First make sure your vet has worked with small animals.

2. Use the isoflorine gas. It costs more but is worth it.

3. Have the pretests and schedule the surgery early in the morning. My vet keeps animals if you want or releases them that day if you want.

4. Arrange to pick up your baby before the vet closes. Don't fuss over her too much. Doing so reminds her of her surgery and makes it an ordeal.

5. Don't worry! It is not as hard on them as it is on us.

First off could you wait till she's at least 6 months. My Vet. doesn't like to spay till they are 6 months.
Next, can you find a Vet. that has a night crew that takes care of the animals? I wouldn't leave any of my girls in a Vet. office or hospital that didn't have people that take care of them at night. That doesn't even sound right. If they vomit or have diarrhea, that could be terrible if no one is there to help them right away.

i had my layla done just last week and i didnt have to leave her.i dropped her off at 10am and went to get her at 5pm.witch im glad i did she was out of it and needed help going out to the wee wee.she slept alot the first night but i was so happy she was home with me so i could keep her comfy:) is there ant way you can ask to get her at the end of the day?? good luck to you keep us posted on how she dose:)

having her done at 5 months is perfectly fine unless she is like 1lb. then i'd be a little worried. i didn't used to think much about patients being left in hospital over night....that is until i got a yorkie and started working at a 24/7 hospital. now i wouldn't think of leaving her somewhere that doesn't have a night time staff.

Tell your vet that morning when you drop her off that you want to pick her up and take her home after she recovers from surgery. They cannot deny you your dog. They might make you sign a waver going against their medical advise. whatever, sign it. you'll have her home with you where you can watch her. Most vets that want to keep them do it only because the pet will be in a small cage and the only thing to do it rest and sleep. Sleep equals less pain. So when you do bring her home after surgery take her to a quiet room and sit with her until she falls asleep. no excitement for the rest of the day. if you make a big deal about it, she will too. best pretend like nothing happened (but still watch for any ill signs after surgery) so she won't pick up on your anxiety.

good luck with the spay. i'm sure she'll do just fine. spaying at 4-5 months old is more common now if the puppy weighs enough. With males, most vets will do it when both testicles have dropped.

I would make sure you have checked the Vet out with other friends and family and make sure he has A good reputation and see if there has been any other occurences,when we had our pets spayed they were able to come home same day,but the surgery was done around 8am and I picked them up by 5pm

I had Mochi spayed 2 days ago. I was also terrified because of her weight (2.5 lbs). I dropped her off at 9am and was told that she would have to stay overnight, but I knew there would be no one overnight taking care of her. I had decided to go to the hospital in the evening to talk to the vet and pick her up no matter what (knowing no one would take care of her overnight). The vet called at 2pm and told me Mochi did really well and asked if I wanted to pick her up later in the evening, I didn't think twice and answer DEFINITELY. Well she came home a bit lost, cried a lot, but at least she was with me in my arm. If there was anything wrong, I could take her to the emergency.

So..... yes, I would 'fight' to death if the hospital did not let me pick up my baby on the same day!

When checking your baby in, make sure they use the gas Isofurane, had her bloodwork checked, and may be bile acid test, too.

I think I was also over worried about her. Today is the 2nd day after surgery, she has already returned to her old naughty self - jumping and running. But I confine her in the kitchen and she was very pissed of what I did to her. I hope the following 2 weeks will go faster so that she can run crazy with her brother again.

You guys are absolutely right!!! I am not leaving my baby alone all night after surgery. I called the vet (I could not stand the thoughts of it any more). They informed me that If I did not want to leave her over night then I should not bring her!!! They also said if I did bring her she would stay overnight!! Needless to say this made me mad. called another vet and had all of Jezebel's records transferred. She will have surgery April 10th, when she is 6 months old, and I will pick her up that afternoon! This vet completely understands my not wanting to leave her. I talked to the secretary for 45 mins, she explained all about there practice and the procedure. I feel so much better now!!! Thank you for all you advice everyone!!! :)

Great news.:)

And I'm glad you left that vet if they are going to act like that.