Spaying

Question
QUESTION: I was wondering if you knew anything about a spaying procedure where they enter from the back of the rat. My vet was telling me that it was fairly new but sucessful. I deffinitly don't want my girls to go under for a "new" procedure without reading up on it first. Thank you for you time.

Amanda

ANSWER: Hi Amanda

Do you mean going through the vagina rather than the abdomen?

Also, is your vet an exotic vet of just a traditional vet that has a special interest in exotics?

Please let me know about these two things first so I can further advise you.

Thanks

Sandra

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: No, I mean on the top of her back to the sides where the Ovaries lay. (away from spine)  The Vet I use is Wignall Animal Hosp. http://www.wignall.com/ - link     Theycare for alot of exotics, but they are not JUST exotics.

Thanks
Amanda

Answer
Hi Amanda

That helps me more by what you described. I believe what you are talking about is called a lateral ovariectomy and although this is not a brand new technique, it is newer to the rat world. This procedure is less invasive but, its not widely used...
We rarely use this and here is why:

This procedure only removes the ovaries, which of course is fine, since the ovaries are the culprit for estrogen production and of course, fertility. However, this will only help prevent pregnancy and mammary tumors and pituitary tumors that are estrogen fueled. This will not, however, remove the uterus, and female rats also have serious problem with the uterus as they age, with uterine tumors and infection from mycoplasmosis.

In other words, it only gives you half the relief that your looking for as far as wanting to avoid all the common problems that come with a intact or in this case, semi-intact female. I have seen many females come in with uterine prolapse and severe infection of the uterus and end up needing to have their uterus removed even though they already had a lateral ovariectomy so although the rat had less of a chance at not developing the feared mammary tumors and pituitary adenoma, they still had to deal with the other half of the problems with the reproductive tract.

However, I checked the credentials of the vets at the clinic above and none of them are exotic vets, they only have "interests" in exotic medicine which means they did not continue their education and did not pass the specialty boards for exotic medicine. In othejavascript:submit_mid('sp_ig')
javascript:submit_mid('sp_ig')r words, these vets are more or less self taught on their own time about exotics and small mammals. That doesn't mean that they do not make good vets for rats, I have worked with many traditional  vets that are not exotic vets but do see them and know much about them, but I fill the void for them when they need extra input about things, mainly since I am also a rat owner and have studied rat behavior extensively, These vets that have a special interest in exotics can do surgery just fine and do understand alot about rat diseases, but when you have a facility that is also shared with the traditional animal, the money is spent to accommodate the more popular patient which is cats/dogs and less spent on proper instruments for the smaller critters. An exotic vet clinic actually has miniature oxygen masks and pulse oximeters, even 30 gauge needles to give fluids and medications IV believe it or not. They  have small scale operating tables that are heated both during surgery and recovery and tiny little wires and guides to monitor heart rates etc....its really a cool set up and nothing has to be cut down and substituted to fit because it wasn't meant to be used for the smaller animal.
In closing, I have to add that if you trust your vet, you should not have any reservations about what he or she wants to do with your rat and by all means, if your not comfortable with their choice of procedures, don't agree with it. I tell this to people all the time during a consultation. You need to trust your vet and know that they would never do something if it wasnt in the best interest of your pet.