Is it safe to spay a dog without Anesthesia?

Question

My sister just had her 3 month old female pug spayed. The vet apparently had trouble getting her anesthetized and did the surgery without anesthesia. As far as we know he didn't even use Valium or a local anesthetic either. I want to hear from some one who knows, is that safe for the dog? Obviously I wouldn't want someone doing surgery on me without anesthesia....please let me know!!

Thanks =)

I just wanted to add a few things here....I may be off on the dogs age, I know its not an early spay, her and her brother whom my sister also owns are very much of safe spay/neuter age.

I cannot be certain the vet did not use any other form of sedation. I mostly want to know if its unheard of to do a spay un-anesthetized.

I was shocked when I heard this myself, I rebutted that he had to have used SOMETHING to restrain and sedate the dog. She is a small pug, but even still dogs don't lay still for much especially not pain!

So yes, I do agree he must have used something, its been 2 days since the surgery and my sisters dog seems fine, like nothing happened. But its disconcerting and the vet didn't even call my sister to ok any variation to the "plan" to spay. He doesn't seem very credible or humane to me.

And just an FYI she IS changing Vets, and this is in Maine.

Thank you all for your input.

Answer 1

Dogs are NEVER spayed without some form of anesthesia. If one type doesn't work well there are others. So NO the vet did NOT do a spay without some type of anesthesia.
Spaying is major surgery.It is a complete ovariohysterectomy.If a spay was ever attempted without anesthesia of any kind it would send a dog into shock. I can assure you that the dog would certainly not be acting fine or even near fine.
Also a vet doesn't need to call the owner if there is a change in type of anesthesia being used.

I think you and your sister are WAY OFF on this. I'm from Maine, I work for vets in Maine and I know a lot of vets from Maine NO vet here in Maine (or anywhere else for that matter)would do a spay with out anesthesia!!

Answer 2

Well it would be safe since the anesthesia is only knocking them out so they feel no pain and stay still...on the other hand it's not very humane, that's horrible the vet would even do that with the dog wide awake, terrified and in agony. The only unsafe thing I think would be the trauma to the dog and if the dog got unrestrained and moved it could of been a disaster...I have never ever heard of any vet doing such a thing and I would seriously tell her to find a new vet and warn others of that vet.

Answer 3

You haven't gotten the story correctly. No vet would spay an animal without utilizing some form of anesthesia or conscious sedation meds. No, it isn't safe nor is it likely that is what occured. It is possible to utilize acupuncture for some surgical procedures but with a dog, and a lot of people!, they would need to be sedated in some way.

Answer 4

There are different ways of sedating a dog beside anesthesia. My dog had some minor surgery without anesthesia. My vet did consult with me before the surgery. Hopefully your sister's vet did the same.

Answer 5

That is highly unlikely.

They cut open her tummy. With a razor sharp knife. Then rooted around in there trying to feel for, then cut out and remove, the parts. Would you hold still for that? Absolutely not!

Pain causes shock. Shock kills. Another reason you need meds.

That sort of pain will drive anyone and anything crazy. The dog would be out of her mind with the trauma. She would be biting, snapping and generally NOT O.K.

I can't stress enough how painful it is, and how completely against all medical knowledge and reason this is.

I would talk to the doctor again. Ask more questions.

Answer 6

That is totally irresponsible, not to mention inhuman. Can you not imagein the pain that poor dog went through? Would you think it was safe to have your stomach cut open and part of your insides ripped out without Anesthesia? What state and city you live in, I want to make sure I don't use that butcher for any pet of mine.

Answer 7

Safe? Not sure how to answer that. Anesthesia doesn't make it "safer" in terms of avoiding infection. Anesthesia is only so that the procedure can be done without pain to the patient. So yes, it is technically "safe" to do it without anesthesia. The question should be "Is it cruel" and the answer to that is a resounding "YES".

Answer 8

The dog HAD to have SOME kind of anesthesia. It may not have been in the "surgical plane" of anesthesia, but it had to have something.

Do you think you could hold a dog down and cut it open and hunt around and remove the proper parts WITHOUT anesthesia???
Would BE IMPOSSIBLE!!!!

Answer 9

If your vet performed this surgery without pputting the pet under,this is a stupid vet and would be called cruel and inhuman treatment.He should be reported,as this pet had to suffer terrible pain.

Answer 10

The dog would prboboly die of shock and pain if done without being sedated.