The Bitch Spey

About the surgery

Speying a bitch means removing her ovaries and her uterus. She will no longer come into season or be able to have puppies. She will also be much less at risk from cancers of her mammary glands and can never suffer from infections in her uterus.

This is a routine surgery but is quite involved, taking on average around 30 minutes to complete.

If she has been in season in the last month, please wait another month before booking her in.

Recovery speeds are dependant on the animal.  We use a quality anaesthetic, however most dogs will still have a fall in blood pressure during this surgery, this is best reduced by putting the dog on IV fluids, and results in a much quicker recovery rate.   Our anaesthetic policy (ASAP) goes through this in more detail.

 

Pre-surgery

No food after 6pm the previous night and take away the water first thing in the morning.  This is to make sure her stomach is empty prior to the anaesthetic therefore removing the risk of vomiting during recovery.

She will need to be brought into the clinic between 8am and 8.30am the morning of her operation, but let her toilet before coming in.  Please make sure she is clean (no mud on her belly!).

 

On arrival at the clinic

One of our staff will take your details and answer any questions you might have.  Your dog will be weighed, and put in our hospital where she will have a full physical exam before surgery.

The initial anaesthetic is given into a vein in the leg, a tube was then placed in the windpipe for your animal breathe the anaesthetic gas.  A nurse monitors your dog through the surgery and recovery.

 

After surgery

Your dog will be ready to go home that afternoon. Recovery times from anaesthesia can vary.  She will need to be kept in a warm, quiet place to ‘sleep off’ the anaesthetic effects.

 

Wound management

Please check the wound daily, and contact us if you notice any swelling, discharge from the wound, or if she is constantly licking at her stitches. The stitches will need to be removed after 10 days.

Exercise

Although routine, speying is major abdominal surgery and recovery times vary.  Until the stitches are removed we advise no swimming or bathing, and to keep your dog quiet (no running or jumping).  She can have short walks on the lead only in this time.  Once the stitches have been removed she can return to normal.

 Feeding 

Having your bitch speyed will not cause her to become fat, however your dogs requirements for food and exercise may change after speying. A speyed bitch typically needs 20% less calories, so it is important to monitor her weight, and if needed, increase her exercise or change her diet.

 

If you have any further queries or would like to make an appointment to have your dog speyed, please contact the clinic.