Kitten spayed-do they still use stitches?

[ganesh]

I'm having my kitten spayed next week,do they still use stitches or do they glue it like our surgical wounds?
I hope she won't have to wear one of those awful collars.

[lilynmax]

I had my kitten "done" a couple of months ago, our locum vet shaved her and she had a couple of tiny stitches, but our regular vet said he would not have even bothered shaving her! I think either way she would have had the little stitches, but she did not have a collar, and she never once tried to attack her stitches. We had to take her back a week later to check she was ok, but I think the stitches dissolved, since she needed no further treatment.

[pie+mash]

Hi guys,

May I be so bold as to ask you "How much does it cost?"

I will be having my kitten spayed in 2 or 3 months time.

Cheers xxx

[lilynmax]

I can't remember exactly but I think Lily cost about �45 including her week later check up, and Max cost slightly less because it's easier on boys. They normally say wait till they're six months old, but this is apparently because they're so little! Max started to chase Lily so we had them done at five months.

[pie+mash]

Many thanks lilynmax.

I have also been told six months is suitable time, before they come into season.

Apologies for hi-jack of thread, ganesh but it is all new to me too!!

[ganesh]

I'm in the same situation as lilynmax,my boy cat is getting too frisky and trying to pin her down,and I've been advised to do it now at 5 months because females can come into season at 5 and half months.
I haven't even checked the price-it seems to cost �30 just to say hello to the vet these days!!

[Noweia]

Most vets will recommend that dogs and cats are spayed or castrated at 6 months of age.

Also, most places still use stitches - I haven't yet found a practice using surgical glue for a neuter operation.

lilynmax, I'm glad she was shaved! What a lot of people don't realise is that spaying is open abdominal surgery - with the risks involved, hygiene and therefore clipping of the area to be operated on is essential.

Prices will vary depending on what species you have, whether your pet is male or female, and what size it is! Typically anything from �40-80.

[Sammy Snake]

Well mine was a little boy but he cost about �25 to get 'done' two years ago and they used glue, no stitches.

[ganesh]

my last boy cat didn't show anything and there were no stitches,but girls are different and they need a larger cut,but I don't see why they don't always use glue-after all they used it on my appendix!!
Also,my vet has said 5 months because the females have been known to come into season early and that would be disastrous especially as she has an interested brother!!

[pie+mash]

Well my kitten is an indoor cat and will not be in contact with any others, so I guess 6 months will be suggested.

I know it is your thread ganesh but just to say thanks for all the replies, as this is good advice for me too!!

[ganesh]

noproblem,thanks for all the info,I guess I'll find about stitches soon enough.

[janeo]

I had my female cat "done" about 6 months ago & it was about �80 I think, which included all follow-up visits. I think they try to keep the price relatively low so people aren't deterred from getting it done.
She had soluble stitches & the wound was only about 2cm long.

[ganesh]

wow that's tincy (or is it tinsy),but then my little kitty's tummy is pretty tiny-as long as she doesn't have to wear one of those collars it's ok.Mind you,she does an awful lot of rough and tumble with her brother! I may have to separate them and keep him off her for a couple of days.
Thanks all.

[certainage]

Here in the U.S. vets have begun spaying/neutering pets at 3 - 4 months of age, both to definitely avoid the first heat and to prevent hormone-induced behaviors from becoming a habit. (My male dog was neutered at 10 months, but still maintains an unholy relationship with my child's stuffed bear!)

Stitches vs. glue is according to veterinarian preference. My male dog had glue and my female cat had stitches. Neither wore a collar. The vet recommended little or no pain medicine after the first day. It sounds harsh, but the wound tenderness keeps them from jumping around too much, or scratching/biting at the incision. Even without medication, it was still a struggle to keep them fairly quiet for the 2-3 days recommended.

Do you have a local Humane Society? Or spay/neuter clinic? They will sometimes offer these procedures at reduced costs.

Congratulations on your new friend!

[ganesh]

They are being 'done' this very morning so I'll soon find out.Thanks anyway!

[ganesh]

Just for the record,they are back and the female has got 2 stiches which will have to be removed in ten days time.
And for those who wanted to know the cost it came to �108.

[lilynmax]

wow - I'm amazed it cost so much! Someone I know had told me it would cost approximately that and I know I had a lovely surprise when Lily's op was less than �50, so maybe unless your very happy with your vets ways and methods, you might want to find one that's more reasonable!! We are on our second vet, and not only is this one cheaper than the last but it's also one vet working on his own so the cats get used to him, and he does everything possible to make sure they end up hating him instead of us!! So far they still like him!!

[ganesh]

Well that was for the two of them so I suppose it isn't that bad. I'm sure my vet is a bit pricey but he's been my vet for 20 years now and he's good.