and one more spay question

[Jessica]

Marley is scheduled to be spayed next week...The vet has given me the option of having her spayed using laser (less pain, faster recovery) or the normal way...The laser way is $100 more....anyone have experience to know if it's worth the extra money???  Thanks!!

[Minga & Malu & Costa]

Laser surgery is not really a better way to cut. My personal feeling is that using the laser to cut (which technically burns the skin, it's a laser after all) is a waste of money. But they have to pay for their machine, so they would love to have you do it. I worked in vet clinics for years and years, and the bottom line is that animals recover amazingly fast on their own , even with "regular surgery".

Lasers sound really fancy, but I do all my surgeries the old fashioned way :)

[Leigh & Allie]

One thing I would do again in a heart beat, I found a vet who would do the stitches on the inside. That way Allie did not have a problem with trying to tear out her stitches. She did not need a cone and she did not have to have the stitches removed. The first vet I went to was not able to do this type of stitches. I asked friends' about their vets and I found one who was able to do this. I think she recovered quicker (no proof, just have noticed what other people have said about their experience) and I just had to tell her "no" when she tried to lick her incision. NO COLLAR OF SHAME. I would not do it any other way if or when I get a second doodle.

[Minga & Malu & Costa]

If that vet said they couldn't do a buried horizontal mattress stitch, it is because they want you to have to come back for a recheck and to remove the stitches. Every vet student learns how to do this stitch as a 3rd year. Just an FYI. :)

[Leigh & Allie]

Thanks. I still took her in for a check up for peace of mind but I guess I get it. I just don't understand why any vet would not use the buried stitch unless they want more money. It was definitely easier on Allie and me:)

[Jessica]

my vet said if done the regular way he uses the "superglue" to hold the skin together...he says it cuts way down on the licking since there are no strings to pull at...hmmm...

[Leigh & Allie]

I assume this is what my vet did as well, but he did say the stitches were under the skin though. You could not see any stitches and it healed so well that you can not even tell where the incision is:)

[Sandy Aicher and Bailey]

When Bailey was spayed in January... my vet did the stitches on the inside and then used the glue to hold skin together on the outside. She never touched the area! She never licked it or anything. I did not used the cone around her neck at all..YAY!! She healed really nicely and we didn't have to go through having the stitches removed. I guess I would say the "normal way" is fine. Good Luck!!

[Minga & Malu & Costa]

Most vets I worked for use a buried stitch. It works great. But some vets like to have a recheck and will do a traditional stitch. The stitches dissolve (unless they are metal, which they won't use in the case of most spays) so there is no reason not to bury them.