08/05/2026
Sweet Tart was a stray in Kentucky and was brought to Mercy Veterinary Coalition to be spayed and tested for heartworm and tick-borne diseases. After she was prepped for surgery, Dr. Stacie noticed a scar that could have been a past spay incision. With no microchip or any other means to indicate past spay surgery, we were faced with a difficult choice. Waiting months for Sweet Tart’s heat cycle was not an ideal option for her current situation. Since she was already prepped and ready for surgery, we made the decision to operate and perform an abdominal exploration to be absolutely certain. The initial 2-inch incision had to be extended to 6 inches. and during the exploration we found Sweet Tart had been spayed. This unnecessary procedure could have easily been prevented, and now she faces another two weeks of recovery. This isn't just an issue for female dogs, males can be cryptorchid where one or both testicles fail to move down into the sc***um, leading to similar surgical uncertainties. While fur can grow back and cover a tattoo, microchips remain invisible and carry critical lifesaving information. Both a microchip and tattoo together will ensure that any medical team will have all the information they need to make an informed decision for the care of the animal.
Spaying and neutering your pet is a vital step in keeping unintended puppies out of shelters. A registered Microchip will help ensure your furry friend will be returned to you. Combining tattooing with a registered microchip when the puppy has their spay or neuter surgery will tell the whole story to our doctors and keep animals from having unnecessary procedures.
Sweet Tart is recovering well, and we know she will find a forever home. We also know that if she is ever on the operating table again her medical team will now have all the information to make the right decisions.
