What Is Safest? And Spay Questions

[Beabble]

Maggy May will be going in on July 8th to be spayed, I've been reading and researching as much as I can about it but have a question. First let me just say Maggy isn't full yorkie, she's part chiuahuah as well. She weighs 4 pounds 9 ounces, what's the safest gas or whatever you call it that should be used for her? I mean, with her being so small and all, should they use a certain kind? Also, in researcing about the spay, I came across this:

Should I spay or should I no... pros and cons of neutering

On this page, here are some of the pros and cons for spaying and neutering, just wondering if any of you have every had any of the issues on the "CONS" list after getting your girl spayed?

Some people have asked for a quick summary of the pros and cons of neutering, and this is below. Further explanations are below the summary.

Advantages of spay or neuter

• Eliminates risk of testicular cancer (most are benign in behaviour)
• Reduces risk of mammary cancer (if performed before 2.5 years of age)
• Reduces risk of pyometra (uterine infection)
• Eliminates risk of uterine tumours (given uterus is removed)
• Eliminates risk of ovarian cancer
• Reduces risk of prostatic hyperplasia and inflammation
• Reduces risk of benign perianal tumours in dogs
• Reduces urine marking, mounting. May reduce roaming

Disadvantages of spay or neuter

• Decreased life span
• Increases risk of urinary incontinence (in both bitches and dogs)
• Increases risk of obesity
• Increases risk of osteosarcoma (bone cancer)
• Increases risk of prostatic cancer
• Increases risk of bladder cancer
• Increases risk of cardiac haemangiosarcoma
• Increases risk of splenic haemangiosarcoma in spayed bitches
• Increases risk of cholangiocarcinoma (cancer of bile ducts) in spayed bitches
• Increases risk of cranial cruciate ligament injury
• Increases risk of patellar luxation in small- and medium-sized dogs
• Increases risk of adverse vaccine reactions
• Increases risk of myasthenia gravis in spayed bitches
• Increases risk of pancreatitis in spayed bitches
• Increases risk of aggression, fearfulness
• Increases cognitive impairment in aged dogs already showing signs of disease
• Increases risk of benign perianal tumours in spayed bitches
• Increases risk of peri-vulvar dermatitis, vaginitis, cystitis and recurrent urinary tract infections in early-age spayed bitches


The ONE THING on the "Pro" list that makes me say YES to spay is having had our cat Justice go through the Pyometra and she almost died from it. That is just not a risk I am willing to take with Lil Miss Maggy May. The list of the "CONS" is scarey to, but the Pyometra scares me more so she's getting spayed. Just wondering if any of you have had issues with things on the "CONS" list after your furkids were spayed?

[Erinmay]

I think you should absolutely spay! It's healthier and helps them live longer Have you looked into Laser spaying? I had seen it online and need to have my Maggie Mae spayed soon too - if it's available in MA, I will go with the Laser spay because there's no real recovery (no stitches) and no need for anesthesia.

Good luck to you and Maggie May!

[Ellie May]

While spaying is the healthier choice, neutering can be debated.

Isoflurane or sevoflurane gas should be used.
I have read a couple reports lately about Iso maybe being a little bit better (although I think Sevo MIGHT be better for heart patients).

If it were my dog (with her liver issue), I would ask for Iso (my preference).

[Beabble]

Originally Posted by Erinmay

I think you should absolutely spay! It's healthier and helps them live longer Have you looked into Laser spaying? I had seen it online and need to have my Maggie Mae spayed soon too - if it's available in MA, I will go with the Laser spay because there's no real recovery (no stitches) and no need for anesthesia.

Good luck to you and Maggie May!

I haven't talked to my vet about which spay to go with yet, not even sure if they offer the Laser Spay but I'll sure ask. She goes in on the 28th of this month for her blood work and I'm writing a list of things I wanna ask him then. So, I'll add that to my list of questions.

[Beabble]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

While spaying is the healthier choice, neutering can be debated.

Isoflurane or sevoflurane gas should be used.
I have read a couple reports lately about Iso maybe being a little bit better (although I think Sevo MIGHT be better for heart patients).

If it were my dog (with her liver issue), I would ask for Iso (my preference).

Thanks Ellie may, I sure appreciate it. I've wrote these two down on my list and will go over it with my vet on the 28th when she goes in for her blood work.

[Gazou]

All my puppies are spayed or neutered before leaving my home . New owners never had problems with them .

[Beabble]

Originally Posted by Gazou

All my puppies are spayed or neutered before leaving my home . New owners never had problems with them .

Thanks for your reply, I sure do appreciate.

[CupofDog]

Ella Bean is also mixed Yorkie who weighs in at 2.7 pounds and is super-duper adorable. She was spayed three and a half weeks ago. The doctor used Isoflourane gas.

She was on an IV thoughout her surgery and the doctor added some sugar to the drip to keep her bloodsugar level.

In addition, she had over 10 baby teeth pulled.

She was a champ. Definitely sore and not herself for a week, but now its like it never happened! The worst is definitely the first two days, but it passes. Spaying is definitely the right thing to do, though!

[Beabble]

Originally Posted by CupofDog

Ella Bean is also mixed Yorkie who weighs in at 2.7 pounds and is super-duper adorable. She was spayed three and a half weeks ago. The doctor used Isoflourane gas.

She was on an IV thoughout her surgery and the doctor added some sugar to the drip to keep her bloodsugar level.

In addition, she had over 10 baby teeth pulled.

She was a champ. Definitely sore and not herself for a week, but now its like it never happened! The worst is definitely the first two days, but it passes. Spaying is definitely the right thing to do, though!

This is SO encouraging to read. I've wrote the name of the gas down just in case the vet says he uses something else. Oh I just can't wait for this to all be done and over with and her be safe and sound back with me. I read some stories of furbabies that didn't make it through while I was online last night (said they have adverse reactions to the gas), don't ya know I ended up crying myself to sleep. God, I couldn't imagine Lil Miss Maggy May not being with us. She's one of the lights of my life and I just love her so much. I know I'm gonna be a nervous wreck not only while she's under, but till she's back to herself again and full of energy and being ornery. I only see two of Maggy Mays teeth that need pulled, their may be more, I'm not sure. Oh, and I have to write that down, IV, I almost forgot that!!

[CupofDog]

Maggie May will be fine!!! Make sure your vet can do bloodwork on the day of her surgery to confirm she is healthy enough to go under. I know some dogs have adverse reactions to the surgery, however, I am certain she'll be fine. Make sure you trust your vet!! That helps tremendously and don't read stories about the furkids who haven't made it...

I was a mess during the surgery and cried like a baby when I dropped her off and was freaking out the whole day. The surgery itself only takes 30-40 minutes so make sure to find out when her surgery will be. Often a vet has operating hours where he preforms a series of spay/ neuter surgeries.

You can try and request your baby goes first so its over with, but its truly at the vet's discretion. By the way, the incision is completely closed and I can hardly even see the scar or feel the dissolvable stitches now!! We are back to belly rubbing!

[Beabble]

Originally Posted by CupofDog

Maggie May will be fine!!! Make sure your vet can do bloodwork on the day of her surgery to confirm she is healthy enough to go under. I know some dogs have adverse reactions to the surgery, however, I am certain she'll be fine. Make sure you trust your vet!! That helps tremendously and don't read stories about the furkids who haven't made it...

I was a mess during the surgery and cried like a baby when I dropped her off and was freaking out the whole day. The surgery itself only takes 30-40 minutes so make sure to find out when her surgery will be. Often a vet has operating hours where he preforms a series of spay/ neuter surgeries.

You can try and request your baby goes first so its over with, but its truly at the vet's discretion. By the way, the incision is completely closed and I can hardly even see the scar or feel the dissolvable stitches now!! We are back to belly rubbing!

That's AWESOME!! Miss Ella Bean sure did heal up quickly didn't she? Oh I trust our vet completely, he's WONDERFUL and KNOWS how much we love our furbabies. Hmm, when I called and set everything up, the secretary said the blood work had to be done like a week in advance before the spay cause they have to send it out and get the results back. Is this normally the way it's done? if not, then I need to call them back and tell them I want it done the day of the spay. Our vet does all surgeries only in the mornings, he's been that way every since we've been going to him which has been about 8 years now. I do want to find out what time they are taking her in though and I want a phone call soon as she's out. Actually I wonder if they'll just let me sit in the waiting room till she comes out? I'm not reading anymore of those stories, I read three last night and that did it for me, I actually just shut the puter down and went and cried myself to sleep. All it does is worry me even more and upset me to read stuff like that. I just have to be positive and keep thinking good thoughts. He spayed my Lil Justice girlie and she's a tiny lil thing to, so Maggy May should be just fine. I just can't wait till it's all done and over with and she's back to herself.

[CupofDog]

Exactly. The waiting is the hardest part, the waiting for the surgery and during. Once its over, focus on healing.

If your vet sends out for bloodwork results, it means he most likely doesn't have the equipment to read blood tests at his office. I don't think its a huge deal, maybe other YT's have more insight on that then I do.

As long as you trust your vet that much, you have all the necessary arrangements to make it the best situation possible. I am sure she'll be fine!!

Miss Bean is sooo little and she healed right up!

Make sure - if you give any fish oil supplements, especially cod liver oil, to stop it at least two weeks before the surgery. I might also get her on an immune booster. I used this: Vetri-Science Vetri-DMG
a few drops in her mouth 2X a day for three weeks leading up to surgery and ever since. I think it helped!

I also didn't put Miss Bean on any anti biotics after her surgery. She had no infection and antibiotics can cause stomach upset, which is definitely not comfortable post-op!! Discuss what is best for Maggie with your vet. I try to stay away from antibiotics as much as possible.

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by Beabble

That's AWESOME!! Miss Ella Bean sure did heal up quickly didn't she? Oh I trust our vet completely, he's WONDERFUL and KNOWS how much we love our furbabies. Hmm, when I called and set everything up, the secretary said the blood work had to be done like a week in advance before the spay cause they have to send it out and get the results back. Is this normally the way it's done? if not, then I need to call them back and tell them I want it done the day of the spay. Our vet does all surgeries only in the mornings, he's been that way every since we've been going to him which has been about 8 years now. I do want to find out what time they are taking her in though and I want a phone call soon as she's out. Actually I wonder if they'll just let me sit in the waiting room till she comes out? I'm not reading anymore of those stories, I read three last night and that did it for me, I actually just shut the puter down and went and cried myself to sleep. All it does is worry me even more and upset me to read stuff like that. I just have to be positive and keep thinking good thoughts. He spayed my Lil Justice girlie and she's a tiny lil thing to, so Maggy May should be just fine. I just can't wait till it's all done and over with and she's back to herself.

It's okay to send the blood work out. I think the problem comes in when blood work is done and the surgery isn't scheduled for much later because those numbers can change so fast. That is why I like sam day blood work. If it will be within a week though, that is fair.

[Beabble]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

It's okay to send the blood work out. I think the problem comes in when blood work is done and the surgery isn't scheduled for much later because those numbers can change so fast. That is why I like sam day blood work. If it will be within a week though, that is fair.

Well, she's supposed to go in on the 28th of this month for the blood work and is schedualed for her spay on the 8th of July, is that to far apart?

[Beabble]

Originally Posted by CupofDog

Exactly. The waiting is the hardest part, the waiting for the surgery and during. Once its over, focus on healing.

If your vet sends out for bloodwork results, it means he most likely doesn't have the equipment to read blood tests at his office. I don't think its a huge deal, maybe other YT's have more insight on that then I do.

As long as you trust your vet that much, you have all the necessary arrangements to make it the best situation possible. I am sure she'll be fine!!

Miss Bean is sooo little and she healed right up!

Make sure - if you give any fish oil supplements, especially cod liver oil, to stop it at least two weeks before the surgery. I might also get her on an immune booster. I used this: Vetri-Science Vetri-DMG
a few drops in her mouth 2X a day for three weeks leading up to surgery and ever since. I think it helped!

I also didn't put Miss Bean on any anti biotics after her surgery. She had no infection and antibiotics can cause stomach upset, which is definitely not comfortable post-op!! Discuss what is best for Maggie with your vet. I try to stay away from antibiotics as much as possible.

Thanks a bunch, I'm gonna talk to our vet about this and see what he thinks.