Why do we spay cats from the left?

RE: Why do we spay cats from the left?

Neil Wheadon — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 20:54:01 GMT

[quote userid="10354" url="~/f/clinical-questions/30810/why-do-we-spay-cats-from-the-left/242807#242807"] I was even told that the VDS wouldn't defend right flank spay complications.[/quote]

Love these, like an internet conspiracy. I would bet the value of my car that if you actually asked the VDS they'd say 'rubbish'

I've just found out that a vet to whom I have enormous respect does spay from the right because the right ovary is easier to get.

Neil

RE: Why do we spay cats from the left?

Elivet — Sun, 05 Nov 2023 21:49:28 GMT

Whilst seeing practice at a Blue Cross practice more than 10 years ago, I met an old school vet who only did right flank spays. I did quite a few myself thereafter and there were no issues. I only went back to Left flank spays when I joined another practice that frowned on anything other than left flank or midline. I was even told that the VDS wouldn't defend right flank spay complications.

RE: Why do we spay cats from the left?

Clive Ansell — Fri, 03 Nov 2023 17:17:27 GMT

I did a few flank bitch spays as a student, I had a really good mentor while seeing practice who sometimes did them that way and wanted me to experience it too. Worked well for small and medium sized lean bitches, and I don't recall there being any problems or complications. I've not seen or done it since, as cannot see any advantage over a midline approach.

RE: Why do we spay cats from the left?

Alasdair Hotston Moore — Fri, 03 Nov 2023 08:56:55 GMT

My thoughts. It’s all about cows. Cow laparotomies are mostly on the left I’m told (only done a handful myself in the 90s). The same surgeons who did cattle laparotomies did cat spays. And everyone was scared of midline surgery.
I bet the late Prof Pearson would have had a useful answer

RE: Why do we spay cats from the left?

Clive Ansell — Thu, 02 Nov 2023 19:35:40 GMT

mainly tradition, maybe based on the fact most of us are right handed.

I've seen them done right flank, but I do left or midline

RE: Why do we spay cats from the left?

Beats — Thu, 02 Nov 2023 19:03:47 GMT

I've never had a convincing answer to this one, but never been brave enough to try one from the right to find out for myself!

e.g. https://www.vetsurgeon.org/f/clinical-questions/29972/the-flank-approach-to-the-uterus/232713#232713