All veterinarians representing themselves as high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter (HQHVSN) surgeons who support United Spay Alliance and its programs, including but not limited to the Spay Vet Net and HQHVSN wet labs, agree to adhere to the following:
Compliance with Veterinary Medical Care Guidelines
All veterinarians performing surgeries under the auspices of United Spay Alliance must comply with the Veterinary Medical Care Guidelines for Spay-Neuter Programs established by the Association of Shelter Veterinarians (ASV). These guidelines are designed to ensure the highest standards of care and safety for animals undergoing spay/neuter procedures. The full text of the ASV guidelines can be accessed here.
Adherence to State Standards
In addition to following the ASV guidelines, veterinarians must also comply with any minimum standards of veterinary care as mandated by their respective state regulations. It is the responsibility of each veterinarian to be informed of and adhere to these state-specific standards.
Quality of Care
Veterinarians must ensure that all spay/neuter procedures are performed with the highest level of expertise and care, ensuring the well-being and safety of each animal. This includes pre-operative, operative, and post-operative care as outlined in the ASV guidelines.
Specific Guidelines for Veterinarians Working with USA
While all guidelines mentioned above are important, veterinarians working with USA will specifically adhere to the following:
Record keeping
Record-keeping procedures must comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. A medical record should be prepared for each animal and must include the following:
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- Physical examination findings
- Body weight
- Information on all drugs prescribed and administered, including doses and routes of administration
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- Details of the surgical procedure performed
- Any abnormalities identified
- Any other pertinent information regarding the animal’s condition
Vaccination
Vaccination procedures should follow current shelter medicine guidelines established by the American Association of Feline Practitioners and the American Animal Hospital Association.
Patient Handling and Housing
Spay/neuter programs should include biosecurity measures:
- Thoroughly clean and disinfect all equipment with direct patient contact between each patient using agents known to destroy common veterinary pathogens.
- Inspect, clean, and maintain anesthetic equipment on a schedule commensurate with surgery volume.
- Staff should wash or sanitize their hands or change gloves between patients and litters.
- Schedule surgical candidates with clinical signs of contagious infectious disease for surgery after all healthy animals, if appropriate.
Preparation for Emergencies
A veterinarian should be present and available to triage and address complications during anesthesia, surgery, or the immediate postoperative period.
Follow-up and Emergency Care
- Establish regular policies for managing complications and emergencies after surgery.
- For MASH-style and mobile unit programs, arrange contingencies for emergency veterinary care in advance.
Surgical Care
Operating Area Environment
- The operating area should be a space where anesthesia, surgery, and immediate postoperative recovery can be safely performed.
- Necessary equipment for performing anesthesia and patient monitoring should be present and readily available.
- Limit traffic within the operating area to essential personnel.
- Carry out sanitation procedures on a regular schedule.
Surgical Pack Preparation
- Use separate sterile instruments for each patient.
- Clean instruments before sterilization.
- Sterilize surgical packs with steam, gas, or plasma.
- Ensure the date and person responsible for sterilizing packs is identifiable.
- Place a sterility indicator inside and outside the pack.
- Use wrapping material that provides a minimum microbial barrier equivalent to dry 270-thread count pima cotton.
- Ensure the wrapping material and pack storage conditions maintain sterility for the longest anticipated pack turnover interval.
Patient Preparation
- Bladder: Empty the urinary bladder to simplify abdominal surgical procedures and increase postoperative comfort.
- Skin: Preserve skin integrity during preparation and ensure the prepared area is large enough to prevent inadvertent contamination of the sterile surgical field.
- Patient Positioning: Use ties, V-trays, adjustable tables, or other devices to position patients. Avoid hyperextension of the limbs to prevent compromising respiration.
- Patient Draping: Use a surgical drape of adequate size to prevent contamination of the sterile field. Ensure drape material resists penetration by fluids and microorganisms under normal operating conditions.
Surgeon Preparation
- Wear appropriate surgical attire within the operating area.
- Surgical caps and masks are required, except during routine castration of cats and puppies.
- Perform appropriate hand and arm antisepsis before gloving for all abdominal surgeries and castration of adult dogs.
- Use sterile surgical gowns at the surgeon’s discretion, provided aseptic technique is maintained.
- Use single-use sterile surgical gloves for all abdominal surgeries and castration of adult dogs. For routine cat and puppy castration, either single-use sterile gloves or examination gloves are acceptable.
Surgical Procedures
- Veterinarians or veterinary students under direct supervision must perform all surgical procedures.
- Apply general principles of gentle tissue handling, meticulous hemostasis, and aseptic technique.
- Strive to reduce surgical trauma to improve outcomes.
Suture Materials
- Use biomedical grade, sterile sutures or surgical clips approved for medical use, dated for current use.
- Use absorbable or inert and nonabsorbable materials according to manufacturers’ guidelines.
- Do not reuse suture material.
- Do not share suture material among patients.
- Clean and sterilize reusable needles between patients.
Identification of Neutered Animals
- Choose a consistent, permanent means of visually identifying neutered animals.
- Apply a visible, standard, distinct identifying mark, such as a tattoo or ear tipping for community cats.
- Use multiple identification methods if necessary.