Sunday, August 2, 2009

Are there any medical risks associated with spaying cats in general?

Put simply, is it a risky surgery? Is it possible that the cat could die?
Answers:
The risk is so slim that your cat has a much greater risk of getting hit by a car or catching some feline disease.
There are always risks with surgery and anethesia with cats.
As far as the operation itself goes, it is relatively low risk.I have had 7 difference cats spayed or nutered with no problems. if you want to do spend a little extra money, make sure the vet has a blood pressure monitering machine and that he uses it.
Spaying is a very routine surgery, however all surgeries have risks. Anesthesia (spelling??) is a risk, but most vets know what they're doing there. Infection is a risk after the surgery. I think spaying is worth the risk. Spaying keeps the pet population down (God bless you, Bob Barker), and also seriously decreases a cats risk for cancer. Go to a well-established vet if you're really worried about risks.
Any surgical procedure (for animals or humans) that requires a general anesthetic has it's risks. However, medical progress has greatly reduced those risks. And the risks concerned with NOT spaying your cat are greater. As long as your cat is healthy, you should have it spayed.
My best friend had her cat declawed and sprayed at the same time, and he had a heart attack on the operating table. The vet didn't do blood work before they put him under, so if you get yours/ done make sure they do all of the proper tests needed before.

Edit: I'm not totally sure what his reaction was to. The saddest part was that it was her mothers decision to get it done, and to get both procedures done at the same time. Her and I are both against declawing, and we regularly just trim our cats nails but her mom was fed up with it, and took her cat while only giving my friend a few days notice that she mom was getting it done.
"Carrie's" friend's cat probably reacted badly to the declawing (which is inhumane), not the spaying.
There are more medical risks associated with not spaying. The only possible concern is the anesthesia, which is something your cat will come across anyway at some point. I would just ask your vet if there is a way to test in advance for allergies. But that's extraordinarily rare, I have never heard of a cat having a problem after spaying.
The risk lies in the sedation method. Unlike dogs the sedative that they used has no reversal. What happens when a cat dies...I have only seen one in 5 years die from a reaction. It basically just puts them to sleep that is the reaction. They can not die from being declawed unless sutures aren't placed and they bleed to death, it is also better for the cat to have the spay and declaw done at the same time because in this way they will only be sedated once, and that it the greatest risk. Spaying when in heat or older has a greater risk because the vessels are larger in a cat that is in heat and they could tear more easily. As with an older or overweight cat. If you are concerned talk with you Vet about it I am sure that He/She can help calm you fears.

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