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Frequently Asked Questions about Spaying and Neutering
What is a spay?
A spay
(ovariohysterectomy) is a major abdominal surgery to remove the
ovaries and uterus from a female dog or cat. This provides permanent birth control, preventing both pregnancy
and heat cycles.
What is a neuter?
A neuter is a less invasive procedure involving surgical removal of both
testicles from male dogs and cats.
Why should I spay or neuter my pet?
1. Reduce overpopulation, abandoned animals,
euthanasia.
2. Health benefits (decreased chance of mammary, prostate cancer, decreased
chance of prostate infections,
prevention of uterine infections).
3. Behavior benefits (decreased marking, roaming, aggression and fighting).
When should I spay or neuter my pet?
Cats and dogs can be spayed when they reach a weight of 4 pounds (age is
variable in dogs, approximately 4 months for cats). Earliest is best
because health benefits are maximized when the surgery is done prior to puberty
(e.g., decreased chance of mammary tumors (like breast cancer) - nearly zero).
Although we want to get at least one (preferably 2 rounds of vaccinations into
your pet, size is the critical determining factor.
What's wrong with having just one litter?
Two cats that produce eight kittens in one year can lead to over 170,000 cats in
7 years!
What happens during the procedure?
Both procedures require general anesthesia and sterile surgical
technique. Because a spay is a major abdominal surgery, there may be mild
discomfort for one or two days following the procedure, but most pets recover
quickly. We require spayed females to stay overnight after their surgery
so that we can monitor their recovery. Neutered males typically have
uneventful recoveries and can go home the same day.
Common misconceptions
Will spaying/neutering make my pet fat and lazy?
NO. Active dogs will remain active. Lazy dogs
will remain lazy. Studies show little impact of surgery on activity level
or weight gain. A proper diet and regular exercise will impact your pet's
weight and health much more than sterilization surgery.
Will spaying/neutering change my pet's behavior?
Aside from the decreased spraying/roaming/fighting discussed above, no.
Studies have not found increases in undesirable behaviors after spay/neuter.
Will spaying/neutering cause hip dysplasia?
NO
Will early spaying increase the chances of urinary
incontinence in my female dog?
NO
Will neutering cause urinary blockage in my male cat?
NO
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