Spaying Decisions

[stardogs]

So Snipe is wrapping up her second heat and is now about 20 months old. This means that she will be spayed in 3 months. I'm super happy to be going down to one intact female finally, but am already spazzing about all the details I need to get figured out in the next two months, so I figured I'd get some input from others on my options.

So far here are my options:

1. Traditional spay at my current vet. My vet has been in practice for over 20 years, they were happy to talk about their methods (small incision, glue instead of stiches, laser used to improve healing post surgery) and are generally good about listening to me. Dogs are monitored by a tech and hooked up to a pulse/ox machine during surgery. Snipe could come home the same day. I've not seen their work first hand, though. $200 + $50 optional bloodwork.

2. Traditional spay at the shelter I used to work at. High volume clinic, but I know the doctor's skill first hand, I know they do a good job pre and post surgery, etc. Dogs are monitored by the vet and hooked up to a pulse/ox machine during surgery. Snipe would come home the same day, but it's a 3 hour drive, so it would mean a full day off of work for me. This is the cheapest option by far: $60 + $50 optional bloodwork.

3. Consult with repro vet to determine options, perhaps doing just an ovarioectomy. Have her spayed there using laser. Vet is a reproductive specialist with many years in practice, but I haven't seen her spay work. Lots of friends who breed swear by her though. Most expensive option: $90 consult plus $300+ including bloodwork for the spay.

Thoughts? Other options I may not have thought of? Questions I should ask?

[AdrianneIsabel]

I would go with a local vet.

[~Jessie~]

I'd pick option 1, which is what I did for all of my dogs

[Fran101]

I would go with the local vet.
For boys/neuters...I would say shelter (and honestly, its where I would probably go for spays as well since my vet charges 400+ for the surgery). It's all they do almost exclusively surgery wise, it's a well oiled machine and they do it WELL.
BUT with you missing work and with the price difference, I would go with local vet.

I honestly don't think you need the repro vet. I mean.. it's a regular spay. I don't see the need really lol

[Linds]

I vote Repro vet and look into the ovariectomy

[SpringerLover]

I'd go with option #1. Maybe your regular vet can do an ovariectomy as well? I know mine can...

[Moth]

I would go with number one as well...

[Flyinsbt]

I looked into doing an ovariectomy for Tess when she was spayed, but ultimately chose to go the simpler route of having a traditional spay at my vet's office. The extra money and time just didn't seem worth it.

[meepitsmeagan]

I'd personally go with the traditional spay.

[SaraB]

I would go #1.