Our hospital routinely performs spays and neuters, the surgical sterilization of female and male dogs or cats. Spaying involves removal of the uterus and ovaries of female dogs and cats and is called ovariohysterectomy. Neutering involves removal of the testicles of male dogs and cats and is called orchiectomy.
Both procedures are performed under general anesthesia in a sterile surgical environment. The procedures are scheduled on an out-patient basis and generally they are discharged the same day in the afternoon or evening. Multi-modal pain management is used routinely to ensure your pet's comfort during the procedure and recovery. Following either of these procedures, your pet’s activity will need to be restricted for 10-14 days to allow proper recovery.
These surgeries have traditionally been performed at or around six months of age. When unwanted behaviors and pregnancy are of great concern, many veterinarians recommend and perform this procedure at a younger age. More recent research has suggested that certain canine individuals may benefit from delaying spaying or neutering until 9-18 months of age. However, there are health risks to delaying these procedures until later in life. Our veterinarians will help you decide the right time to plan spaying or neutering your pet to help prevent unwanted sexual behavior and pregnancies; and to minimize the possibility of orthopedic disease, uterine infection, and various cancers.
