We highly recommend spaying (surgical removal of the ovaries and uterus) of female dogs and castration (surgical removal of the testicles) of male dogs when they reach 6 months of age. For female dogs, spaying greatly reduces the risk of uterine infections and breast cancer and eliminates unwanted pregnancies and puppies. For male dogs, neutering eliminates the risk of testicular cancer and reduces the risk of prostate cancer and behavioral problems. Spaying or neutering at 6-8 months does not cause a change in personality, guarding instincts, intelligence, playfulness, affection or weight. Spaying and neutering are major surgical procedures and as such require a pre-operative consultation with your veterinarian.

Initial Consultation

This consultation could reveal a variety of health concerns that may need to be addressed prior to undergoing anesthesia. During the consultation your pet will receive a full physical exam, a pre-operative blood screen and an electrocardiogram (ECG). The blood test will provide information necessary to verify that the liver and kidneys can process the anesthesia, and may also alert the surgeon to any underlying infection or blood problems. The ECG shows the function and rhythm of your pet's heart. If all goes well with the pre-operative consultation, a surgery date is made for your pet. This can be scheduled as early as the day after the pre-operative consultation, and up to 30 days later.

Procedure

On the day of the procedure, we will admit your pet between 8:00-9:00 am. One of our licensed veterinary technicians will provide your pet with personalized care throughout your pet's stay. Prior to the procedure we administer a pre-operative sedative and place a catheter intravenously. This allows us to efficiently deliver medicines and fluids throughout the day. During the procedure, we use the highest quality human-grade anesthesia, and monitor your pet's temperature, heart rate, and the oxygen level in the blood; while delivering IV fluids to help keep the core temperature stable and to expedite recovery. During recovery one of our licensed veterinary technicians remains with your pet ensuring (s)he is provided with warm blankets and kept pain free. After a routine recovery, the surgeon will call you with an update and will schedule a discharge time. Pets that are neutered go home the same day. Pets that are spayed go home the next day, after a post operative exam.

Microchipping

Microchips are often injected at the time of spay or neuter. We encourage the use of microchips to give your pet an additional source of identification in the event of being lost, and is often required for international travel. The microchip is a tiny electronic chip about the size of a grain of rice placed just under your pet's skin between the shoulder blades. The number on the chip, along with your personal contact information is then entered into a national database for easy retrieval. Should your pet be lost and found, you'll be promptly contacted and reunited.