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An ovariohysterectomy is often referred to as a spay or spaying. It is a surgical procedure in which the left and right ovary and both left and right horns of the uterus are removed completely, to sterilize or render a female animal infertile. Some veterinarians will perform an ovariectomy, in which just the ovaries are removed.
There are many behavioral and health benefits associated with spaying your rat.
Ideally, most rats are spayed between four and six months of age. The older the rat, the longer its body is exposed to hormones produced in the ovaries, and the greater the chance of developing mammary gland cancer.
This surgical procedure is done under general anesthesia. Rats are typically not fasted the night prior to surgery, as is done with most dog and cat surgeries, because rats are grazers, rather than meal eaters, and their metabolism and digestion are much faster than that of most larger mammals.
Your veterinarian will perform a physical examination on your rat before the surgery and may recommend pre-surgical blood tests. These blood tests allow your veterinarian to assess your rat’s overall health, ensuring that your rat is a good candidate for anesthesia. If preanesthetic bloodwork shows any abnormalities, these abnormalities can be addressed by making adjustments to your pet’s pre-surgical or post-surgical treatment plan.
The operation is performed through a small incision into the middle of the abdomen, on the underside (ventral aspect) of the abdomen. Before surgery, the hair in this area will be shaved and the skin cleaned with antiseptic solution.
Both ovaries and the entire uterus are removed. If an ovariectomy is performed, in which only the ovaries and not the uterus are removed, there will be a small incision on either side of the rat, just behind the last rib. The surgical incision will be closed with several layers of fine, absorbent, suture material that dissolves and does not need to be removed. Most rats go home 24-48 hours after surgery.
Your rat will likely be given pain medication in hospital and may be sent home with several days worth of the same medication if deemed necessary. Keep your pet in a clean, quiet environment and try to minimize excessive running, jumping, or hard play that may compromise healing of the incision. Separate this rat from any others at home for 5-7 days to minimize chewing or excessive cleaning of the surgical site by the other rats.
Offer food as usual, as a rat should be eating and drinking normally within 12-24 hours of the operation. If your rat is not eating well, you may need to syringe feed according to your veterinarian’s instructions.
Inspect and assess your rat and the incision several times daily and report any concerns about behavior changes, appetite, drinking, urination, and defecation to your veterinarian. Occasionally, rats will chew at the surgical site and open the surgical wound. This needs immediate veterinary attention. Otherwise, your veterinarian may want to check on the healing of your rat’s incision 7-10 days after she goes home.
Complications are rare with this surgery. However, as with any anesthetic or surgical procedure, in any species, there is always a small risk associated with being anesthetized. To minimize risk, it is important to follow all your veterinarian’s preoperative instructions and to report any signs of illness or previous medical conditions to your veterinarian prior to the day of surgery.
Anesthetic reaction: Any animal may have an unexpected adverse reaction to any drug or anesthetic. These reactions cannot be foreseen but are extremely rare.
Internal bleeding: This may occur from cutting and manipulating internal organs and blood vessels. Postoperative internal bleeding is very rare and is more likely to occur if your rat is too active in the days following the surgery. Signs to watch for include weakness, pale gums, depression/listlessness, lack of appetite, or a distended abdomen. If you see any of these signs in your rat, she should be checked by a veterinarian immediately.
Postoperative infection: Although rare, this may occur internally, where organs and blood vessels were handled, or externally, around the incision site. Infection typically can be managed with antibiotics and applying warm compresses to the incision if it is swollen. Infections most commonly occur when the pet licks the surgical site excessively or is kept in a damp, dirty environment. Monitor the surgical site several times daily for swelling, redness, reopening, and the presence of pus or other discharge.
Suture reaction or sterile abscess formation: This is extremely rare but occurs in some animals that have a reaction to certain types of suture material used during surgery. Their tissues react to the suture and often develop draining wounds or tracts that may appear up to several weeks after the surgery was performed. Further procedures may be required to remove the suture material and correct the issue.
Most rats will experience no adverse effects following spaying and spaying is generally recommended for all healthy, young rats to prevent future health problems. There are many myths and beliefs about spaying that are not supported by facts or research. If fed a proper diet, your pet rat will not become fat and lazy after being spayed.
© Copyright 2025 LifeLearn Inc. Used and/or modified with permission under license. This content written by LifeLearn Animal Health (LifeLearn Inc.) is licensed to this practice for the personal use of our clients. Any copying, printing or further distribution is prohibited without the express written consent of LifeLearn. This content does not contain all available information for any referenced medications and has not been reviewed by the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine, or Health Canada Veterinary Drugs Directorate. This content may help answer commonly asked questions, but is not a substitute for medical advice, or a proper consultation and/or clinical examination of your pet by a veterinarian. Please contact your veterinarian if you have any questions or concerns about your pet’s health. Last updated on May 31, 2023.
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