25/10/2024
✨FLANK SPAY✨
Q: what is flank spay?
A: This is when the incision is made on the left side (flank) of the body rather than on the midline of the abdomen. The spay procedure is the same as performed during the midline incision and the same reproductive organs are removed with both procedures.
Q: what is the benefit of flank spay?
A: Performing the flank incision is also beneficial if the cat has nursing kittens. Since the flank incision is not made near the mammary glands, the female is able to be sterilized and her kittens can continue to nurse following surgery. Using the flank incision is more comfortable for the mother during postoperative recovery, and there is a lower risk of evisceration, because the nursing kittens are not pulling at the incision site like they would be if a midline incision was performed. In addition, mother cats often have large mammary glands from nursing. During a midline incision, excessive bleeding and leakage from the mammary glands can cause infection; this is avoided with the flank incision.
*Text from saveacat.org*
I've not found many vets familiar with this alternative; if they are, it's not typically offered. I think that is because the majority of the female cats they spay have owners that can plan the surgery to meet the vet's requirements (that kittens must be weaned for a month (minimally) before they will do a spay). In my experience, only vets at clinics specifically for feral cats will perform this surgery.
Sukuu.Philippines🙇🏼♀️
