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Desexing

Ovario-hysterectomy

smilingcat

An ovario-hysterectomy is the medical term for spaying or neutering female cats. The procedure consists of the surgical removal of the ovaries and the uterus. Surgery can be performed at any age but is best done at 5½ months (rescue organisations are often operating much earlier but this has an increased anaesthetic risk) at an age before the cat comes into season for the first time.

*Reasons for...*
1.	There will be no more heat periods.
2.	She will be unable to get pregnant - so there will be no unwanted kittens.
3.	The risk of her getting a potentially life-threatening uterine infection (pyometra) is removed. This is common to older cats.
4.	The chances of her suffering from hormone induced mammary (breast) cancer can be reduced .This is usually malignant in cats.

*Frequently asked questions:*
1.	'Will it make my cat fat and lazy?' No. Obesity is due to excessive calorie intake. Weight can be controlled with proper feeding and exercise.
2.	'Will it change her disposition, personality or intelligence?' Cats' personalities do not fully develop until 1 year of age. If there is a personality change after spaying at an early age, it would have occurred even without surgery.
3.	'Shouldn't my cat have a litter first?' No. There is no advantage in allowing your cat to have a litter of kittens.

Castration

Castration is the surgical removal of the testicles. The operation may be performed on any male cat from 4½ months onwards (rescue organisations are often operating much earlier but this has an increased anaesthetic risk). There is no evidence that neutering at an early age results in obesity, bladder infections or stunted growth.

*Reasons for...*
1.	Reduction of the strong, offensive odour of the urine.
2.	Reduction of the desire to stray or roam.
3.	Reduction in aggressive behaviour.
4.	Reduction of territorial marking - spraying urine to mark territory.
5.	Reduction of territorial fighting - so reducing the risk of abscesses, Feline Leukaemia & F.I.V. infections.
6.	Reduction of the cat population - prevention of unwanted kittens.

*Reasons against...*
All general anaesthetics involve some risks. The risk is smaller in young, fit animals than in older cats.

Spays and Neuters: What are Ponsonby Veterinary Centres procedures?

Our Procedures and their Benefits

The first big expense in a pet's life is usually spaying or neutering, which we do at 5-6 months of age. Quite often owners will phone around for the cheapest price, and go for the lowest quote without much idea what they are getting for their money. It's the same operation, isn't it? With the same number of stitches in the skin? So why are we more expensive than some practices? Well, it's just like anything else in life: "you get what you pay for."

THOROUGH PREANAESTHETIC CHECK

A Veterinarian always examines your pet and checks his or her heart, lungs, and general condition. The anaesthetic does not proceed if problems are identified.
Pre-anaesthetic blood testing is offered. This is done using sophisticated in-clinic laboratory machines. Important organs such as the liver and kidneys are checked. This is an extra cost but we aim to prevent any possible complications.

CAREFUL ANAESTHESIA

A combination of sedating and pain relieving drugs is used.

Combination premeds reduce the dose of anaesthetic needed to make cats deep enough to operate on, smoothing induction/recovery and reducing risk.
Anaesthetics do not provide much pain relief; so it is essential that this is treated before, during and after surgery.
Avoiding pain relief both before and after desexing makes the procedure cheaper - we will not do this.
When we come to give the anaesthetic we use one with minimal effects on the heart, brain and kidney (critical organs for anaesthetic safety). The safest anesthetics are not always the cheapest.

CATHETER PLACEMENT

We give the anaesthetic through a catheter which has been inserted into a vein on the pets' arm. This means we can give emergency drugs if something goes wrong during the operation. It also allows us to give fluids during surgery. Not placing a catheter would allow us to make the procedure cheaper - we will not do this.

STERILE SURGERY

Once anaesthetised the skin is shaved, and carefully prepared using antiseptics. The vet and nurse then put on full "scrubs" i.e. Sterile gown, gloves, mask and hat. They take the cat into a dedicated operating theatre, and dress the site for surgery with a sterile drape.
Avoiding wearing this protective clothing would allow for a cheaper operation, but increases the risk of infection - we will not do this.
To avoid using proper sterile clothing, an antibiotic injection after surgery has been suggested; this however has been proved to be ineffective and may cause antibiotic resistance or even a drug reaction - we do not need to do this.

DEDICATED , DETAILED MONITORING

During the operation, the pet is carefully monitored by an experienced qualified nurse who is wholly devoted to making sure that the anaesthetic is safe and smooth. She or he does this by frequently checking and recording the pet's breathing rate, heart rate, blood oxygen, blood pressure and other parameters, utilising special hospital-standard machines.
The blood pressure is important, and we support this with fluids if required. If the pressure drops then kidney damage can result (possibly not obvious until months later), and you cannot tell how low the blood pressure is from just looking at a cat.
The nurse can adjust anaesthetic depth and provide extra pain relief with morphine drips if necessary.
It is cheaper to have a nurse multi-tasking i.e. watching two operations, or manning reception at the same time. However we believe that this would compromise your pets' safety.
The vet uses modern, sharp well-sterilised equipment, and the latest dissolving suture material. This minimises complications and reduces the chance that your pet will develop a stitch infection.

POSTOPERATIVE CARE

After the operation, the skin is cleaned and a dressing is applied in the case of spays. The pet is given further pain relief while he or she wakes up, and has some more to go home on which will ensure that no pain is suffered over the following 3-5 days.
During and after the operation the pet will be on a soft bed heated by a special water blanket.
When he or she is discharged, you will be given a detailed information sheet discussing what you need to do at home to help the recovery from surgery, and any questions or concerns you may have will be answered in full by our caring and professional staff.

So you can see, from beginning to end your pet is provided with the very highest level of care. We know that we are more expensive than some practices for this sort of "routine" surgery. We prefer to charge a little more, and provide the superior service your pet deserves.

For surgical instructions click here