Parkway Animal Hospital's

PET OWNER'S GUIDE TO

Spaying / Neutering Your Pet

OVARIOHYSTERECTOMY:

Ovariohysterectomy is the medical term for “spaying” the female pet. It is a surgical procedure, which removes both the ovaries and the uterus. In the dog and cat, one of the major reasons for performing the sterilization surgery is to eliminate the annoying “signs of heat” which cause males to be attracted. If the uterus alone were removed, the pet would still “come into heat,” but could not get pregnant. Removal of both the ovaries and uterus completely eliminate the annoying signs of being “in heat.”

Prevents signs of estrus (heat).
Prevents blood stains on the carpet from the “heat” cycle.
Decreases surplus of puppies and kittens.
Decreases the chance of developing breast tumors later in life.
Decreases the chance of cystic ovaries and uterine infections later in life.
Anesthesia is a much less risk at the younger age.
Prevents breast development if done before breeding age.

CASTRATION:

Castration is the medical term for surgically sterilizing the male dog or cat. The testicles are removed because they are the major source of male hormones, which cause sexual interest, aggression, and urine marking of territory. Therefore, neutering the male pet provides significant advantage to the pet owner, as well as eliminating the ability to produce unwanted offspring and decreasing the risk of future medical problems, such as prostate cancer.

Decreases the desire to roam the neighborhood.
Decreases aggression, become more loving pets (more affectionate).
Decreases incidence of prostate cancer later in life.
Prevents odor of male cat urine.
Prevents male cat spraying and marking furniture and walls.

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Prior to surgery, all patients receive a pre-anesthetic physical examination. All potential problems result in a phone call to you and are thoroughly discussed at that time. Just as your own doctor would never take you to surgery without first running “screening tests,” we recommend a pre-anesthesia ECG screen and a pre-surgical blood screen to detect many potential problems. Not all veterinary clinics run these tests on a routine basis. It is an optional way you can increase the anesthesia safety for your pet.

The procedures are performed under “general anesthesia.” The pet sleeps painlessly through the entire surgical procedure. Anesthesia choices used in our hospital are the same as those used in humans undergoing major surgery. These newer anesthetic choices we use are reported to be ten times safer in older pets than other choices commonly used in veterinary clinics today.

Surgery is performed in an operating room equipped with monitors, emergency equipment, oxygen and ventilation equipment, and the most modern surgical instruments available. All surgery is done using sterile gloves and surgical instruments. In our hospital, the same instrument pack is never used on more than one animal without re-sterilization. Our clinic is committed to quality and therefore maintains high standards for both anesthesia and surgical procedures. After surgery, our staff carefully monitors each patient until it is fully awake and stable. No pet is dismissed from the hospital until we are satisfied that it is fully recovered from anesthesia. Very little care is required at home after hospital discharge.

Male pets usually go home in the late afternoon of the same day, females pets typically go home the following morning. Because the ovariohysterectomy is a more invasive surgery then the normal castration we prefer the female pet spend the night in the hospital for the following reasons:

The pet may be closely monitor following surgery.
Pain medication can be administered as needed.
The animal is kept quiet the first night, and
We have the opportunity to check the incision and the condition of the pet the following morning prior to discharge.

Rechecks and suture removal in 10 days is included in the initial fee.

Since many people “price-shop” these procedures, we suggest you be sure all prices quoted elsewhere are “all inclusive,” and that you tour the facility before making your choice.

The spay/neuter procedure is an “once-in-a-lifetime” procedure for your pet.

Make sure you get it done right!

SPAY-NEUTER FACTS

All pets should be surgically/neutered for many reasons:

Spaying does not cause a pet to get fat or lazy. This comes from overfeeding and poor exercise.
Personalities are not altered by spaying. Personalities do not fully develop until two years of age.
Aggressiveness and viciousness are not the result of surgery. Personalities will ONLY get better!
Surgical risk is very slight due to modern anesthesia and techniques, but there is always some small risk when an anesthetic is used.
It is much easier on the pet to be spayed before going through a “heat” cycle, due to the smaller size of the reproductive tract.
The best age to spay or neuter pets is 6-8 months of age.
Surgery is performed painlessly while your pet is under general anesthesia.
Post-surgical pain medication is provided as needed.

Your community will also benefit!

Unwanted animals are becoming a very real concern. Stray animals can easily become a public nuisance; soiling parks and streets, ruining shrubs, frightening children or elderly people, creating noise and other disturbances, causing automobile accidents, and sometimes even killing livestock or other pets. As a potential source of rabies and other diseases, they can become a public health hazard. The capture, impoundment, and eventual destruction of unwanted animals will cost taxpayers millions of dollars each year.

OUR MISSION:

"We embrace the art of healing and the science of medicine to enrich the lives of our animal companions.
We support you in making informed decisions that allow your pet to enjoy wellness as long as possible.
Our hospital team inspires an atmosphere of compassion and respect for our patients, our clients, and for one another."