Our office recommends spaying or neutering all pets. The benefits of this sterilization procedure far outweigh the risks. The primary reason to spay or neuter your pet is to prevent overpopulation of unwanted animals. The younger your pet is, the more benefits you will experience by having the procedure done. Pets can be as young as four months old to be sterilzed; however, your veterinarian may recommend waiting a bit longer for very large or very small dog breeds. Spaying or neutering does not affect your pet's personality, playfulness, or general temperament.
Specific benefits for spaying your female pet include: Prevention of messy “heat” cycles; decrease in tendency to roam in search of a mate; prevention of a serious, sometimes fatal, uterine infection called Pyometra; elimination of the risk of uterine and ovarian cancer; less than 0.5% chance of developing breast cancer if spayed before the first “heat” cycle.
Specific benefits for neutering your male pet include: The prevention of testicular cancer and a reduced risk for prostate disease are important medical benefits of neutering your male pet. While neutering your male isn’t a quick fix for behavioral issues, neutered males are not as likely to mark their territory by spraying urine and less likely to mount people and other dogs. In addition, neutering your male earlier in life may help avoid aggression and roaming tendencies.
What to expect before surgery
A client consent form will be sent to you by mail. The form offers you additional procedures that are available to your pet on his/her day of surgery. Please complete the form at home, and bring it with you on the day of surgery so that we may streamline the admission process. Selecting any of the additional procedures on the form will increase the cost of the surgery. The form may be accessed from the main page of our website, under the FORMS heading, at the top of the page.
What to expect on the day of surgery
These are same day surgical procedures (no overnight stay required). We ask that you do not feed or water your pet after midnight on the day before surgery. NOTE: if your pet is diabetic, please disregard this instruction and call the office for specific instructions. Drop off time is between 8:00 and 9:00 a.m., and your pet will be ready to go home anytime between 3:00 and 6:00 p.m. on the same day.
After care instructions will be reviewed with you at the office, and will be provided in writing for reference at home. A return appointment related to the sterilization procedure is usually not needed, but please call the office at (937)399-1121 if you have any questions.
