Contact your veterinarian about recommendations concerning age, vaccination requirements and other health care issues as soon as you adopt your pet.
STEP TWO
Understand the spaying or neutering information will vary depending on the age, sex and type of pet you have chosen. Surgery at an early age - 6 to 12 weeks - is now widely accepted in dogs and cats.
STEP THREE
Ask the local animal shelter or your veterinarian about special programs available to have your pet spayed or neutered at a reduced cost. Programs exist everywhere for single or multiple animals and can save you money.
STEP FOUR
Ask the staff what is involved in the surgery and about pre- and post-operative care. This helps you make an educated choice about where to have it done and how much you should pay for this service.
STEP FIVE
Realize that post-operative pain management is a standard part of any acceptable surgical protocol, and the veterinarian of your choice should recommend pain medication.
STEP SIX
Schedule an appointment for surgery and follow the instructions given by the staff at the veterinary hospital or clinic about pre-surgical care.
STEP SEVEN
Take your pet to the veterinary hopsital or spay/neuter clinic.
STEP EIGHT
Pick up your pet as soon as allowed after the surgery and administed post-surgical care as directed. Some veterinarians will discharge your pet the day of surgery, while others prefer to keep pets hospitalized overnight for observation.
STEP NINE
Watch for signs of swelling, discharge or complications such as not eating or vomiting. You should have an after-hours contact number to call if you suspect anything is wrong.
STEP TEN
Schedule an appointment for a follow-up exam and suture removal.
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Spaying you dog prior to her first heat will decrease the risk of breast cancer.
Spaying or neutering your dog is a major surgical procedure that shoud be preformed by a qualified veterinary surgeon, under a general anesthetic, in a sterile surgical environment. Exercise care and good judgement when selecting someone to do this once-in-a-lifetime procedure on your pet.
General anesthesia and surgery do involve risk, but the benefits to pet and pet owner greatly exceed the risk involved.
Neutered males do not lift their leg to urinate and do not have the urge to urinate on plants or bushes to mark their territory.
Spayed females do not have heat cycles. Heat cycles come every 6 months and last for 3 weeks, the female will bleed and have a tendancy to wander to find a male when she is in heat.