Page 17 - Boca Exposure - August '24

Boca Exposure, Page 17

You And Your Pet from page 16 For all these important reasons, it is important to field A tranquilizer or other pre-anesthetic medication may be
those questions to your regular veterinarian to find the administered to ease the induction of anesthesia. Medication
mammary cancer development, and spaying before the first best timing to spay your own pet. is given intravenously to induce sleep. Once the dog is asleep,
heat cycle (generally before the ages of six to eight months) Pyometra Prevention. Pyometra is a life-threatening a tube is placed in her throat to ensure that a clear airway is
removes this problem as a consideration. Spaying before the infection of the uterus that generally occurs in middle-aged maintained throughout the procedure.
first heat is protective against an extremely common form to older unspayed female dogs in the six weeks following The tube is hooked up to an anesthesia machine that
of cancer. Further, spaying while the dog is of a smaller heat. One in four unspayed female dogs who have survived to delivers a specific concentration of inhalant gas mixed with
size makes for less trouble with bleeding in surgery and age 10 will get it. Treatment involves surgery on a potentially 100 percent oxygen. A technician is assigned to monitor this
an easier recovery after surgery. Larger dogs are a more unstable patient. Mortality rates with surgery have been pet so that the concentration of inhalant gas can be changed
difficult surgery and are generally more costly to spay. reported as high as 17 percent. Without treatment the dog is as needed and the patient’s jaw tone, facial reflexes, mucous
That said, research has shown that there is an expected to die. Spaying early prevents pyometra. membrane color, ECG, heart rate, respiration rate and volume,
increased incidence of some other problems in some The spay (Ovariohysterectomy) procedure. What end tidal carbon dioxide, pulse oximetry, blood pressure and
breeds when they are spayed young. For some breeds, Exactly Happens? It is important that the patient has not other parameters are followed.
there is an increased incidence of urinary incontinence been fed for at least twelve hours prior to surgery. Anesthetic An incision is made on the midline of the abdomen, and
associated with spaying before the age of one year. medications commonly induce nausea and vomiting can the three points where the ovaries and uterus are attached are
For larger breeds, the situation becomes more be dangerous in a sedated patient (vomit can be inhaled/ tied off and cut. The abdomen is checked for bleeding and
complicated. The problem for large-breed female dogs aspirated leading to pneumonia). two or three layers of stitches are placed to close the incision.
is that some breeds have a higher incidence of joint and A preoperative evaluation is performed; ECG and blood It is helpful to know that should the skin stitches come
bone issues or increased incidence (albeit small increases) work is recommended for females as a normal pre- out there are two layers below holding everything closed.
in other types of cancers when they are spayed too anesthetic consideration. An intravenous catheter is placed Sometimes skin stitches are not placed but if they are present,
young. Issues regarding joint and bone problems, urinary to facilitate the administration of anesthetic drugs, for any you will need to return in 10-14 days to have them removed.
incontinence, and cancers other than mammary cancer fluid administration, and for use in case of emergency. Sometimes the skin layer is omitted in which case returning
are highly dependent on breed such that findings for one This necessitates shaving a small patch of skin on one of will be unnecessary unless there is a problem.
breed do not hold true for another. the legs. What to Expect at Home. Most spay surgery patients go
home the same day or the next as if nothing had happened,
though pain and other medications will be provided to cover
the next few days.
Some nausea may occur in the first couple of days after
surgery and it would not be unusual for the pet to refuse food
for a day after surgery. Dogs who show a propensity to lick their
stitches will need an E-Collar to restrict access to the stitches.
This is not comfortable for the dog but it must be used strictly
HAPPY HOUR: MON - THURS, ALL DAY AT BAR ONLY until the stitches are out and the incision is healed.
Activity should be restricted to short leash walks for
MON - FRI 3 - 6 PM eliminations only, during the two weeks following surgery.

FULL INDOOR $ 99 Excessive activity can lead to swelling or fluid accumulation
under the incision or, even worse, a tear in the internal incision
AND OUTDOOR 59 line. Obviously, if the situation is more serious have the
incision swelling inspected at the veterinarian’s office.
(COVERED PATIO) In conclusion, depending on your discussion with your

BAR AND DINING veterinarian—the breed of your dog, the age, etc.—it is
often best to spay your dog before the first heat and prevent
cancer and pyometra. Both conditions are life threatening
and extremely expensive. Both conditions cause suffering
ONE APPETIZER, and pain. So, spay early, don’t wait!
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