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Spaying Your Female Pet

What is “Spaying”?

Ovariohysterectomy is the medical term for spaying. The procedure consists of surgical removal of the ovaries and uterus. If the ovaries are not removed, estrus (heat) cycles can still occur even though pregnancy is no longer possible. Recommended age for the surgery is usually 5 to 8 months, before the first estrus cycle.

Why Spay my Pet?

There are many good reasons to spay your female. Prevention of pregnancy and heat periods are a main reason for spaying. Spayed females also roam less, and are sometimes calmer or less aggressive than non-spayed pets. Spaying also has several medical benefits. In pets that are spayed at a young age (before their 3rd heat cycle), the incidence of mammary tumors is greatly reduced. Mammary tumors can be lethal, spreading rapidly to nearby tissues and the lungs. Another advantage of spaying is the prevention of pyometra (infection of the uterus). Because the entire uterus is removed during the spay procedure, pyometra (a potentially lethal condition), is no longer possible. Finally, another main reason for spaying your pet is to help with the pet overpopulation problem. There are simply more pets than there are homes for them, and the unfortunate reality is that many homeless pets are euthanized as a result. Visit your local animal shelters and see how many homeless pets there are.

How Much Does it Cost?

Many people argue that spaying is too expensive. For the type of surgery that it is, spaying is actually a very inexpensive procedure, and the consequences of not spaying can result in much more expense in the long run. For example, most clinics in our area charge between $100 and $200 for an ovariohysterectomy. If your pet gets pregnant and there are complications requiring a cesarean section, this could cost $500 or more. If your pet develops mammary cancer, diagnostic procedures, surgical removal of mammary tumors and follow-up treatments can easily run $500 to $1000 or more. Pyometra is a considerable threat to older, un-spayed females. In most cases, removal of the infected uterus is the only treatment. Treatment for the condition (including bloodwork, sometimes x-rays, IV fluids, and surgery) often runs $500 to $1000 or more at most clinics.

What is Involved with the Surgery? and How Long Will My Pet Be in Recovery?

While commonly performed, an ovariohysterectomy is a major abdominal surgery requiring general anesthesia and close monitoring at home for 10 to 14 days. Most pets will return home the same day, but will have an incision that needs to be checked on a daily basis. Most patients require some pain medication for the first few days after surgery.

At Prairie, we have you bring your pet in for the surgery in the morning, between 7:30 AM and 9:00 AM. All patients receive a pre-operative physical examination to help ensure their safety during the procedure. Pre-operative bloodwork may be performed, and you will be alerted to any abnormailities before the surgery starts. The surgery will take place in most instances in the morning, allowing your pet to be monitored during the anesthetic recovery period that day. Most pets go home late afternoon. 

Exercise restriction is important during the first 7-10 days after the surgery. In the worst instances, overly active pets can cause dehiscence of their incisions (rupture or pulling apart of the stitches) which can be life-threatening. More often, allowing pets to be too active results in pain at the incision site, which leads to swelling of the incision, licking and infection. Both cats and dogs must be monitored post-operatively at home for licking. Their surgical site should be examined on a daily basis for signs of trauma (i.e. swelling, redness, bruising, and discharge) for about 1 week. If your pet is licking, an Elizabethan collar (cone collar) is recommended to prevent trauma and infection of the surgery site. 

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Neutering Your Male Pet

What is “Neutering”? and Why Should I Neuter my Pet?

Castration (neutering) is the surgical removal of the testicles. Recommended age for the surgery is 5 to 8 months, before sexual characteristics begin to develop. In cats, sexually driven behavior such as roaming, fighting, and urine spraying, is either eliminated or markedly reduced after neutering. Decreased roaming and fighting behavior means a decreased likelihood of being hit by cars, and a lower incidence of disease transmission from bite wounds. The strong urine odor associated with male cats is also greatly diminished.

Neutered male dogs are also less likely to roam and fight, and many become less aggressive. Castration can help prevent the development of diseases in the testicles and prostate gland, and severe problems like peri-anal fistulas or hernias (fistulas or hernias occurring around the anus). Urine marking behavior (often occurring inside the house) is eliminated or reduced after neutering. Other unwanted behaviors such as mounting of people, other pets and objects are often prevented by neutering before puberty (at 6 months of age).

Finally, as with spaying females, neutering helps to decrease the pet overpopulation problem in our area. There are simply more pets than there are homes for them, and the unfortunate reality is that many homeless pets are euthanized as a result. Visit your local animal shelters and see how many homeless pets there are.

How Much Does it Cost?

The castration procedure costs between $70 and $150 in our area. Call us at Prairie for an estimate.

What is Involved with the Surgery? and How Long Will My Pet Be in Recovery?

At Prairie, we have you bring your pet in for the surgery in the morning, between 7:30 AM and 9:00 AM. All patients receive a pre-operative physical examination to help ensure their safety during the procedure. Pre-operative bloodwork may be performed, and you will be alerted to any abnormailities before the surgery starts. The surgery will take place in most instances in the morning, allowing your pet to be monitored during the anesthetic recovery period that day. Most pets go home late afternoon. 

Exercise restriction is important during the first 7-10 days after the surgery. In the worst instances, overly active pets can cause dehiscence of their incisions (rupture or pulling-apart of the stitches) which can be life-threatening. More often, allowing pets to be too active results in pain at the incision site, which leads to swelling of the incision, licking and infection. Both cats and dogs must be monitored post-operatively at home for licking. Their surgical site should be examined on a daily basis for signs of trauma (i.e. swelling, redness, bruising, and discharge) for about 1 week. If your pet is licking, an Elizabethan collar (cone collar) is recommended to prevent trauma and infection of the surgery site.

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