Fixing my F6

[ayek8]

I have heard that some Savannah's don't do well with anesthesia. Is there anything I should be concerned about / I should tell the vet? Would there be any reason I *shouldn't* get my girl fixed?

We briefly had thought about having kittens, but I think that it would end up being too costly, and then we'd have kittens that we needed to find homes for!

As a side note, my F6 Savannah will be 1 in April.

Thanks for your help!

-Kate

 

[WitchyWoman]

If you don't breed her and don't get her spayed she is at risk for pyometra and mammary tumors. And then there are the issues of living with an intact female who may spray urine all around the house.

There are anecdotal reports that some savannahs have adverse reactions to the anesthesia ketamine such as hallucinations, permanent personality changes, lasting physical disabilities and death. For that reason I didn't want to take the chance that one of mine would be susceptible and chose, along with my vet, another form of anesthesia. And I have it noted on their medical charts in big red letters that ketamine is never to be used.

 

[Patti]

Agree with Deborah, although the ketamine issue isn't related just to Savannahs, but to any breed of cat. There are alternative induction agents such as propofol and dormitor that don't produce the side effects that ketamine can cause.

 

[luciacalico]

Exotics recommends the use of isoflurane gas as opposed to an injectable anesthetic.

 

[Patti]

Isoflurane or related gas is almost always used as far as I know, the injectable is a pre- anesthetic used to make the overall experience easier. Agents such as propofol are usually much better tolerated than ketamine.

 

[The Kasbah]

I have heard that some Savannah's don't do well with anesthesia. Is there anything I should be concerned about / I should tell the vet? Would there be any reason I *shouldn't* get my girl fixed?

We briefly had thought about having kittens, but I think that it would end up being too costly, and then we'd have kittens that we needed to find homes for!

As a side note, my F6 Savannah will be 1 in April.

Thanks for your help!

-Kate

I am NOT a fan of Ketamine...so would use a vet who doesn't use it. I had a SUPER bad experience wiht KEtamine some years back and really warn people against it's use every chance I get. That aside, please DO get her spayed as quickly as possible...at close to one year of age, you are getting into dangerous territory, with heat cycling (if not bred the possiblity of Pyo, which can be life threatening) and the sheer fact that she may start spraying (marking) in your home.

 

[Eddies]

If your not breeding you should be spaying...my vet agreed in writing in red ink as well for all my fur babies... No Ketamine. No sense increasing the risks.