nervous about having babies fixed

Ok ,

I took the babies ot he vet today and all is well they are gorwing fast and health is perfect

My vet said that I needed to bring both of them in on the 1st of Nov. to get fixed. I am kind of nervous about this (worried about how much it will hurt) I have raised and bred dogs (border collies and blue heelers) all my life so I never had any of them fixed and I am really concerned about my babies. Will it hurt? What kind of anasthetic do they use? How long will it take? Will it effect their behavior? When can I bring them home? Is ther any post operative care I will have to do myself? What are the chances for infection? Every time I think about the vet cutting on my babies I wanna cry. I asked my vet and he just kind of laughed (hes been my vet since I was a kid) he siad they would be fine and that they would be "normal". Im still nervous about the procedure though. Is there anything I can do to ease my mind about this I know it needs to be done for many reasons and I know it will benefit them in the long run but it doesn't change how I feel. Am i just being overprotective lol or are my worries justified?

I forgot to mentiont hat when they got weighed Isis weighed in at 3 1/2 lbs and Salem cam in at 5.3 lbs man they are getting big fast the vet said that they are going to be BIG cats when they reach adulthood!!!!!!!!!! How can you tell how big your kitten will be? I have heard everything from the size of their paws to the length of their legs to how long their whiskers are.... ok im confuzled lol so much information ...such a small brain lmao

Originally Posted by Mom2SalemIsis

Ok ,

I took the babies ot he vet today and all is well they are gorwing fast and health is perfect

My vet said that I needed to bring both of them in on the 1st of Nov. to get fixed.

I am kind of nervous about this (worried about how much it will hurt) I have raised and bred dogs (border collies and blue heelers) all my life so I never had any of them fixed and I am really concerned about my babies. Will it hurt? What kind of anasthetic do they use? How long will it take? Will it effect their behavior? When can I bring them home? Is ther any post operative care I will have to do myself? What are the chances for infection? Every time I think about the vet cutting on my babies I wanna cry. I asked my vet and he just kind of laughed (hes been my vet since I was a kid) he siad they would be fine and that they would be "normal". Im still nervous about the procedure though. Is there anything I can do to ease my mind about this I know it needs to be done for many reasons and I know it will benefit them in the long run but it doesn't change how I feel. Am i just being overprotective lol or are my worries justified?

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Different vets use different pain medications etc. Like one I read used pills for a few days after the operation, my kittens each recieved a post op pain shot that lasted for 12 hours.

Some vets let cats come home later that afternoon (I had to ask). Most kitties are back to themselves the morning after surgery.

If you do bring them home, basically a quiet comfortable place to rest, access to litterbox. Depending on your vet, they may be allowed to eat the night of their surgery.

I don't think you're being overprotective. So far Dazee, Mazee and Chance have not changed in behaviour at all.

These concerns are completely natural. Serenity's big day is quickly approaching, as well, and as routine and beneficial as I know it to be, this is not something I'm looking forward to at all. Her Vet is going to allow her to come home that afternoon barring any unforseen events. I am much happier to have her home with me and feel she too, will be much more comfortable and content. I am calling next week to discuss pain prevention.

If you have any questions or concerns, be sure to discuss them with your Vet. That's why he's there, to provide the best possible care for your babies and ensure that you're a well informed Mommy!

My vet said that I needed to bring both of them in on the 1st of Nov. to get fixed. I am kind of nervous about this (worried about how much it will hurt) I have raised and bred dogs (border collies and blue heelers) all my life so I never had any of them fixed and I am really concerned about my babies. Will it hurt? What kind of anasthetic do they use? How long will it take? Will it effect their behavior? When can I bring them home? Is ther any post operative care I will have to do myself? What are the chances for infection? Every time I think about the vet cutting on my babies I wanna cry. I asked my vet and he just kind of laughed (hes been my vet since I was a kid) he siad they would be fine and that they would be "normal". Im still nervous about the procedure though. Is there anything I can do to ease my mind about this I know it needs to be done for many reasons and I know it will benefit them in the long run but it doesn't change how I feel. Am i just being overprotective lol or are my worries justified

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Firstly, it's hard to guage an animal's pain. They are really good about hiding it. However, your cat will not feel herself being spayed. She may be a bit sore afterwards, picture yourself having a minor surgery, but the vet will send pain meds home to you. So she'll be living the high life for a few days.

As far as anesthetic you'll have to ask what they use. If they mention a valium-ketamine or isofleurine you're in good shape. I would stay away from halothane just because it's harder to keep in control.

The surgery itself takes about 15 to 20 minutes, depends who is doing it.

Their behavior shouldn't affected, the first few days they might be tired, but nothing should change personality wise.

As far as take home, ask your vet. We send spays home later in the day, like before closing so we can monitor them.

Infection isn't that great, spaying is such a simple procedure. Not to mention ferals get spayed and released the next day, so it's not that big of a deal.
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Personally, if you're that worried. Ask your vet. I can't believe you have this many questions, most that can be answered by your vet and you didn't ask them. he knows better than anyone else on this board how he runs his clinic.

In my oppinion, your worries are kind of justified. But not really. You're probably going to be more affected by this than your cats will be. It's really not that invasive, we all get worried when our pets have to stay at the vets. But they are in good hands. Your vet will gives your cats a thorough exam before doing anything, so if something is wrong, he will not spay your cat. He wants to keep your animal alive and well.

Definitley ask for pain meds, and give them a quiet warm place to chill at home. They will be tired and groggy, and drunk, but they'll live alot happier lives. No heat cycles to which they can't be relieved, no accidental pregnancy, no death due to pregnancy.

You're a concerned mom, and it's good to be concerned because we know how much you loves your babies. I would call your vet asap so that he can calm any nerves you may have.

i did ask him and he told me that they would be fine and not to worry

i wasn't finished yet lol isis stepped on the keyboard. the vet said he would go over everything with me throughly the day I bring them in. he is really sweet and just kept telling me they will be fine we will go over details on that day and that he does this on a daily basis. i trust him, like I said its something new for me and im really jittery about surgery of anykind. I feel kinda of silly for being this worried about them but I really can't help it. im sorry if it seemed like i didn't ask him cause i did. i just want to make sure everything will be fine. they are so little and dare i say helpless and it is up to me to take care of them and i want to make sure i do everything right. i think im more scared for them than i should be but they are just babies.

val

We all worry, however many times we have been through it before. But in 99.9% of cases it is absolutely fine and hte cats are up and about within 24 hours. Cats, like people, do react differently, of my three girls Dushka took longest to recover - she just wanted to sleep and lie still for 48 hours. Ellie was running around and eating about 6 hours after the op, and Persil took a day or so. The vet will probably give them a pain med and an antibiotic before they leave, then something for you to give at home if needed. The only thing you must do is monitor them to see they don't lick their stitches so they come out. Some vets, mine included, do invisible internal stitches and that makes it easier. We all understand your concerns, but being spayed or neutered is so beneficial to the cat in the long run, avoiding not only pregnancy but all kinds of diseases and complications in the future, that it is worth a day or two of discomfort.

I definitely don't think you're overreacting, so don't worry about that

I went through this just last week with my Callie. I was a very worried mommy and asked loads of questions to help ease my mind. She had surgery Tuesday morning and they called me shortly afterward, saying that she was fine, awake, and hungry (from not having been able to eat the night before). Out of all the kittens they spayed/neutered Tuesday morning she was the first one up on her feet and wanting to eat

We picked her up that night at 6pm and brought her home. We were told to make sure she doesn't lick too much at her stomach, and to try make sure she wasn't too active (stretching, jumping up on things, etc). Well good luck... she's the most active kitty I've ever seen and it was impossible to keep her calm... she was acting her normal self, running and jumping on everything, climbing everything, playing with my other cat. We had to isolate her in a separate room to get her to calm down for the night.

She had an IV in her front arm for the surgery so there's a little shaved patch there that is growing back, and her stomach fur is growing back now too. She licks at her wound, but not too much, and it's healing very well. We'll be back at the vet in a couple of days for a follow-up.

So I haven't seen any behavior changes in Callie and she's healing well. It was similar when we spayed Tigger a couple of years ago... the only thing that changed with her is that she won't let anyone touch her tummy now.

Sorry for the long message. Hope this helps you a bit.
Kathy

I've had lots of cats spayed, and even have volunteered at a feral spay/neuter clinic, helping give vaccinations and the shot to put them to sleep for the surgery. But when my last foster Sugartoes was spayed, I was very worried, too. I think it comes with the territory.

When you were breeding dogs, did you worry before the births? I think this is the same. You run through your mind everything that could go wrong, while knowing it will most likely be fine. And a spay is safer that a birth!

Best of luck to you. You are a good Meowmie to do the spay despite your fears. The vet is waiting to explain it to you that morning, so you don't over analyze, or forget some details. Did he tell you how long she is to be without food before the surgery?

Originally Posted by Beckiboo

I Did he tell you how long she is to be without food before the surgery?

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Not yet I have to call in the morning and make the actual appointment so I know what time to bring them in. I feel a little better about this.. thanks to everyone who posted a reply.

It's okay to be a little nervous. I have had a few hundred foster cats/kittens and ferals fixed and I was still a basket case when my youngest guy was fixed! It's a totally routine and almost risk-free procedure until it is your own baby, lol!

That said, the risk of significant complications is extremely low - something like one out of every 500. Minor complications like infection at the incision site is somewhat more common but very easy to take care of.

As for anesthesia, you should ask your vet because there are many protocols that can be used.

The surgery itself is fast - for girls it's no more than 30 minutes and usually more like 15-20, for boys it's less than 10 minutes. Girls under 5 months old and boys of all ages are running around and eating a few hours later, not in significant pain. Girls older than 5 months have more postoperative pain but return to normal activity in 24 hours or so. Most vets let them go home that day but some like to keep them overnight.

In terms of the risk, spay/neuter is much less risky than the alternative. The consequences of not spaying and neutering include pyometra, dystocia, and mammary cancer for girls and horrific fight wounds and FIV for boys. Plus there is the awful reality of the thousands and thousands of homeless cats and kittens killed in shelters every year because there are too many born and not enough homes. Spay/neuter by 6 months of age is the "stitch in time that saves nine lives".