SPAYING  &  NEUTERING

There are many benefits to spaying and neutering, for both you as an owner and for your pet as well. Unless you are planning to actively breed your dog or cat, surgical sterilization is something that you should strongly consider. This page has been composed in the hopes that it can help you to make the best decision for what is right for you and your companion. Keep reading to find out exactly what "surgical sterilization" is, as well as what the benefits are.

What Is Surgical Sterilization?
Surgical sterilization is the surgical removal of an animal's reproductive organs and is also known as ovariohysterectomy (spaying) in females and orchiectomy (castration or neutering) in males. For both female cats and dogs, spaying involves making an incision in the abdomen and removing the ovaries, fallopian tubes and uterus while the animal is asleep under gas anesthesia. From start to finish, the process usually takes anywhere from 45 minutes to a little over an hour.

For male dogs being neutered, gas anesthesia is also used. While the male dog is asleep, a small incision is made above the scrotum and the testicles are removed. Dog neuters generally take slightly less time than a spay. Male dogs and all females remain in the hospital for post-anesthetic monitoring the night after surgery has taken place.

The procedure for male cats is much faster and simpler than for dogs and requires only an injectable sedative instead of gas anesthesia. For this type of surgery, an intravenous (I.V.) injection is given and an incision is made in each of the testicular sacs. The testicles are then removed and the sacs stitched closed. The entire process usually takes no more than 15 minutes and male cats almost always go home the same day.

Spaying and neutering are the most common types of surgeries performed by veterinarians and can certainly be considered "routine."  Pets are always given a full physical examination prior to the surgery and may require pre-anesthetic bloodwork depending upon his or her age. The anesthetics used allow the surgery to be painless for the patient and almost all animals are now given some type of injectable pain medication while they are waking up from anesthesia in order to make their recovery more comfortable. Subcutaneous (internal) sutures are almost always used, eliminating the need for your companion to come back to the hospital for suture removal. Veterinarians will generally ask that you keep your pet quiet for a few days after the surgery to give the incision time to heal. Otherwise, aftercare for spays and neuters is minimal and full recovery happens in a very short amount of time.

What Are The Benefits Of Surgical Sterilization?

Population Control
Spaying or neutering your pet greatly helps to decrease the population problems facing cats and dogs in our country today. Each year, millions of animals, including kittens and puppies, are euthanized because appropriate homes cannot be found for them. Surgical sterilization helps to greatly reduce the number of unwanted litters, thereby reducing the overall population of cats and dogs, which in turn reduces the number of animals euthanized each year. In addition, this form of population control also reduces the number of animals suffering as strays.

Medical Benefits
Spaying and neutering can lead to improved long-term health for your companion and can reduce or eliminate many behavioral problems associated with mating instincts.

• Females
  Female cats can go into heat as often as every two weeks until they become pregnant and will generally exhibit such behaviors as frequent yowling and inappropriate urination (peeing outside of the litter box). Female dogs go into heat about every six months and the heat cycle can last as long as 21 days. Most female dogs will experience vaginal bleeding and many will become anxious or short- tempered while they seek a mate. Spaying your female companion will not only eliminate these "odd" behaviors, but will also drastically decrease the future likelihood of serious health problems such as uterine infections and breast cancer.
• Males
  Male cats and dogs usually become capable of reproducing between six and nine months of age. Behaviors associated with unneutered males typically involve "marking" their territory by spraying strong-smelling urine both inside and outside the house. Unneuterd males who are actively seeking a mate tend to wander further from home than neutered males who are not. Male dogs who remain unneutered often become more aggressive when they are searching for a female in heat. Neutering your dog or cat makes them less likely to roam, which in turn reduces his chances of being struck by a car or becoming lost. Neutering your male often eliminates marking behaviors in cats and greatly reduces the bahavior in dogs. In addition, neutering your male companion will drastically reduce the future likelihood of prostate disease and testicular cancer.

When Is It Time To Spay Or Neuter?
For young animals, surgical sterilization is generally recommended aroud five to six months of age. If you have or adopt an older unsterilized pet, he or she can usually be spayed or neutered right away. Speak to your veterinarian about what is best for your pet.

Are The Benefits Worth The Cost?
The benefits of spaying and neutering your companion are absolutely worth the financial cost involved. This one-time expense can dramatically reduce the occurance of expensive, life-threatening diseases down the road. Also, the cost of surgery is much less than the cost of breeding and taking care of a litter. In addition, having your pet spayed or neutered does a service to society by reducing the financial obligations that go along with trying to place unwanted, abused or stray animals. If you would like to have your companion spayed or neutered but do not feel that you are financially capable to do so, please call your veterinary hospital and speak to a technician or veterinarian regarding the options that are available to you. There are options available for low cost spaying and neutering.  The office is able to provide phone numbers for organizations and facilities that offer spay and neuter assistance in the area.