how common are complications when a dog is spayed?

Question

Im just curious I have never...in real life....talked to anyone that their dogs had any complications while being spayed.

Mine is being done today and I had to sign all the paperwork this am stating I knew the risks and all but really it is not that common at all is it?

Answer 1

I don't think it is all that common. I have had several dogs spayed & neutered over the years and never had complications. I think the most common problem is spay incontinence and that is not all that common. Talk to your vet, they can give you all the info you want/need.

KUDOS to you for doing the best thing for your dog!

Answer 2

Spaying a dog is very routine. Complications are very rare. The vet has done them many times before. One complication could be that the dog doesn't react well to the anesthesia. But this would happen in any surgery, not just a spay. Dont worry too much though, you did the right thing. The dog was more at risk of cancer, and other health problems if it wasn't spayed. Those definitely overweight the rare consequences of a spay. Good luck!

Answer 3

You already have your answer: you are wondering whether to seek legal advice or not. The only person who can really give you accurate information as to whether you can get your money back is a lawyer well versed in the laws surrounding veterinary care. Additionally, you CAN sue- the question is whether you would win. At worst, the only thing you would lose is a day of work if you lose the case- considering the emergency surgery was probably several hundred dollars on top of what you paid them then it might be worth it to take it to court regardless of whether you win or not. Really you need a vet's opinion as to whether negligence was at hand here- whether the vet screwed up or whether it was just a rare problem that sometimes occurs with spays. The fact that the emergency vet isn't really willing to tell you one way or the other is going to hurt any legal case you may have against the hospital that did the spay- if he had been willing to back you up that he believed the hospital was negligent it would have worked better for you in court in my opinion. Really you have to decide how far you want to take it. Either way- I wouldn't go back. If any of my patients had been so sedate as to not be picking their head up after surgery we would NOT be sending them home- we also wouldn't be sending them home the same day they had the spay (they stay for two-three days for post-op care,) and they have a nurse keeping track of them 24 hrs a day while they are in the hospital. If a hospital doesn't have these things I won't let my animals stay there as an in-patient- there are too many things that can go wrong while the staff has gone home for the day.

Answer 4

This Site Might Help You.



RE:

how common are complications when a dog is spayed?

Im just curious I have never...in real life....talked to anyone that their dogs had any complications while being spayed.



Mine is being done today and I had to sign all the paperwork this am stating I knew the risks and all but really it is not that common at all is it?

Answer 5

as with humans, dogs can have a bad reaction to the anesthesia and die from that. They can get the ir stitches out from chewing on them and/or jumping around before they heal and die from blood loss, and of course there is a chance of infection. Most spays/neuters are done without any complications but there is a slight chance a dog could die as a result of the surgery. I know someone whose min pin died during ear crop surgery, even tho he was given a clean bill of health beforehand. He died as a result of the anesthesia.

Answer 6

For a routine spay complications are very, very rare. But legally all anesthetic release forms must say that you understand that no anesthetic procedure is 100% safe and there is always a possibility for something to go wrong no matter how unlikely it is. I'm sure your girl will be fine.

Answer 7

I had 3 girls done at once and yes it is nervewracking.The surgery is like any other as it is a hysterectomy for a female dog..The important thing that you must do is when you get her home..She is not to jump on furniture or people.She is to stay calm for about a week week and a half..She will be tired and she will try to lick but they should give you a collar for her to wear so she can't get at the stitches..If she starts to get to active she can rip the inside and outside stitches and that can be fatal..So whatever you do keep her calm and no jumping

Answer 8

Not very common, but the younger they are the more common complications are. It's best to wait until the dog has gone into heat once.



Sometimes they will have problems holding their bladder if they are fixed too young. Another problem is that if you don't keep the cone on they can rip the stitches out- I know of one who ripped her stitches out and her guts started to come out because her owner didn't keep the cone on... she was ok but it was a nightmare that could have been avoided if the cone was kept on. Another problem is the anesthesia... sometimes dogs react badly to it and don't come out of it.



All in all, complications are not very common and it's a lot safer to have them fixed, because if they're not fixed they can get cancer in their ovaries/uterus. Cancer is more common than spaying complications so it is the safer thing to do. Getting your dog spayed is a good and safe procedure.

Answer 9

There are always risks with anesthesia, with dogs as well as people. I've never heard about complications either, though. I'm sure your dog will be fine.

Answer 10

Not common, but it does happen from time to time. We had a 10 year old Beagle spayed shortly after we got her, and she was back to her playful self in a couple days time.

Answer 11

This is just plainly a liability thing, as in they make sure you know all the risks invovled and know what your getting into, EVEN THO the procedures are commonplace and completely safe, it is the equivielent to the CYA statement(cover your @$$), that everyone employs.

Answer 12

It is a safe operation, but the risks are less than if she had had puppies or got an uterine infection.

Answer 13

complications are pretty much nil.

it's a very routine procedure.

i just had 2 of my girls done and the worst thing that happened was they didn't like the food at the vet's!

talk about complicated!!

Answer 14

Practice on a human first.

Answer 15

It's a piece of cake, nothing to worry about. You need to speak to your vet about your concerns, not strangers on the internet.