VSR 421: Regional Veterinary Surgery (2+1)

SPAYING

• Removal of the ovary is known as spaying.

Indications

• Prevent breeding nuisance
• Prevent development of pyometra , mammary tumor.

Age

• Above 6 months of age in case of dogs.

Anaesthesia

• Premedicate with atropine , followed 10 minutes by xylazine @1 mg/kg body weight.
• Induce the anaesthesia with ketamine @ 10 mg/kg body weight and diazepam 0.3 mg/kg body weight.
• Maintain anaesthesia with same ketamine and diazepam or propofol @ 3-5 mg/kg body weight.

Preparation of the animal

• Position the animal in dorsal recumbency or left lateral recumbency. Prepare the area aseptically.

Sites

• From a point a little behind the umbilicus backwards along the midline over a length of 3 -5 inches.
• 2. 1 – 1 ½ inches incision on either flank, parallel to the last rib, below the lumbar transverse processes, at the level of the posterior lobe of the kidneys. 
• The incision may be ½ inch behind the last rib on the right flank and about 1 inch behind on the left flank.

Technique 

• Perform laparotomy. 
• The ovary with its bursa is held with fingers. 
• A ligature is applied anterior to the ovary and another one behind it, around the respective vascular connections. 
• The ovarian bursa is opened and the ovary is removed learning the bursa. 
• The other ovary also is removed in a similar manner. 
• The abdomen is sutured closed in three layers: the abdominal wall, the subcutaneous tissue (tissue underneath the skin) and the skin itself.

Postoperative care

• Aftercare includes house rest, with no running, jumping or rough play for two weeks following surgery. 
• Pain medications are often prescribed for several days following surgery. 
• An Elizabethan collar may be necessary to prevent licking of the surgical wound.