is hooked up and a veterinary technician stands by for the entire procedure to monitor heart rate, respiratory rate, as well as other vital parameters. Meanwhile, another technician prepares the surgical site by scrubbing with antiseptic solution.

Above is the sterile surgical field draped and ready for the first incision. You can see the surgical instrument table to the doctors right. The doctor is fully gowned and gloved in.



Recovering from her operation, all comfy and warm! Once Charlie is waking up, a pain medication will be given that will last for 24 hours post-operatively. Sometimes, depending on the surgery and individual doctor, pain medication will be sent home as well. In a few short hours Charlie is fully awake and ready to be picked up by her family . . . who she missed dearly.