BITCH SPAYING 



201 



atteni])t to avoid (ipcratidii at this tiiue, and in sucli (.'ascs, unless tlic large 

 arteries supplying' the ovaries are ligated, serious and even fatal lieniorrhag,' 

 is prone to result either at the time of the operation or within ai^ lioui- 

 thereafter. When hemorrhage is discovered during the operation, the bleed- 

 ing vessels shoukl, of course, be ligated. AVhen it is not discovered until 

 after the abdominal wound is sutured, an attempt to arrest it should be 

 made by the administration of full physiologic doses of atropin, ad- 

 ministered hypodermically. If this, with the lowering of the blood pressure, 

 does not arrest the hemorrhage, the wound must be reopened, enlarged if 

 necessary and the bleeding vessels taken up and ligated. Following this. 



Fig. 19S — Protection of wound after spaying. 



artificial heat should be supplied liy means of hot-water bottles. A copious 

 interabdominal injection of normal saline solution sliould be given where 

 the loss of blood approaches the danger point. 



3. Peritonitis — Peritojiitis may, of course, result from infection, a 

 sequel to unclean work, or from rough handling of the abdominal viscera. 

 The epithelial layer of the peritoneum of all puppies and of adults of the 

 toy In-eeds is so delicate that abrasions may be caused by the lingers, to 

 say nothing of the finger nails. An34hing but the gentlest of manipulation 

 and very little of that is not only unnecessary in spaying a bitch, but very 

 harmful. Peritonitis due to infection is usually fatal. That due to trauma- 



