[Ellie May]

Only you know what you can handle. There is no reason for you to be there during the surgery unless you want to be. You can leave the OR after they are under and come back in when the vet closes. It is a matter of what you want.

My opinion is that the first major veterinary surgery witnessed should not be on your own pets. I've been present for many surgeries and there is no way I could have stood it if the first one was on my dog. It took awhile for me to get used to the hacking sound when intubating, the severe reverse sneezing or fighting or screaming when waking up, the fact that they are tied down, the stats changing sometimes, the slim chance that extreme measures need to be taken, etc. So if you want an opinion mine is that if this is important to you then ask to watch another spay before deciding.