My cat screams, has accidents, and one kidney. Is spaying safe?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! He could potentially undergo anesthesia. It is just a matter of being careful with the amount of time that he is under anesthesia and keeping it to a minimum and to watch that his blood pressure does not drop in the process. A castration is so quick that I would not be too concerned about this. I would recommend IV fluids all throughout the procedure. Best of luck!

I am sorry to hear about Grizelda. I wouldn't expect the anesthesia to make her aggressive and crazy, however, anesthesia in a cat with kidney disease is most definitely a risky endeavor. There is the chance that the kidneys could become further damaged, they can develop threatening heart arrhythmias under anesthesia, or acid-base abnormalities in the blood, and they can develop low blood pressure which can further damage the kidneys. Because of this, anesthesia is a definite risk and I would recommend any surgery be done by a specialist/internist at a referral hospital or teaching hospital which has a wider choice of drugs to use for anesthesia and also more extensive monitoring equipment.

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

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.

I'm sorry to hear that Sweetie has a stomach tumor! While that is a slightly elevated SDMA value, it is difficult to say exactly how her kidneys are doing without the remainder of her bloodwork. As long as Sweetie does not have spread of her cancer to other organs, especially the lungs, and her heart is functioning normally, anesthesia may be safe. She will also be on fluids throughout the surgery and monitored carefully. Your veterinarian can go over the risks associated with anesthesia with you considering the remainder of Sweetie's blood work. The prognosis for survival once the tumor is removed depends greatly on the type of tumor it is and how well the stomach is able to heal following surgery as well as if you elect to pursue chemotherapy. Certain tumor types, such as lymphoma, have a survival time of only several months following surgery. I hope this helps and am happy to answer any other questions you may have about Sweetie!

Hello. A known congenital defect is probably an indication to avoid this kitten. She will require very regular checks of her remaining kidney function to make sure any issues are addressed early on. If the breeder is willing to present this kitten to you free of charge, you must make it your business to factor in at least some additional care for the life of this kitten. She may do quite well, but without a more definitive diagnosis of what the abnormal kidney is, it is impossible to say how she may do. BUT, people & animals can certainly live long healthy lives with just one kidney. You will just need to be more proactive with her lifelong health care if you decide to take her. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

The best thing you can do is make sure she is not over weight. Also, when she is spayed, she will need to be separated from any kittens so that they do not injure the incision. I recommend to discuss your concerns with your veterinarian. Things that help a procedure recover if an emergency arises are to make sure bloodwork is done prior to the surgery, that she has an intravenous catheter placed prior to the procedure and that she receives intravenous fluids during the procedure. These will help to keep her safe. Just like human medicine, all sedative procedures have some risk but the vast vast majority of people and pets will do fine. You may consider interviewing a few veterinarians to ask about their protocols and safety record. It's always be to be informed. Having her spayed will provide protection from a variety of other health conditions and is generally safe. I hope this helps.