Are there potential complications associated with spaying a tortoise?
The surgery in most tortoises involves cutting through the shell and removing the ovaries and possibly the oviducts. There will be risks involved in the anaesthetic procedure and in the surgery. Mostly these risks can be reduced, as clinicians familiar with the surgery and anaesthesia will have special tools such as burrs and ventilators to make the procedure simpler. However, The tortoise is having an operation because it is poorly and the operation will ultimately save her life. Therefore once this is understood the risk of surgery is generally acceptable. Most tortoises tolerate their spaying very well unless they have been poorly for some considerable time and have become much weakened by their disease. In such animals, other problems such as gout and kidney disease or upper respiratory tract disease (runny nose) may be apparent. Here the individual risks will need to be assessed by a vet. In the past 40 or so tortoises spayed by this vet less than five have had any serious complic
