Why Spay or Neuter?

Spaying or neutering helps prevent against serious health problems, may reduce many of the behavioral problems associated with mating, and can help prevent unwanted litters.

Removing a female dog or cat’s reproductive organs eliminates heat cycles and generally reduces the unwanted behaviors that may lead to owner frustration. Removing the testes from male dogs and cats reduces the breeding instinct, making them less inclined to roam and more content to stay at home.

Spaying of female dogs and cats can help protect them from some serious health problems later in life such as uterine infections and breast cancer. Neutering your male pet can also lessen its risk of developing benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate gland) and testicular cancer. The procedure has no effect on a pet’s intelligence or ability to learn, play, work, or hunt. Some pets tend to be better behaved following surgical removal of their ovaries or testes, making them more desirable companions.

Surgical Steps

  • Blood tests
    • Evaluate red/white blood cell count and basic organ functions
  • Conduct imaging study
    • Chest X-rays
  • ECG/EKG
    • To better evaluate for any electrical or structural heart disease

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Pre-Surgical Testing

  • IV catheter placement to provide IV fluid therapy and for venous access
  • Your pet is placed under general anesthesia and then intubated so we are able to protect your pet’s airway and administer oxygen and gas anesthesia
  • Vital signs will be monitored closely, including:
    • heart rhythm
    • heart rate
    • respiration
    • temperature
    • blood pressure
  • Monitoring will be conducted by a trained technician

Surgical Monitoring

  • Staff will talk with you about how the surgery went
  • While your pet recovers in our facility, our staff will keep you informed of your animal’s progress
  • Before discharge, we will provide you with detailed after-care instructions
  • We will schedule any follow-up appointments that may be needed

Post-Surgical Follow Up