Did my vet do this right?

I took in a cat about 6 weeks ago. Yesterday I took her to the vet to be spayed. He asked what I wanted to do if she was pregnant and I told him not to spay her. He thought she might be when he felt her belly, but wasn't sure. I picked her up today and sure enough she's pregnant. My issue is: He put her under and make an incision to check to see if she was pregnant. Is this normal? I've googled it but can't find anything. All the website say ultrasound or xray. I'm just wondering if this is normal.

Since you wanted to maintain the pregnancy rather than spay her if she was pregnant, the vet should have done an ultrasound or x-ray to determine her status, rather than cutting her open and looking inside her uterus. This seems unprofessional to me.

Did you speak directly with a vet or a tech?

I hope the pregnancy will continue to be viable. Perhaps you should seek another vet in the future.

Agreed with Sarthur, but I am glad they did ask you about what you would do and not just gone ahead and done it. Had a Vet do my cat that way, I was not happy.

There was 2 vet techs up front when I picked her up. When they gave me my bill I asked why it was so expensive and that's when they told me what they did. I asked why and the one that seems to be the leader rudely told me that that is how they check for pregnancy. I was shocked so I just payed my bill and left. Once I got home I decided to look into it and cannot find anything. They seem really nice (usually), but this has me questioning going back there. Kitty is definitely feeling the effects of the anesthesia, but will hopefully carry her babies to full term and we will have happy healthy kittens. They also didn't tell me anything about the kittens other than there were 2. Shouldn't they have been able to tell me how far along she is? 

I would find a different vet.  How did they know there were 2?

Yes, you should call and ask what they estimate the gestational age of the developing fetuses to be since they cut her open and looked. They surely should know! They have one heck of a way of testing for pregnancy. There is also a urine pregnancy test for cats.

After this final phone call I would find another vet.

handsome kitty

They cut the cat open and looked. It's in her thread.

They cut into her uterus?  How can they do that without harming the kittens and the water sack?  I thought they just cut into the belly and stopped when they saw the uterus was occupied.

I have to admit that I'm new at this pregnant cat thing. I never thought of how they knew there were 2. I assumed like you did Handsome Kitty. Ok I'm even more convinced I need a new vet now. 

Also, the anesthesia should wear off within 24 hours. What day and time did they perform the surgery?

Handsome Kitty said:

 
They cut into her uterus?  How can they do that without harming the kittens and the water sack?  I thought they just cut into the belly and stopped when they saw the uterus was occupied.

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I thought so also. I think you should back to the Vet and speak not with any tech but either the Owner of the Clinic or the Vet who did it.

That's why I said I hoped the pregnancy would still be viable from both the cutting and the anesthesia.

I called and talked to a tech since the vet had left for the day. They apparently didn't write anything about how far along she in the notes, so I have to call back in the morning. I asked why they did the incision instead of an ultrasound or xray. They don't do ultrasound and xray is starting at $106 so knowing that I'm a single mom of 2 kids I guess he was trying to save me financially. I didn't ask exactly how they do it as I figured I'd be better off talking to the vet tomorrow. 

Now I get it. I guess I just assumed you meant because of the incision in her belly and the stress. Thank you and I really hope so too. I'll be devastated if I somehow cause her to lose her babies. 

They should have discussed this with you when you brought her in. 

Yes, you need to talk to the vet first-hand. He should be able to tell you if they actually opened the uterus or not, and how far along she is.

How much were you charged for what he did?

My vet charges $75 for an x-ray.

Also ask if the anesthesia was harmful to the fetuses and what time they operated. Her anesthesia should have worn off by now.

poofnmoo

Have your cat's nipples pinked up yet? This usually occurs at the three week mark - around day 21 - and is an early sign of pregnancy. Cat pregnancy averages 65 days.

Yes sarthur2 they have. I didn't notice it until today. She is not a fan of us touching her stomach (now I know why) so I've never really looked before. Also didn't know there was a reason I should. You've given me some really good questions to ask the vet tomorrow. I guess I'm just super naive and expect the vet to only do what is safe for the animals. I never would have thought to ask those questions because I wouldn't think he would do something that wasn't safe. Thank you all for your help!

Hopefully you will get the answers you are looking for tomorrow and all will be well with your cat and her pregnancy.

Let us know what you find out. In the meantime, begin feeding your cat kitten chow and a high quality wet food like Fancy Feast to support the pregnancy if you are not already doing so.

I am already doing Purina Kitten Chow. I didn't know about the wet food so I will go out and get her some tomorrow. I will update tomorrow!