Should my female have a litter before she is spayed?
No. Females dogs and should be spayed before the first heat which usually occurs at 5-6 months of age for dogs and 4 months of age for cats. We stress BEFORE since a female can become pregnant at that age and she is in no way ready for it. Pregnancy will place a great strain on the system, often resulting in birth defects, and she may not be able to nurse, resulting in seriously malnourished offspring. In addition, early spaying prevents later problems, including mammary tumors, uterine infections, and uterine tumors. If a female is allowed to go through a heat before spaying, those problems may still arise later in life because estrogen is stored in the system as a result of the heat.
How old should my pet be before the surgery?
Pets as young as three months old can have surgery with no ill effects. If females are spayed before their first heat (which usually occurs when they are four to six months old), breast cancer can be almost completely prevented. Younger pets also recover more quickly from the surgery and experience less pain following surgery than older pets. In short – the sooner the better.
Will my animal’s behavior be changed by surgery?
Behavior changes as a result of sterilization surgery are positive. Male cats reduce territorial spraying. Neutered animals fight less and do not wander in search of a mate.
Will my animal gain weight after this surgery?
Weight gain is more a product of exercise, nutrition, and aging, not neutering.
Why neuter my male animal?
Males can impregnate many females, many times during the year. Neutered males experience a decreased risk of reproductive organ cancers.
Is the procedure painful?
Surgical sterilization is performed under general anesthesia by a licensed doctor of veterinary medicine. The animal is asleep during the procedure and may experience mild discomfort after surgery. Most animals feel well enough to return to normal activity within 24 to 72 hours, but you must continue to limit their activity level for 10 days.
Will you spay an animal in heat or when pregnant?
Sterilization procedures are performed when the female dog or cat is in heat or pregnant. This procedure will terminate the pregnancy. A $10.00 fee is then charged for in heat and $20.00 for pregnancy. The client must be informed of the increased risk that lies in having an in-heat or pregnant animal spayed. In the event of a late-term pregnancy that requires the use of Euthasol for the fetus’s, there will be a charge of $16.50 for the Euthasol drug. In late term pregnancy or when in heat, the DVM on duty may deem it necessary to administer SQ fluids to compensate for fluid loss during surgery. There is a $10.00 fee for the administration of SQ fluids.
Why can you do this so cheaply?
For two reasons. The clinic is a not for profit animal protection organization. It is our mission to reduce the number of homeless animals in the community by providing low-cost spay and neuter services for dogs and cats. Because we are not for profit, donations allow us to offer our services below cost. The second reason is that we are a streamlined practice. Unlike a private veterinarian who provides a full range of medical services, we are singly focused. We perform spay and neuter surgery and basic vaccinations only. Anytime a business has a single focus, it can better maintain its overhead costs.
Why do you take deposits?
We have a limited number of slots available for pets each day so we want to make sure as many pets as possible arrive at their appointment. Cancellation or no-show means someone else missed out on helping their pet. As a nonprofit charity, our reduced cost and free surgery services are funded by charitable foundations and private donors. Medical procedures are costly and our funding is precious so we want to make sure we help as many as we can with what was so generously given.
My animal just gave birth, how long should she wait for surgery?
Females can be spayed 2 weeks after weaning her litter. After spaying of a post-partum mother, it is imperative that you separate the kittens from the mother until she is fully healed.
It is very cold (hot) outside, is it OK to do surgery?
The anesthetics used in the surgical process tend to disturb the animal’s natural ability to regulate body temperature. Animals must remain indoors for seven days after surgery, in a temperature-controlled environment suitable for their human companions. Clients bringing animals for surgery on days when the local temperature is predicted to drop below freezing, and who cannot keep the animal in the heated house, will be rescheduled.
Do cats need special litter boxes after surgery?
Male cats should use shredded newspaper instead of litter to 3 to 4 days after surgery. This helps to prevent irritation to the surgical incisions from the clay litter dust particles.
Can you board my animal overnight?
Animals recovering from surgery need observation. There are no staff members at the clinic after closing. Also, your animal will recover better in his or her home environment.
What does the tattoo look like and where is it on my pet?
The tattoo is 1/2 to 1 inch long, straight line in green ink located right by the surgical incision. It will fade a little after the skin heals.
Why does Spay Neuter Network tattoo pets?
The tattoo program was started so that we comply with the highest standards of the Spay-Neuter Task Force guidelines. These guidelines were established to protect our wonderful patients and ensure that they are treated safely and effectively. The tattoo is meant to be a permanent identification that your pet has been spayed or neutered.
Can’t veterinarians tell if my pet is spayed or neutered without the tattoo?
Sometimes not. Of course, this would only be an issue if your pet were lost or in a shelter without its medical history. With newer dissolvable suture materials, there are no stitches to feel in a female’s belly to indicate she was already spayed and if they have surgery at a young age, there is no scar to see. In male dogs, if you can’t see or feel a scar, there is a possibility that the dog still has testicles but they never dropped into the scrotal sac (cryptorchid). The doctor would open the male dog up like a spay to look for those testicles, a painful and unnecessary surgery that could have been prevented with a permanent identifying mark.