Introduction to Small Animal Anesthesia and Surgery Techniques

Student at Lerner Spay/Neuter Clinic holding a dog.

Open to shelters, rescue groups and private owners

The Introduction to Small Animal Anesthesia and Surgery Techniques (ISAAST) lab allows third-year veterinary candidates to apply their surgery and anesthesia knowledge in a practical setting. Under the careful supervision of veterinarians, students perform pre-operative exams, pre-anesthetic blood analysis and ovariohysterectomy (spay surgery). This program is the core course in our ethical student training program in surgery.

The lab runs weekly—August through March—and accepts ten healthy female dogs each week under the following guidelines:

The dog must have no known cardiac, respiratory, dermatologic or metabolic diseases,
Must be between 14 weeks and seven years old
Weigh between 10–65 pounds
Be non-aggressive
Be comfortable with confinement in a cage overnight

Brachycephalic breeds, such as bulldogs and pugs, are accepted only on a case by case basis.

Currently, there is no cost associated with this lab and it is open to 501(c)(3) organizations and low-income owners. The Lerner Spay/Neuter Clinic has a waiting list for privately owned dogs and will contact owners on an as-needed basis.

Please email LernerClinic@tufts.edu for scheduling information and further questions.