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More Info: Spays Neuters

We strongly recommend spaying and neutering of all pets. Not only does it help decrease the number of stray or feral animals, it can also prevent certain health problems in later life.

Studies have shown that spayed and neutered pets have average life expectancies twice as long as those of unspayed and unneutered animals.

Girls

HOW IT WORKS

The procedure known as spaying is technically call an ovariohysterectemy. This procedure involved surgical removal of both the uterus and the ovaries, where the eggs and hormones related to the heat cycle are actually produced.

Having your female pet spayed can help reduce the risk of mammary tumors, pyometras (infection of the uterus), uterine cancer and other diseases of the reproductive tract.

COMPLICATIONS

Heat

Also called "estrous", the heat cycle is similar to a woman's menstrual cycle. The uterus is preparing for nurturing the embryos for the two-month pregnancy cycle. Both dogs and cats can experience their first heat cycle anywhere between 5 to 9 months of age. However, dogs and cats handle their heat a little differently from one another.

Dogs are on a fairly set schedule, experiencing a heat cycle approximately every six months. The canine heat cycle typically last about three weeks. They are typically a week coming into heat, a week in heat and a week going out of heat. "Spotting," leaving small drops of blood on floors, bedding, etc., usually happens during the middle week. It is usually during this middle week that the female is most receptive to being bred, however it can happen at any time during the heat cycle. Each pet is an individual, just like people, so each pet can have a different experience with their heat cycle.

Cats are induced ovulators. This means that the eggs do not drop out of the ovaries until the female is physically bred. The implication of this is that female cats will cycle in and out of heat until they are spayed or bred. Cats can come into heat seemingly at the drop of a hat (any hat ...) and may begin their cycle if they can sense a tom-cat in the neighborhood.

While we can spay pets while they are in heat, it is more complicated due to the extra blood in the uterus and surrounding tissue. There is an additional cost to spay a pet that is in heat.

Pregnancy

The gestation period for both dogs and cats runs from 63 to 65 days. Each puppy or kitten usually has its own placenta and embryonic sac within the uterus. Typical litter sizes range from 2 to 7 puppies or kittens depending upon the size and breed. Both dogs and cats can carry young from multiple fathers. Occasionally, this will result in one litter of kittens or puppies being born 2 to 3 days after the first litter. It is not very common, but it can happen. We can spay a pregnant pet, however, there is an additional cost involved due to the increased incidence of complications.

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Boys

HOW IT WORKS

The term neutering, which can actually be applied to both males and females, is typically used for males. The technical term for this procedure is "castration." For males, an incision is made in the scrotum and the testicles are removed. Once these sperm-producing organs are removed, the male pet is unable to reproduce. However, please be aware that the sperm already in their system may remain viable for up to 3 to 4 weeks.

Neutering can help reduce the occurrence of prostatic disease and urinary tract problems in both dogs and cats.

COMPLICATIONS

The most common complication for male dogs is being cryptorchid. This means that one or both of the testicles has not dropped out of the abdomen into the scrotum. Sometimes they will drop if you give them enough time, however, they often need to be removed surgically. This does add an additional cost to the surgery, as going into the abdomen after the errant organ is more complicated than the normal procedure.

This condition does not usually happen in male cats, although it may occur very rarely.

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Common Myths

Females should be allowed to go through one heat cycle/have one litter of puppies or kittens before they are spayed.

FALSE

Even one heat cycle or litter can dramatically increase the chances of mammary or ovarian cancer later in life. There is absolutely no health benefit to your cat or dog from allowing her to experience one heat cycle. Allowing her to have a litter simply so your children can experience the miracle of birth usually only produces more dogs or cats for which there are not homes readily available.

My female can't get pregnant while she's nursing.

FALSE

Typically dogs are on a fairly regular heat cycle, experiencing one every six months, so this normally does not apply to them. Cats, however, can go into heat at practically any time. Regardless, there is nothing inherent in the nursing process to prevent a pet from getting impregnated again.

There is no benefit to having my male dog neutered.

FALSE

As mentioned above, neutering can help reduce the risk of certain cancers as well as helping to prevent the occurrence of certain urinary tract problems. Unneutered males are prone to higher incidences of fight injuries and run-ins with automobiles. Having your male neutered may reduce his urge to roam in search of a prospective mate, which decreases the chances of these encounters.

Neutering will change my dog's personality.

MAYBE

This is one of those gray areas that depends on several factors. If you neuter your pet early, there really should not be any change in their personality. Where we most often see a problem in this area is with males that have been unneutered for many years. Especially if they are in a multi-pet household, part of their personality can be based on the testosterone and other hormones in their system. When we remove the source of these hormones, it can alter their personality to some extent.

Neutering will cause my pet to have urinary infections.

MAYBE

Another gray area. Most of the time, when a pet has a urinary problem, it is because the urine is either too acidic or not acidic enough. This usually has more to do with diet and metabolism than the reproductive system. However, since the reproductive and urinary systems are closely intertwined, there is always a chance that the urinary tract could be accidentally involved during the procedure, making a pet more prone to problems of this sort. Our doctors are always very careful to avoid harming any other body systems during these routine operations.