Spaying and Neutering

Spays and neuters are surgical procedures that prevent pets from having or fathering litters. Spays are ovariohysterectomies where the ovaries and uterus are removed from female cats and dogs. During neuter surgery, your male pet’s testicles are removed. Without the surgery, your pet is at risk of developing various diseases and problematic behaviours. The surgeries also help reduce the stray population and overpopulation in shelters.

When should I get my pet spayed or neutered?

Deciding when to spay or neuter your pet is something you should discuss with your veterinarian. In general, we recommend that pets have the surgery at around 6-months-old which is usually when they start to develop more and become sexually mature.

What are the benefits of spay and neuter surgeries?

The surgeries are mostly known for preventing unwanted pregnancies but they have other benefits like suppressing your pet’s bad behaviours. Pets who haven’t been spayed or neutered tend to be more aggressive, urinate/spray furniture, roam, or escape their homes to procreate. Spay surgery eliminates the risk of:

• Mammary Cancer: Once in heat the chances of your female dog developing cancer increases to 7%. (Female cats have an even higher risk of developing this type of cancer.)
• Pyometra: During heat, the female dog’s uterus swells and relaxes which allows bacteria to enter easily. The uterus becomes inflamed with blood/pus and the only way to treat it is with a life-saving spay surgery.

Neutering prevents:

• Prostate Cancer: Non-neutered pets will have more testosterone which makes their prostate glands grow more. Some pets develop abscesses, infections and difficulty urinating or having bowel movements.
• Testicular cancer: The tumours can spread to other parts of the body and are potentially fatal.
• Perineal Hernias: Dogs can develop hernias which cause weakness in their abdominal wall and intestines. Fat can be trapped in the area requiring surgery to be removed but there’s an increased risk of it returning.

How is my pet cared for during spay or neuter surgery?

As all surgeries have some sort of risk our team follows strict pre-surgery procedures. The surgery will require general anesthesia so we run blood tests to detect any underlying problems. We want to make sure your pet is a good candidate for surgery and will recover well. During the surgery, we have a veterinary technician monitoring their vital signs. We provide patients with intravenous fluids to minimize anesthesia risk, help flush out the medications and allow your pet to recover quickly. We always monitor pets and ensure they are comfortable so we provide warming devices, soft pillows and blankets. Your pet’s safety is always our priority, please call us at 613-829-0220 or 613-843-1334 to learn more.