Spays & Neuters: All You Need to Know
Did you know that millions of dogs & cats are killed at shelters every year? Too many pets end up in animal shelters and face being put down without a home.
Spay or neuter your pets to prevent unwanted pregnancies and even reduce the risk of some disorders and cancers. On top of the benefits to your pet, many cities also require or encourage spaying or neutering.
When To Spay/Neuter Your Pet
We provide spays & neuters for dogs & cats of all sizes. Although we don’t require your pet to be a certain age, we recommend waiting until your dog has finished growing. Pets must also have all their vaccinations. If dogs are spayed or neutered too early, sometimes it can cause growth issues. We recommend using the following chart to make the best decision on when to spay or neuter your pet:
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Small-Medium size breeds (Terriers, Chihuahuas, Collies, Boxers, etc) – 6 to 7 months
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Large-size breeds (German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers) – depends on lifestyle - 6 months - 1 year
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Largest size breeds (Great Danes, Bernards) – Over a year
If your pet has an increased risk for surgery (such as being an older pet or having existing health problems), we will provide you with a tailored quote for your pet based on risk factors.
If your pet is in heat, pregnant, brachycephalic, obese (for spays) or cryptorchid there are additional fees to your spay or neuter price. Please call the hospital for more information regarding these extra costs.
We take extreme care with all surgeries, monitoring pets as they recover, and making sure they are doing well before you pick them up. Additionally, since our skilled vet uses stitches under the skin, your pet has little to no risk of opening their surgery site! You don’t even have to return for stitch removal. Since we use local pain medication, most pets barely notice the wound.
What To Expect With Your Pet's Spay Or Neuter
When you first bring in your pet for surgery, we will start with a pre-anesthetic physical exam. This won’t cost any extra but is important for us to make sure your pet will be able to handle the surgery and there won’t be any complications.*
During the surgery, we will put your pet under gas anesthesia following state-of-the-art anesthesia protocols. We provide external heat support, an oxygen generator, pre-/intra-/and post-operative analgesics, and individual monitoring by surgical nurses with advanced equipment which includes respiratory monitors, EKG, pulse oximetry, and core body temperature.
We don’t charge any extra for any of these services, they come with the spay/neuter price as we consider them all essential for the best care of your pet.
After the surgery, we monitor each pet individually while they recover from the anesthesia.
We take any type of surgery very seriously and always provide the best quality care for each pet that comes through our doors!
Your Pet’s Spay & Neuter Recovery
Once your pet has recovered from the anesthesia and is acting normally, we send them back to their owners. We provide pain medication and antibiotics to make your pet’s recovery as fast, safe, and painless as possible.
Make sure to limit your pet’s activity and monitor them during the next few days as they recover fully. They must not tear their stitches out. We may provide a cone to help if your pet is trying to reach or itch at their stitches.
Your pet should be eating, drinking, and behaving normally 24 hours after surgery. If you have any questions or concerns, please call.
What We Provide and Additional Services
IV Fluids
IV fluids are helpful for surgery. They support hydration and blood pressure. Also, they provide our veterinarian immediate access to the bloodstream.
Bloodwork
Pre-op bloodwork can detect diseases that we can’t see with just a physical exam. Pre-op blood work can be performed before the day that surgery is scheduled or on the day of surgery before anesthesia is administered.
Microchipping
We recommend microchipping for all pets! It’s a permanent form of identification for your pet. We recommend microchipping your pet while they are under anesthesia.
Biopsy
If your pet needs to have a growth/lump removed, we can do that as well. If desired, the tumor tissue can then be sent to the lab for evaluation, and to see what additional treatment may be necessary after recovery from surgery.
We're here to help. Call us at (614) 451-4772 to schedule a Spay or Neuter consultation, or Book Online to get started.