Spaying tinies...

[kalina82]

Originally Posted by jkquillin

I have a question...what is a "pretest"?
I asked the vet if Annie needed bloodwork,
((I too am worried because she is so small.))
The vet said he only does bloodwork on dogs
over 8 years old ((or if they have a medical condition
which would call for it).
He said he will only use "gas" on her as it is safer..
is this accurate and what should I ask to have done.
She seems very healthy.

Kasey

In all honesty, you do not need the 'pre-tes' or pre-op blood work done for a simple procedure. Your vet is right, and most vets only do pre-op blood on older dogs or if there is a known condition(reguardless of age). Now some people here will tell you to get it reguardless because it may find something, but that's not gonna happen 95% of the time. I didn't get it done for morgan when she was spayed at 6 months, weighing 2.5lbs. Most of the vet hospitals i've worked at have been regular clinics and none of them did pre-op bloods on spays and neuters unless there was reason to believe it was needed from past illnesses or other signs, OR if the owner insisted on having it done. The hospital i work at now is an emergency hospital and we do serious surgeries everyday. These surgeries get blood work done because 7 times out of 10, there is something else going on with them internally.

[Yorkieluv]

I understand and totally respect your views on this kalina82, many times they will find nothing, thank goodness But I would rather be safe than sorry. That's the only reason I suggested it in the first place. Everyone has different views on this.

I can't even tell you how many people have found out that their dogs have liver shunt, or low this, high that during the pre-op bloodwork (even though they had never shown a symptom). I know a few people on YT alone that have found their dogs have issues right before their spay/neuter simply because of the bloodwork. For under $100, you can have peace of mind.

If your vet feels that your baby shouldn't have bloodwork, and you agree with him, then don't get the bloodwork

Where I live, all the vets I called include the pre-op bloodwork in the price of the spay/neuter.

[PuppyLovinNurse]

Thank you all so much for responding, I am just so worried about her. I'll be a total mess from the time I drop her off until the time she's safe & sound at home.

Heck, I'm already a tearful mess. Chloe's Daddy thinks I've lost my mind

[PuppyLovinNurse]

Originally Posted by diva pup

If your dog is not finished teething I would only suggest waiting until you know she is not going to retain any puppy teeth and have to go under again.
I have a tiny and when she was fixed she weighed 2.8 lbs. She did great with her spay and her dental. In fact I had a really hard time keeping her quiet and not jumping the next day

How do I know when she's finished? Right now she's still chewing everything like a madwoman...

[PuppyLovinNurse]

Originally Posted by red98vett

ask them if you can do this early in the am and pick her up the same day...I'm with you - I don't see any reason she'd need to be alone all night either

I'm hoping I can convince them to, but he didn't seem to keen on that idea. I'm a university nursing student, so I know what type of care humans need after a hysterectomy...I can't imagine it would be TOO different for a dog.

[PuppyLovinNurse]

Originally Posted by diva pup

If noone is going to be there NO WAY would I leave a tiny that just had surgery. I did not even read that part. My vet let mine come home with me a few hrs after she had woken up.

The only way she can come home that day is if I get the laser spay, but it's a lot more expensive and I just can't afford that...also I don't like the idea of a laser beam touching my baby. Too out there for me. I'd rather go with the tried and true scalpel.

[PuppyLovinNurse]

Originally Posted by Yorkiedaze

Have the Vet. do a pre-test on her to see if she is going to handle the anesthesia.

I'll ask about it, thank you

[pepe mint]

Originally Posted by PuppyLovinNurse

Thank you all so much for responding, I am just so worried about her. I'll be a total mess from the time I drop her off until the time she's safe & sound at home.

Heck, I'm already a tearful mess. Chloe's Daddy thinks I've lost my mind

i'm in the same boat as you...my maggie is 5 lbs tho. but she is being dropped off in the morning and will have to stay all night. but they do have someone there at night. otherwise, i would have refused to let her stay.

i am opting for the bloodwork. it is only an addition 30 or 35 dollars and to me, it is worth the peace of mind. better safe than sorry. when my 6 year old daughter had surgery at 4 years old, i opted for every pre-test available. you only get one chance with a baby's life...human or not. i personally would rather spend the 30-sum dollars and just have the extra assurance and it is worth it for the safety of my sweetie.

[Yorkieluv]

She'll be okay!! Praying that your baby has a safe surgery and a speedy recover!!

[stedmansmommy]

Oh sweetie I don't even know what to tell you! I am just as SCARED as you are - so you are not alone My Tatum is 5 months also (well, a few days shy) and is still under 2 lbs and her breeder really wanted me to try and have her spayed by 6 months of age. BUT - I did talk to her and she said that because of her size, if I want to wait a little while longer, that it is fine with her. My best friend came over today and saw her for the first time and just FLIPPED at how small she was. Really, she was very, very surprised. I have sent her pictures...but to see her size in person really freaked her out! She couldn't get over it - and when she picked her up she said she felt like she was holding a newborn kitten I told her DON'T SAY THOSE THINGS! She WILL grow! I just know it! She has to Because her size just totally freaks me out. I really want her to get to 3 and 1/2 - 3 being the SMALLEST. I really, really hope she does Not to mention my best friend just got her second Yorkie (a male) and it is only 4 months old (a month YOUNGER than my Tatum) and he is my Stedman's size - and Stedman is 14 months old and weighs 4 lbs! So that's probably another reason why she freaked out so much lol.

Anyway so enough rambling but I am just as scared as you are girl. I know that I am probably going to have to pop a nerve pill when Tatum goes in because I am going to be so nervous that I'll be shaking!

[candybaby]

There was just another thread about spaying a tiny one, and it seems everyone is spaying right now, myself included.

My Candee is 2.11 ounces and I just spayed her 3 weeks ago I was also a nervous wreak, but she came out happy as ever and only had a 1/2 inch cut that healed in about a week, and got her stitches out at 14 days later. You can't even tell she had a surgery the scare has vanished and its only been three weeks since the surgery. But, I would say wait until all her adult teeth come in and you see how many baby teeth need to be pulled, otherwise your going to find yourself going through this stress all over again when she has to go under anestisia for dental work. I even paid extra for pain meds and she didn't even need them, the next day she was back to her normal self like nothing ever happened. My bf even joked and said are you sure the vet spayed her, maybe she just made a little cut on her and sewed her up ..

Your baby will be fine, but I would wait until the adult teeth all come through.

[JillandJack]

Originally Posted by PuppyLovinNurse

The only way she can come home that day is if I get the laser spay, but it's a lot more expensive and I just can't afford that...also I don't like the idea of a laser beam touching my baby. Too out there for me. I'd rather go with the tried and true scalpel.

Have you considered waiting until she is a bit older to do the spay? My vet suggested waiting until my two little one were a bit older and more developed/stronger. I followed his advice and waited. Jilly and Kenzi were just spayed on Monday, they are in the 3# range and they recovered quickly. Took them in at 8:00 and we brought them home at 3:00. We did canine teeth extractions at the same time.
I do know what you are going through. Good thoughts going your way.

[PuppyLovinNurse]

Originally Posted by pepe mint

i'm in the same boat as you...my maggie is 5 lbs tho. but she is being dropped off in the morning and will have to stay all night. but they do have someone there at night. otherwise, i would have refused to let her stay.

i am opting for the bloodwork. it is only an addition 30 or 35 dollars and to me, it is worth the peace of mind. better safe than sorry. when my 6 year old daughter had surgery at 4 years old, i opted for every pre-test available. you only get one chance with a baby's life...human or not. i personally would rather spend the 30-sum dollars and just have the extra assurance and it is worth it for the safety of my sweetie.

Good luck Chloe and I will be praying for you and Maggie...keep us posted!

[pepe mint]

Originally Posted by PuppyLovinNurse

Good luck Chloe and I will be praying for you and Maggie...keep us posted!

thank you sweetie!! same here! good luck to you and your baby as well!!!

[PuppyLovinNurse]

Originally Posted by stedmansmommy

Oh sweetie I don't even know what to tell you! I am just as SCARED as you are - so you are not alone My Tatum is 5 months also (well, a few days shy) and is still under 2 lbs and her breeder really wanted me to try and have her spayed by 6 months of age. BUT - I did talk to her and she said that because of her size, if I want to wait a little while longer, that it is fine with her. My best friend came over today and saw her for the first time and just FLIPPED at how small she was. Really, she was very, very surprised. I have sent her pictures...but to see her size in person really freaked her out! She couldn't get over it - and when she picked her up she said she felt like she was holding a newborn kitten I told her DON'T SAY THOSE THINGS! She WILL grow! I just know it! She has to Because her size just totally freaks me out. I really want her to get to 3 and 1/2 - 3 being the SMALLEST. I really, really hope she does Not to mention my best friend just got her second Yorkie (a male) and it is only 4 months old (a month YOUNGER than my Tatum) and he is my Stedman's size - and Stedman is 14 months old and weighs 4 lbs! So that's probably another reason why she freaked out so much lol.

Anyway so enough rambling but I am just as scared as you are girl. I know that I am probably going to have to pop a nerve pill when Tatum goes in because I am going to be so nervous that I'll be shaking!

That's the thing! It's in my contract with the breeder that she has to have it done by 6 months of age, with proof, or the breeder can take her back!!! I was going to call & ask her if I could wait a while because of her size, but then when I had her at the vet last week for her last boosters (which were late because of her size...) & because she had a big fall...the vet mentioned scheduling an appt. He wanted to schedule her right then & there!!! I bawled when I got into my car after because it opened my eyes at how soon 6 months is! He said now's the time to do it. Ugh.

We're hoping Chloe makes it to at least 3lbs, too, but I'm not so sure! She was way under 2lbs less than a month ago. I know she hasn't gained anything since we've had her. In fact, she seems to have lost some I've been trying to feed her as much as I possibly can without stuffing her poor little tummy too full, but it's so hard.

That's funny that you mentioned the nerve pills, I told my boyfriend I'll need to go to the doctor to get something to knock me right the hell out before we take her in. I'd prefer to be sleeping/drooling in the corner for the whole time she's there than freaking so bad I get to the point of vomiting. Uggh.