Spay & Neuter

The medical case for spaying and neutering is well established in dogs and cats:

• Spaying before the first heat cycle dramatically lowers the risk of mammary (breast) tumors — the most common cancer in unspayed female cats and a significant one in dogs
• Spaying eliminates the risk of pyometra, a serious bacterial infection of the uterus that can be fatal if not treated as an emergency
• Neutering removes the risk of testicular cancer and reduces the likelihood of prostate enlargement and certain perianal tumors
• Sterilized pets are less likely to roam, mark territory, or display hormonally driven aggression

Timing is tailored to your pet's species, breed, and size — larger-breed dogs may benefit from waiting until skeletal maturity. Our team will discuss the optimal window at your pet's wellness visit.

Both procedures are performed under general anesthesia with an endotracheal tube to protect the airway. Monitoring includes heart rate, blood pressure, blood oxygen, body temperature, and carbon dioxide levels throughout.

• Spay: A small incision is made on the ventral abdomen; the ovaries and uterus are identified, the blood supply is ligated (tied off), and the organs are removed. The incision is closed in multiple layers with absorbable sutures
• Neuter (dog): A small pre-scrotal or scrotal incision allows each testicle to be exteriorized, the spermatic cord is ligated, and the testicles are removed
• Neuter (cat): Two small scrotal incisions allow removal of each testicle; incisions are often left to heal without sutures

Most pets go home the same day, typically within a few hours of waking from anesthesia.

To help ensure a safe anesthetic event, we ask that you:

• Withhold food from the evening before surgery (roughly 8–12 hours); fresh water is generally fine until the morning of the procedure unless instructed otherwise
• Bring any medications your pet is currently taking — we'll advise which to give that morning
• Let us know about any recent illness, vomiting, or unusual behavior

For pets over a certain age or with any health concerns, pre-operative bloodwork is recommended (and sometimes required) to confirm the kidneys, liver, and blood cells are ready for anesthesia. We'll build this into your plan at the time of scheduling.

Recovery from a routine spay or neuter is generally quick, though spays are a more involved surgery than neuters and require a bit more downtime:

• Days 1–3: pets are often groggy and should rest quietly; an e-collar (cone) prevents licking the incision
• Days 4–10: gradually resuming normal indoor activity; no running, jumping, or rough play; leash walks only for dogs
• Day 10–14: incision check — if external sutures were placed, they are removed at this visit

Most dogs and cats are back to their usual energy within two weeks. Cats tend to bounce back within just a few days of a neuter. Contact us immediately if you see swelling, discharge, redness at the incision, or if your pet seems painful or won't eat.

Spay and neuter are among the lowest-risk surgeries in veterinary medicine when performed on healthy patients with appropriate pre-operative screening. As with any procedure under anesthesia, rare risks include anesthetic reaction, bleeding, or wound infection — all are closely monitored and managed. Spaying a female cat or dog eliminates her heat cycles entirely; neutering a male reduces but does not always eliminate hormonally driven behaviors that have become learned habits. Weight gain can occur post-sterilization because caloric needs decrease, so a small adjustment to feeding amount is often all that's needed.