Spaying and Neutering

Spaying is the surgical removal of the reproductive organs (the uterus and ovaries), and neutering is the surgical removal of the testicles. Both procedures result in permanent sterilization, or inability of the animal to reproduce. These procedures require general anesthesia, and are typically performed at approximately 4-6 months of age.

At ZCVC, we take special care to make sure our routine surgeries are performed safely and as pain-free as possible. And, although we cannot eliminate all risk of anesthesia, we take great care to minimize these risks. We'll discuss the importance of the required pre-anesthetic blood screen to detect any underlying physical problems. We’ll also recommend setting an IV catheter so we can provide IV fluids. These fluids will help maintain your pet’s blood pressure and allow for a quick recovery. Careful monitoring and care are taken before, during, and after surgery to minimize any complications and our trained assistants measure heart rate and oxygenation throughout the procedure.

Pain control is an important part of our treatment plan, and is started pre-operatively to help your pet stay comfortable. Pain levels are assessed throughout the procedure and recovery to ensure that we achieve adequate pain control. Pain medications are sent home to help with any discomfort or inflammation after surgery.

Spaying/neutering is good for your pet…

Sterilization eliminates sexual frustration and risk of problems associated with hormones, pregnancy and birthing.

Females — Spaying also greatly reduces the risk of breast cancer and eliminates the possibility of uterine and ovarian cancer. Spaying a female before her first heat further reduces these risks. Mammary cancer, the third most common form of cancer in cats, occurs 16 times more frequently in intact cats than in sterilized cats and one in four intact females (dogs or cats) will develop breast cancer.

Spaying female cats and dogs also eliminates the risk of pyometra, a serious medical condition where the uterus becomes infected and pus-filled, causing life-threatening toxic effects. Pyometra may occur a week to 2 months after a heat cycle, and typically requires intensive (and expensive) medical care and emergency surgery. An intact female has a 50% chance of developing this life-threatening condition.

Spaying also eliminates the mood swings and undesirable behavior that female cats and dogs display during their heat cycle, such as messy spotting, pacing, crying and trying to escape.

Males — Neutering eliminates the chance of testicular cancer and decreases the risk of prostate enlargement and prostatitis by 80% or more. Prostatitis is a bacterial infection of the prostate gland, which can have very serious consequences and require extensive and expensive treatment. Intact males are also more prone to prostate cancer.

Neutering also will make your pet more affectionate and less likely to roam, urine mark, get in fights, or become lost. Nationally, 80% of the dogs hit by cars are intact males searching for mates. Neutered cats are less likely to contract deadly diseases such as feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), which are transmitted through bite wounds and breeding. Neutered male cats are also less likely to suffer cat bite abscesses from fighting.

Finally neutered male cats are much less likely to develop mammary cancer, or “stud tail," caused by overactive glands in the tail.

Spaying/neutering your pet is good for you…

Spaying and neutering greatly increases the life span of your pet, and owners of sterilized pets have lower overall health care costs. It also makes pets more affectionate companions and less aggressive, in general. Spaying and neutering can also reduce or eliminate unpleasant behaviors such as wailing, messy heat cycles, urine marking/spraying and mounting behavior. Finally, sterilized pets have lower licensing fees.

Spaying and neutering also helps the pet overpopulation problem… the uncontrolled breeding of dogs and cats has produced more animals than there are loving homes. It’s a sad fact that of the estimated 10 million animals brought to shelters each year, about half will not find new homes and families.