The vet cut off my cat's nipples during spay?

they didn't even tell me!!!

I noticed it in the car because she had blood on her (her fur is white)

when I got home I inspected it, one nipple is cut and bleeding and a second nipple is completely gone!!

Why wouldn't they tell me?? Is this going to harm her in any way long term or is she ok?

Please call the vet and tell them what you found.... also call and get a second opnion from another vet( many wont charge for a look syee appt)

EEEK! I would definitely call the vet and let them know what you found. Someone needs to be more careful when clipping fur to prepare for surgery. The vet may not know it occurred and it is important he discusses it with his technicians. Hopefully this will prevent it from happening to anyone other pets.

I would also have it looked at. Good luck! I hope your kitty heals quickly.

Oh, poor kitty! Call and complain for sure! I've never had that happen with my two inside girls, and the outside girls I've gotten spayed.

It is actually pretty common- happens when the vet tech is shaving the cat, not actually by the vet who is doing the spay. The cat is splayed out on the table on her back, with all four feet tied upwards so the belly is fully exposed. If the clinic is busy with surgeries, the tech may have been in a rush. The lacertions heal in a few days and she doesn't need the nipple anyway not with a spay. You can always use a styptic pencil if the bleeding doesn't stop. But really, it is quite common and not that big of a deal. You can also put a small amount of neosporin on it- but not much, just a small dot.

Yeah, it's from the shaving. I've had it happen to my cats a couple times. Usually it heals on its own, but you want to keep a good eye on it in case of infection. You can call your vet to complain, too. Maybe they'll be more careful next time they shave a kitty's tummy.

I used to work on a spay bus though and we never shaved off nipples. I did almost all the shaving. Yeah, you knick one now and again, but to shave one off? Something wrong there!

Sorry I left out the part how the missing nipple is a hole in her stomach filled with this hard blue glob of something (the same stuff on her stitched area)

She keeps licking and gnawing on it..

Did you ever call the vet?

ok, good news!

the vet called me back and said the hole isn't a missing nipple, it's a tattoo that says she's been fixed.

I've never had them tattoo my cat before.

Hum .. that is a new one... now prehaps others will be told of said tattoo

yea it woulda been nice if they would have told me!!

I thought they stopped tatooing years ago? you can't see the tattoo after about a year so they started taking off just the tip of the ear. That is a better marker IMO- even for house cats that were once stray.

What? The tattoos only last a year?

I really like the idea of tattoos. We used them at the vet's office I worked at. I HATE the whole notch in the ear thing. So you scar the cat for life to prove they're fixed? Don't like it. But then again, I don't like any alterations that are invasive in any way. I mean if you're putting some ink in a hole that's there, I'm down with that, but I don't like docking tails or clipping ears or dew claws or anything like that.

Originally Posted by LadyHitchhiker

I used to work on a spay bus though and we never shaved off nipples. I did almost all the shaving. Yeah, you knick one now and again, but to shave one off? Something wrong there!

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Well, yeah, but young cats who have never had a litter or been in heat usually have small nipples, so just a nick can seem like the nipple was cut off.

I think the tattoo for a spay is a good idea. You can't really see it unless she's shaved, but at least she won't be opened up twice. I don't like eartipping for tame cats.

yup,tattoo might be a good idea.

All except for Half tail have been tipped when spayed(4 girls total) I forgot the low cost place I used with Half tail didn't do it unless requested.

It is good to see that they are spayed. If Mama's ear wasn't tipped and she got caught(unlikely) she would have to be fully sedated for them to even look at her belly and I really don't like thinking they'd fully konked out when already fully spayed. It's just safer to have the ear tipped. It is the preferred way here for ferals. I'm not talking about inside cats or even really friendly ones.

Taryn

Oh, yeah, it's definitely the only way for ferals. Although I do have a couple semi-tame cats who are eartipped, because they were feral when they were spayed! But now they've gotten used to me. I wouldn't eartip a tame cat, though, there's just no reason for it.

Originally Posted by LadyHitchhiker

What? The tattoos only last a year?

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This is not true. I like to tattoo my dogs in addition to the microchip. They last a lot longer than a year.

Once the cats fur grows back, the tattoo vanishes. It simply doesn't last that long on cats as it does on dogs. It fades pretty quickly. The only way you can see it is to capture the cat, shave the belly and look for the ink. Ear tipping is much easier to spot. Guys, remember, I work strictly with strays and ferals. Big difference from just a house cat.