Every year thousands of stray and unwanted animals are euthanized in shelters across the United States for lack of homes. Many of these deaths are the avoidable result of owners failing to spay and neuter their pets. Even if you keep a close watch on your pet, accidents happen–and unexpected offspring means more animals that won’t be given the chance at full, happy lives. We offer the use of a surgical laser for the procedure to help reduce swelling and pain post-surgery, and give your pet a faster recovery time! Inquire about this method of surgery when you call to get your surgery scheduled! We also recommend running routine bloodwork on your pet prior to surgery to ensure that their liver and kidneys are functioning properly to rid the body of the anesthetic.
Spaying and neutering can help end this cycle, and both procedures can have health benefits for pets.
Spaying
Spaying is a common surgical procedure performed on female cats and dogs. The process is called an ovariohysterectomy and involves removing the patient’s uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes, rendering the animal incapable of reproduction. Rupert Animal Clinic team can advise you on the best time to have this done, but it should be ideally before the pet’s first heat cycle after six months of age.
Benefits
- Prevents unwanted pregnancies
- Eliminates the risk of ovarian and uterine tumors
- Remove the possibility of uterine infections
What to expect after surgery
Spaying is a major surgery requiring 10-14 days of quiet recovery time. We will give your pet injectable long-acting pain medication and antibiotics post-surgery to help with their recovery and minimize the risk of infection. Lethargy is common for the first couple of days following the procedure. Your pet will have sutures at the incision area that will need removed two weeks after the procedure and we will remove them free of charge! It’s extremely important that you monitor your pet to prevent the animal from licking or biting the incision to reduce the risk of infection.
Neutering
Neutering is performed on male cats and dogs. This process castrates the animal, removing their testicles and making them unable to impregnate females. Our Rupert Animal Clinic team can advise you on the best time to have this done based on your pet’s breed. We recommend getting them neutered at or around six months of age to help prevent common intact male behaviors from becoming permanent.
Benefits
- Placates the animal, reducing aggressive behavior and decreasing dominant tendencies
- Reduces roaming and spraying (territory marking)
- Eliminates the risk of testicular and prostate tumors
What to expect after surgery
Although less invasive than spaying, neutering is still a major medical procedure that requires some recovery time. Recovery may also include pain medication and lethargy is common for the first couple of days following the procedure. We will give your pet injectable long-acting pain medication and antibiotics post-surgery to help with their recovery and minimize the risk of infection. Lethargy is common for the first couple of days following the procedure. Your pet will have sutures at the incision area that will need removed two weeks after the procedure and we will remove them free of charge! It’s extremely important that you monitor your pet to prevent the animal from licking or biting the incision to reduce the risk of infection.
To learn more about spaying and neutering, or to schedule an appointment, contact us at 208-436-9818.