Cat with liver disease mated. Can she get pregnant? Is spaying safe?

Hello. Spaying is a very good idea, but in all probability, the nodules on the liver will not be touched. Those liver values are a concern, and I would possibly look more into what is going on with the liver before putting Dahlia under general anesthesia. I assume an ultrasound of her abdomen was done & this is how the cyst & nodules were found. Have chest x-rays been done? In case the liver nodules are cancerous, we want to make sure her lungs are clear of any metastatic lesions. Also, if the cyst on her ovary is not bothering her & she is not having any reproductive problems, spaying her may not be advised either until your veterinarian can get her liver numbers down. We do have supplements that may help the liver to heal. Follow your veterinarian's recommendations for any follow up testing & treatments. Good luck & thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Ok, the question got confusing at the end so I'm sorry if I don't fully answer you. The answer is no, she cannot be pregnant and in heat at the same time. It is impossible. I suggest you have her spayed. It is a bit more risky of a surgery to spay them while pregnant or in-heat but I have done it thousands of times with no issues. If you are planning on spaying her, then I suggest you do so now.

Great question, The only way to ensure the safety of performing a routine spay operation is to have your small animal veterinarian perform a pre-surgical exam along with pre-anesthetic blood testing. After the exam and blood, if anything looks abnormal, further testing such as X-rays and ultrasound can be done prior to surgery. Keep in mind, veterinary clinics vary as to their equipment, so, to insure your pets safety, its alway good to have your cat monitored on an EKG/Blood pressure monitor. Nutrition is important, feeding a good quality adult diet either recommended by your local veterinarian or purchased through Petco or feed store should be adequate. The important things is that it agrees with your cat over time such as providing normal stools and volume, maintains nice haricot, and maintains normal weight. Changes in diet should always be done slowly. Please feel free to set a consult with me if you have further questions regarding her upcoming surgery. Thank you, Steve Popish, DVM

Hello. The presence of only 1 kidney is a birth defect that can occur. If that kidney is fully functioning, as demonstrated by normal blood kidney values, & a normal urinalysis, then there is no reason that anesthesia will be any more of a concern then for a cat with 2 kidneys. I am not sure what you mean by an indifferent colon, other than if there is one congenital birth defect, other defects are possible. We had a case of a puppy born with a deformed hind leg, & when he was old enough for neutering, also found a completely abnormal reproductive tract as well as a deformed kidney. This dog is now 13 years old & going strong. Your kitty may require periodic blood work to make sure the kidney stays healthy, & possibly some type of special diet depending on how the colon actually affects the kitten's overall well being. But, accidents in nature happen. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Any animal can die from any operation, just like any person could. There is never a guarantee. That being said, the chance of her passing from surgery is extremely low - like less than 0.001%. I agree with your vet that she should be done right away. You can’t continue letting her be sick. I know you are anxious but you need to do what is best for her.

I am sorry to hear about your kitty! We do routinely do surgery in many pets that have seizures, and as long as we are aware ahead of time we can prepare for this concern by doing things such as selecting certain drugs for anesthesia and having an IV catheter in place in case a seizure occurs so we have quick access to a vein to administer medication. I would say that the risk of not being spayed is a greater health risk than the risk of being spayed. I would, however, recommend having your cat examined/have work-up done which may involve bloodwork and ultrasound to ensure there isn't a cause for seizures such as a liver shunt that needs to be addressed if your cat hasn't already been examined for the seizures. I would also recommend you have your cat spayed at a full service vet clinic and not a spay/neuter low cost clinic because of her issues she is going to need more intensive monitoring than they can offer. The risks involved in spaying are the same for any surgical procedure and include adverse reaction to the anesthetic drugs, bleeding during surgery, and infection of the surgical site. These complications are extremely rare.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Penelope. It is good that her ultrasound came back normal. I typically recommend blood work such as a bile acids panel (liver function test) and even a coagulation panel prior to surgery in the case of elevated liver values. These blood panels will help to ensure that it is safe for her to go under anesthesia. I hope this information helps!