Spaying is a term that describes the ovariohysterectomy, or the removal of portions of the reproductive system of a female dog. Neutering is a term that describes the castration, or the removal of the testicles of a male dog. Veterinarians perform these surgical procedures, which render dogs incapable of reproducing.

Over the past several decades, our veterinary team has successfully performed spay and neuter procedures on countless dogs of all breeds and ages. While we do not consider spay and neuter procedures to be "routine" and all general anesthesia procedures have a risk of complications, spay and neuter procedures are considered safe and are strongly recommended by all major veterinary organizations including the ASPCA and the Animal Humane Society.

A Responsible And Caring Spay And Neuter Hospital

For most people the thought of their puppy undergoing a surgical procedure under sedation can be frightening. We understand that this can be scary for caring dog owners and want to assure you that your puppy will be cared for by the most capable and caring medical professionals.

All puppies will receive pain medications before the procedure begins. Our anesthesia and patient care protocols will be tailored to your puppy's breed and size. While your puppy is under anesthesia, our veterinary staff will monitor a number of vital signs. The surgery will be performed by our veterinarians who have many years of surgical experience.

Postoperative nursing care and pain management medications will be administered to your puppy to ensure that their recovery is painless and they remain closely monitored until we feel it is safe to send them home. Our veterinary staff will also provide post-operative instructions for you to follow at home. This home care includes a continuation of pain management to minimize post op discomfort.

Reasons For Spaying And Neutering

There are many valid reasons to spay and neuter your dog, according to AmericanHumane.org. Approximately 3.7 million animals are euthanized at shelters annually, due to the sheer fact that there are not enough willing adopters. Spay and neuter procedures ensure that you are not adding to this number.

For any purebred dog owners who believe that purebred equals profit or desirability, please understand that (according to AmericanHumane.org) approximately 25% of all shelter animals are purebred. Unfortunately, there are just not enough good homes for needy dogs, purebred or not. At this time, there are no states with compulsory spay and neuter laws. However, spay and neuter procedures will insure that no unwanted puppies are produced and will make it easier to train you puppy. Getting your pet spayed or neutered will also prevent them from a life threatening circumstance if they are not fixed.

Getting Your Dog Fixed

The generally accepted age for neutering a dog is around 4-6 months.

Recently, clinical evidence has suggested that male dogs of certain large breeds may benefit from waiting to neuter until the dog has reached 9-11 months of age. There has been some evidence that this can reduce the risk of some cancers in certain large breed dogs, however there are a number of other factors such as aggressiveness, potty training and reproduction that must also be taken into consideration. While these updated guidelines have given us cause to extend the acceptable age for neutering some large breeds of dogs, the recommendation to eventually neuter the dog remain.

The generally accepted age for spaying a dog is around 4-6 months. Spaying a dog once she is an adult is acceptable as well, although there's a slightly higher risk of postoperative complications in older dogs, as well as in dogs that are overweight or that have existing health problems. Therefore, spaying a dog when she is still a puppy is recommended in most cases.