Live long. Live well. The kind choice.
At Woodland Springs Veterinary Hospital, we recommend all pets be spayed or neutered unless there are specific plans to breed them. Spaying, also known as ovariohysterectomy, is the process of surgically removing the uterus and both ovaries in female dogs and cats. Neutering, on the other hand, involves surgically removing both testicles in male pets. We typically spay or neuter pets when they are approximately six months old and have completed their puppy or kitten vaccination series. We recommend having these procedures carried out at the earliest convenience because female dogs and cats can begin their heat cycles as early as seven months of age.
The primary purpose of spaying and neutering dogs and cats is to prevent the ability to breed. These procedures eliminate the risk of unplanned breeding, pregnancies and litters. Spaying dogs and cats also stops estrous, also known as heat, cycling and estrus behaviors in female pets. Spaying or neutering a dog or cat also removes the hormones responsible for breeding urges. Many unaltered animals have an increased propensity to roam or escape from their enclosures to find a mate. Female dogs that have been spayed before their first heat cycle have a decreased lifelong risk of developing mammary tumors, while those that are spayed after their second heat cycle have a 25% chance of developing these tumors. Dogs and cats that have not been spayed also run a higher risk of developing uterine infections or pyometra. This is a life-threatening condition that can occur at any time but often develops several weeks following the last heat cycle. During the heat cycle, bacteria can enter a pet’s uterus and get trapped inside once the cervix closes after the heat cycle and cause an infection that requires emergency surgery. Unneutered male pets are at an increased risk of developing prostatic issues such as benign prostatic hypertrophy, prostatic abscesses, and infections. Cats and dogs that have been spayed or neutered prior to puberty are less prone to exhibit behavioral issues like urine-marking, increased territorial aggression and mounting. Health Benefits
The Procedure
Before scheduling your pet's spay or neuter procedure, we conduct a thorough examination and assess their vaccination history. It's essential to adhere to specific requirements before surgery, including not feeding your pet after 10 pm the night before and withholding food on the morning of the procedure. Provide only small amounts of water before surgery. On the procedure day, drop off your pet in the morning and pick them up later once we notify you of the completed surgery. Our veterinarians customize an anesthesia plan based on your pet's needs, considering pre-anesthetic blood work to rule out any underlying issues. A veterinary technician places an intravenous catheter for administering anesthetics and IV fluids. Throughout the spaying or neutering process, our team closely monitors anesthesia depth, heart rate, blood pressure, respiration rate, oxygen saturation, and carbon dioxide levels. Woodland Springs Veterinary Hospital proudly utilizes a surgical laser for all procedures, reducing bleeding, post-op swelling, and inflammation compared to traditional scalpel methods.
