question about "fixing"

[Puppy Madness]

I talked to our vet's office this morning about scheduling Duke's surgery to get fixed.  They told me we would drop him off between 7:30 - 8 am and pick him up the next day at 3:30 pm.  I did not expect him to spend the night.  They don't staff the office all night, so he would be alone for about 12 hours and away from us for over 30 hours.  Is this normal?  I am NOT comfortable with this.  She said the vet might let him go home that night if we prefer.....  Just wondering what other think about that, or how your vet's scheduled?

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

I can only tell you that when my two got spayed, they did not spend the night. They were away from home about 8 hours. You might want to call around to different vets in your area and see if this is how they handle it. It does seem a bit excessive to me and like you, I would be VERY uncomfortable having him spend the night with no one watching him or caring for him. He should be home where you could watch over him even if he is just sleeping off the drugs. i am not an expert and can only tell you how I would feel.

[KLN]

I agree with Lori completely. And spaying is a much more intense surgery. If her girls were able to come home the same day duke should as well.

[Anita - Thunder, Noodle, Sparky]

My first reaction... WTD! Hmm, I have never heard of that. All of ,one came straight home and had no complications. On a side note, my vet had me wait until 6 months on my youngest Doodle to get neutered in order for his true personality to develop. That was the first time doing that and I have to say, he is a character! 

[Bonnie and Kona]

None of our dogs over all the years of pet ownership spent the night at the vet's after being spayed or neutered. I am a bit concerned this is a way to charge extra. I cannot imagine why they would do this. Neutering is a less complicated operation than spaying. It makes no sense to me. I agree with Lori; check with other vets.

[Rebecca bratter]

That doesn't sound right.  We are getting our aussiedoodle spayed at the end of the month and she wil be there for about 6 hours.  I would never leave her there, you shouldn't leave yours either. 

[Sharae & Winston]

My vet gave me the option to let him spend the night or to pick him up late that afternoon around 5. I did not want Winston alone and in pain all night so I opted for the latter. The main thing is they have them long enough to observe as they are coming off of the anesthesia to make sure there's no complications. I wouldn't leave him overnight... My guy was in a lot of pain and was really fragile that first night and I couldn't imagine him sitting in a cage 12 hours:( I would really push taking him home that evening.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Our Vet keeps Spays overnight but not neuters!

[Gail & Bogey]

Now my vet wants Bogey to spend the night before his surgery - bring him in at 5:00 the day before and pick him up around 5:00 the day of surgery. I think he told me why when he said it but now I can't remember why. He hasn't had the surgery yet so guess I have time to ask why again.

[KLN]

Gail, most likely it's a convenience for them...so they can get his blood drawn the night before and prep him first thing in the morning. If that's the case, I would tell your vet you'd prefer to drop him off early the morning of the surgery. I have never heard of a vet needing them there the night prior by necessity.

[Gail & Bogey]

He told me the dogs are calmer in the morning when they come in the night before and also he can make sure they don't eat after 9:00 the night before.

[Donna K & Quincy]

I would not bring my dog in the night before and neither would I leave him at the vet overnight with no one to watch him. It always blows my mind that vets do this, I would sit up and watch them all night rather than leave them unattended. Wanting to make sure they don't eat after 9 seems like a pretty weak reason for an overnight stay. I don't think leaving a dog alone in a cage overnight is going to do anything to calm them and would probably increase their stress level instead.  Can you tell this is a sore subject for me? :>) When Quincy was neutered we dropped him off at 8 and picked him up about 4 in the afternoon.

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

I agree Donna, being unattended all night in a crate in a strange place would be very stressful!