The Naked Truth about Spay/Neuter Surgery
A spay is a spay and a neuter is a neuter, right? So why does one vet charge $70 for a cat and another $300? Isn't the expensive guy a rip off?
If you're talking about the fact that the ovaries and uterus are removed in a female and both testicles in a male, then yes, they're the same. But that's where the similarity ends.
Chances are, the more expensive place is doing far more to insure your pet's comfort and safety than the cheaper place. Let me explain.
When I graduated 18 years ago, the standard for a cat spay was injectable anesthesia alone, with a single injection of butorphanol (torb). Dogs were given IV meds and put on gas. With some torb. And, some places today still adhere to these protocols, because, after all, we've done them this way for years, they're safe, and they work.
BUT: We've since learned that torb's duration of pain control is from 30-90 minutes tops. With the advent of doggy blood pressure machines, we now know our gas anesthetics cause lowered blood pressure during surgery. And we've learned a lot more about pain management, thanks to advances in human medicine.
So what does that mean for your pet? Many clinics now address these issues. At our practice, all pets undergoing surgery must have a physical exam and be up to date on core vaccines. Cats and dogs are given medications for pain and are sedated prior to anesthesia. An intravenous catheter is placed, and all pets receive intravenous fluids, not only to maintain blood pressure, but to administer a constant rate infusion of pain medications during surgery and throughout the recovery period. Pain medications administered block the pain pathways from a many angles to insure your pet is pain free. Our surgery table is heated, as are our recovery cages. During surgery, your pet is monitored by a licensed technician (similar in education to an RN).
Surgery is performed in a dedicated operating room where no other procedures are done. Each pet gets a sterile instrument pack. The doctor is wearing a surgeon's cap, mask, and sterile gown. A sterile, waterproof drape is used. A new package of suture is used for each pet.
All pets undergoing anesthesia are intubated, on oxygen, and inhalant anesthesia. This provides control of the airway in case of emergency. The IV catheter, in addition to allowing fluids, also provides venous access in case of emergency.
After surgery, your pet is monitored until the tube is pulled. They are kept on the infusion of pain medication until shortly before discharge. Your pet will also go home with several days worth of medication, usually all included in the fee.
Pretty much like what happens in a human hospital, right?
Contrast that to several other places I've worked over the years: no cap, mask, or gown. No IV catheter. No fluids. No designated surgery room. Many also had an x-ray machine in there, or were also used for treatments (think abscesses and dental cleanings -- both very dirty procedures!). No heating pad. Cats not intubated. Torb only for pain control. Monitoring only by the doctor performing the surgery. And the biggie: spaying or neutering more than one pet per pack! YUCK!
So, the next time your pet is facing one of these surgeries, ask yourself: if it were me, which would I choose? Also, this will give you some things to ask of your vet when you make the appointment. Not all vets cut corners. But you deserve to know exactly what you're getting before Fluffy gets to the table.
And remember the old adage: You get what you pay for.
If you're talking about the fact that the ovaries and uterus are removed in a female and both testicles in a male, then yes, they're the same. But that's where the similarity ends.
Chances are, the more expensive place is doing far more to insure your pet's comfort and safety than the cheaper place. Let me explain.
When I graduated 18 years ago, the standard for a cat spay was injectable anesthesia alone, with a single injection of butorphanol (torb). Dogs were given IV meds and put on gas. With some torb. And, some places today still adhere to these protocols, because, after all, we've done them this way for years, they're safe, and they work.
BUT: We've since learned that torb's duration of pain control is from 30-90 minutes tops. With the advent of doggy blood pressure machines, we now know our gas anesthetics cause lowered blood pressure during surgery. And we've learned a lot more about pain management, thanks to advances in human medicine.
So what does that mean for your pet? Many clinics now address these issues. At our practice, all pets undergoing surgery must have a physical exam and be up to date on core vaccines. Cats and dogs are given medications for pain and are sedated prior to anesthesia. An intravenous catheter is placed, and all pets receive intravenous fluids, not only to maintain blood pressure, but to administer a constant rate infusion of pain medications during surgery and throughout the recovery period. Pain medications administered block the pain pathways from a many angles to insure your pet is pain free. Our surgery table is heated, as are our recovery cages. During surgery, your pet is monitored by a licensed technician (similar in education to an RN).
Surgery is performed in a dedicated operating room where no other procedures are done. Each pet gets a sterile instrument pack. The doctor is wearing a surgeon's cap, mask, and sterile gown. A sterile, waterproof drape is used. A new package of suture is used for each pet.
All pets undergoing anesthesia are intubated, on oxygen, and inhalant anesthesia. This provides control of the airway in case of emergency. The IV catheter, in addition to allowing fluids, also provides venous access in case of emergency.
After surgery, your pet is monitored until the tube is pulled. They are kept on the infusion of pain medication until shortly before discharge. Your pet will also go home with several days worth of medication, usually all included in the fee.
Pretty much like what happens in a human hospital, right?
Contrast that to several other places I've worked over the years: no cap, mask, or gown. No IV catheter. No fluids. No designated surgery room. Many also had an x-ray machine in there, or were also used for treatments (think abscesses and dental cleanings -- both very dirty procedures!). No heating pad. Cats not intubated. Torb only for pain control. Monitoring only by the doctor performing the surgery. And the biggie: spaying or neutering more than one pet per pack! YUCK!
So, the next time your pet is facing one of these surgeries, ask yourself: if it were me, which would I choose? Also, this will give you some things to ask of your vet when you make the appointment. Not all vets cut corners. But you deserve to know exactly what you're getting before Fluffy gets to the table.
And remember the old adage: You get what you pay for.
posted by Dr. Snark @ 7:53 AM
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