April 24, 2003
9:30 p.m.
Dusty was scheduled to go in for her spaying today. I scheduled this last month and didn't think about it very much, though I've been sort of mulling it over in the back of my mind.
I have no objection to having my dog spayed, but I was concerned about our vet - I haven't been thrilled with this clinic recently. When I phoned to make the appointment, I was told that Dusty would be required to stay overnight "for observation" and through the next day. That's two days in a kennel in a vet's office. It seemed a little over-the-top. When I started asking questions, I was cut off abruptly and told "We been doing this for 12 years and have had no problems." Yeesh.
I really don't like being dismissed like a child and bluntly told that I should blindly trust authority. So I hopped on the Internet and started doing a bit of research about overnight stays after spaying/neutering. I discovered that many, many clinics do not require overnight stays because they are simply unnecessary. Dogs are often traumatized by the overnight stay, when they could get more rest at home.
I spoke with a three people I trust who have a lot of experience with dogs. All three felt that it was far better for a dog to recover at home after a spaying. Then, there was the clincher: one of these people pointed out that this particular clinic does not monitor animals who are left overnight 'for observation.' Basically, my puppy would have been left alone all night after a major surgery.
Fast forward to this morning. I had decided to go through with the spaying, but insist that my pup come home this evening and I would bring her back on Friday morning for a post-op check-up. After all, it's my dog and my $200. I felt that they should certainly accomodate my request.
I phoned the clinic at 8:00 a.m. and made my request. The receptionist tried to give me the 'we know better than you because we've been doing this for 12 years, blah, blah, blah' argument. I calmly informed her that my request was non-negotiable; my dog was *not* staying overnight at the clinic. She asked me to phone back in 20 minutes.
I phoned back and this time I spoke with the clinic manager. Because it was their policy, I would be required to leave Dusty at the clinic, without seeing her, until 6:00 on Friday night. I suggested that I might cancel this spaying and find another veterinarian. She asserted that this policy was not flexible. I asked her to cancel our appointment and thanked her.
This situation bothered me on a couple of levels. I was disturbed by the inflexibility of their policies in the face of a quite reasonable request. My dog is more timid and sensitive than most - she would have been greatly traumatized by such a long stay in a strange place after a medical procedure (a friend of mine has a much more outgoing dog and he badly effected by the long stay after his neutering).
The recent veterinary medical literature states that with advances in anethesia technology, dogs recover from surgery within hours and overnight stays are not required. Also, this clinic was skeptical when I requested Dusty's spaying at 5 months. Recent studies (which are all available on the Internet) point out that puppies actually recover more quickly from spays that are performed at 3 months or earlier.
Basically, I'm a shocked that this veterinary clinic would hold on to old, outdated policies in light of new medical knowledge - makes me wonder how up-to-date they are in general. I also felt it showed a lack of concern and compassion for the animals they treat. Finally, I feel that flexiblity is a real virtue. I would have been more comfortable had I been told that some animal stay overnight if necessary, on a case-to-case basis.
Clearly, I've spent waaaay to much time thinking about this! ;-)
I talked to my dog park friends and tried phoning another vet in the neighbourhood - he didn't require an overnight stay but did require the puppy to be at least 6 months of age.
Another friend forwarded information about a holistic clinic in Parkdale. I spoke at length with them and really liked what I heard: the age limit for spaying is flexible, overnight stays are available but not required.
Dusty is scheduled for next Thursday. It's a bit more expensive, but I'm satisfied with the peace of mind it gives me. I've learned so much from dog ownership, and one of the important lessons has been to ask questions. I no longer take information or advertising or even medical advice at face value.
Dusty can't speak. She relies on me to ask the right questions and fight the right battles. I know I did the right thing.