Ovario-hysterectomy (Spay):
Ovario-hysterectomy is the medical term for the spay surgery of your female pet. This procedure includes the removal of the ovaries and uterus. This surgery not only prevents heat cycles and unwanted pregnancy, but also protects your pet from a myriad of health conditions. Spaying your pet between 4-6 months of age can help prevent diseases including uterine infection, mammary (breast) cancer, uterine cancer, and ovarian cancer. Intact females can develop a life-threatening uterine infection called a pyometra, only curable with costly emergency spay surgery. Many intact females will develop cancerous mammary tumors. Dogs spayed prior to their first heat (also called estrus), have only a 0.5% risk of developing mammary tumors. However, after a first or second heat, this dramatically increases to a risk of 8% and 26%, respectively. With exponential increase with each following heat.
Castration (Neuter)
Castration is the medical term for neutering a male. The procedure includes the removal of the testicles. Intact males are often castrated between 4-9 months of age, preventing testicular cancer and prostate issues. Castration at an early age often eliminates or reduces activities such as urine marking, roaming, mounting, and aggression. However, neutering is not a quick fix for behavioral problems, especially in adult pets, a trainer or behaviorist may be necessary for some cases. Castration prior to development of unwanted behaviors is the best way to ensure they do not become lifelong problems.
What to Expect:
Before your pet’s surgery, a pre-operative visit will be performed to ensure that your pet is healthy. At this time your veterinarian will be able to determine if there are any anatomical corrections that need to be done (umbilical/inguinal hernia or cryptorchid). A pre-operative form will be given to you discussing the risks of anesthesia. Your veterinarian will go over anesthetic risks and what to expect the day of surgery.
Your companion will be dropped off in the morning and be able to go home later the same day, following their surgical procedure. A discharge time will be created at intake. When picking up your pet a veterinary technician will go over all discharge instructions on how to care for your pet at home. A follow up call will be performed 2 days following the procedure to ensure your pet is healing well and not experiencing any complications.