Spay and Neutering

Spay and Neutering of pets is another area we strongly advocate for. Over-population in the cat and dog world is a real issue. Every pet owner should assume the responsibility of having their pet spayed or neutered. You can start with your veterinarian for the procedure but veterinary costs can get expensive and there are more options.

Each year, approximately 920,000 shelter animals are euthanized (390,000 dogs and 530,000 cats). Having your pet spayed or neutered will help bring these numbers down by keeping the population down.

What is Spay and Neutering?

What we’re really talking about here is a gonadectomy. With respect to pets, this is the surgical removal of their reproductive organs. This is commonly done in dogs and cats to prevent unwanted litters, and to reduce the risk of certain diseases.

• “Spay” (Ovariohysterectomy): fallopian tubes, uterus, and the ovaries are removed from a female dog or cat.  She can’t reproduce and this also reduces or eliminates her breeding instinct-related behavior and should stop her from going into heat.
• “Neuter” (Orchiectomy): the testicles are removed from a male dog or cat. He can’t reproduce and this also reduces or eliminates male breeding instinct-related behavior.

Gonadectomy is a safe and effective procedure, and it is recommended by most veterinarians for all pet owners who do not plan to breed their animals. Some variations of the above procedures that are considered good alternatives are listed:

• Hysterectomy: the uterus and part of the fallopian tubes are removed from a female dog or cat. She is unable to reproduce, but her ovaries remain and will still produce hormones.  This may not eliminate the dog or cat’s behaviors associated with their breeding instinct.
• Vasectomy: Removal of the vas deferens, (conducts sperm from the testes) from a male dog or cat. He will be unable to reproduce, but his testes remain and will still produce hormones. This may not eliminate the dog or cat’s behaviors associated with their breeding instinct.
• Ovariectomy: the ovaries are removed from a female dog or cat, but the uterus remains. Similar to ovariohysterectomy, this makes her unable to reproduce and eliminates her heat cycle and breeding instinct-related behavior.

Here are some of the benefits of gonadectomy in pets:

• Reduces the risk of unwanted litters. This is a major benefit and number one for a reason, as it helps to control the pet population and prevent the overpopulation of shelters.
• Reduces the risk of certain diseases. Gonadectomy has been shown to reduce the risk of certain diseases, such as prostate cancer in dogs and mammary cancer in cats.
• Can improve your pets behavior. In some cases, gonadectomy can help to improve behavior problems, such as aggression, roaming, and urine marking.

If you are considering a gonadectomy for your pet, talk to your veterinarian about the benefits and risks of the procedure and at what age may be best for the pet and you.

When to Spay or Neuter Your Pet

It is important to talk to your veterinarian about the best time to spay or neuter your pet. They will be able to give you specific advice based on your pet’s breed, size, and individual health history.

The ASPCA does have some guidelines as to when to neuter your pet.

• The best time to spay or neuter a dog or cat depends on the breed and size of the animal. For small dogs and cats, it is generally recommended to spay or neuter at around 6 months of age. This is because smaller animals reach sexual maturity at a younger age than larger animals.
• It is generally considered safe for kittens as young as eight weeks old to be spayed or neutered. It’s advisable to schedule the surgery before your cat reaches five months of age to potentially avoid the start of urine spraying and eliminate the chance for pregnancy in females.  It is possible to spay a female cat while she is in heat.
• For larger dogs, it is generally recommended to wait until they are at least 6 months old, but not older than 12 months old. This is because larger animals are more prone to certain health problems if they are spayed or neutered too early.
• While the traditional age for neutering dogs can be 6 to 9 months, healthy puppies as young as eight weeks old can be neutered. Adult dogs can be neutered but there may be a slightly higher risk of complications after surgery. Dogs that are overweight or dogs that have health problems may also have higher risk of complications after surgery.

Spay and Neutering Risks

As with any surgery, there are risks. Spay and neutering is a major surgery and should be of concern to any owner. Keep in mind, spay and neutering is the most common surgery performed by veterinarians with incidents of complications very low. Your pet is normally given a thorough physical examination to ensure that he/she is in good health before the procedure. General anesthesia is administered to perform the surgery and medications are given to minimize pain.  There should be no issues if your pet is kept calm and quiet for a few days after the surgery while the incision begins to heal.

Spay and Neutering Costs

If having these procedures done for your pet through your own veterinarian is an issue financially, some shelters and organizations may have discounted rates and programs. Sometimes these procedures they perform are on a scheduled basis (For example, some shelters may offer a discounted rate if you schedule a month beforehand because they do all their procedures every first Monday of the month. They do this because it’s cheaper for them and with so many of those particular procedures on one day… they’re able to offer a discounted rate to the lot of them. Look for these special offers and shop around.

Ask questions. Ask about anesthesia. These procedures need anesthesia and your pet needs to be monitored for complications while they’re under. Ask about how your pet’s pain will be managed post surgery. You should be comfortable with the facility and staff. “Low Cost” shouldn’t be the end of your criteria for a suitable place. Do your research.

Some vets or clinics MAY require you to schedule a veterinary visit first (if they are not your regular vet). This will add to the total cost of the entire procedure and that’s where you may find differences in pricing between your options.

Some non-profit pet organizations will sometimes donate some money toward your surgery. Reach out to them on social media or your veterinarian may have a list they work from. These organizations may ask some questions and may ask for a photo of your pet but if you qualify, they will donate some money toward your vet bill (if not just pay for the procedure). Sometimes these organizations will subsidize the entire surgery but you have to use their vet. You won’t know what their requirements or qualifications are until you reach out to them.

Donating to organizations that offer these discounted programs is what helps keep these organizations and programs around. Using these programs and utilizing these organizations also keeps them around. It’s not uncommon to have a standard vet for your pet but having them spayed or neutered through a program designed to do just spay and neuter. We see it all the time.

Google Search for Spay and Neutering near me (use this query for Google Maps too!)