Spaying and Neutering Your Pet 

Over 13 million pets are put to death in our nation's animal shelters each year for lack of homes, That is why responsible pet owners make sure that their pets are not contributing to this serious over-population problem.  As much as we may want our children to witness the miracle of birth, the price we pay with unwanted puppies and kittens and the added health risks that we must then subject our pet too far overshadows the benefit.  Even if you are able to find homes for the entire litter this means an equal number of kittens or puppies in shelters will lose potential homes.  If you keep your pet confined, neutering may seem unnecessary.  Just the opposite is true.  In fact, there are medical and health advantages for the pet through neutering.  Spaying or neutering your young, healthy pet will reduce certain infections and cancers that could occur in later Life.

WHY DO WE USE A SURGICAL LASER INSTEAD OF CONVENTIONAL SURICAL METHODS?

Surgical Lasers have been available in human medicine for serveral decades.  Just as in human surgery,  the benefits of laser surgery are significant.  The use of a laser during surgery controls bleeding better, and reduces post operative swelling and speeds recovery by reducing post operative pain.  We wouldn't want anything less for our pets or yours

SPAYING YOUR FEMALE PET

The technical term for this operation is an ovariohysterectomy.  It is an abdominal surgery involving the removal of both ovaries and the uterus.  After surgery, your pet will no longer "come into heat."  Although this is major surgery, with the new modern gas anesthetics, a healthy pet can be anesthetized for the short operation with minimal risk.  Contrary to folklore the surgery is best performed prior to your pets first heat cycle.  Early spaying does not retard emotional development nor stunt bone growth.  Early spaying will have many benefits:

• Prevents signs of estrus ("heat")
• Prevents blood stains on the carpet from the "heat" cycle
• Decreases unwanted 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 believed to be less risky in younger pets.
• Prevents breast development if done before breeding age.
• Females that are used for breeding should be spayed when no more offspring are desired.  We do NOT recommend any pet be bred after 6 years of age; and ALL should be spayed by that time to prevent disease conditions such as uterine infections and breast tumors later in life.

ALTERING YOUR MALE PET (Neuter)

The technical term for this operation is castration.  An incision is made near the scrotum and the testicles are removed. This is more than a vasectomy, although still considered minor surgery.  The anesthetic risk for a young,  healthy pet is minimal.  Early neutering has many benefits:

• Decreases the desire to roam the neighborhood.
• Decreases the number of unwanted puppies and kittens being born
• Decreases aggression - become more loving pets (more affectionate)
• Decreases incidence of prostate disease later in life.
• Decreases territory marking (Dogs and Cats)
• Prevents odor of Tom Cat Urine.
• Prevents Tom Cat spraying and marking furniture and walls.

Facts About Spaying and Neutering:

• 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 (2) years of age.  Aggressiveness and viciousness are not the result of surgery. 
• Surgical risk is very slight due to modern anesthesia and techniques, but there is ALWAYS some SMALL risk when an anesthetic is used. We recommend a pre-anesthesia blood profile on all pets older than 8 years; however the blood profile should be done on any pet to minimize anesthetic risk.
• 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. In certain instances this will also reduce the risk of health problems later in your pet's life.
• Best age to spay or neuter pets is 4-6 months of age.
• Surgery is performed painlessly while your pet is under general anesthesia.  Post-surgical pain is minimal.  Most neutered pets go home the same day surgery is performed and spayed pets stay one night

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