ELECTIVE SURGERIES

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NEUTERING / SPAYING

The average lifespan of a neutered pet is 40% longer than an unneutered one. Almost all unspayed female dogs will eventually develop either mammary tumors (breast cancer) or a severe uterine infection called pyometra, by the time they are 8-10 years old. Female dogs also go through a heat cycle about two times each year. During this time, they will have a bloody tinged vaginal discharge that can be quite messy.

Male dogs commonly develop prostate disease, perianal tumors and testicular tumors in their old age. Even more sadly, the most common reason for euthanasia of pets in the U.S. is behavior problems. These are usually aggression, running away or urinating in the house by unneutered male dogs. Intact males also have more tendencies to roam, which leads to automobile related injuries, dogfights and exposure to contagious diseases.

Keep in mind also that millions of puppies are put to death in the United States each year because there are not enough homes for them all. Spaying and neutering is the responsible things to do.

If cost is a concern for having surgery, just $5-10 per week saved from the time you get your puppy until he or she is 6 months old will be more than enough to cover the surgery.

We recommend spaying (surgical removal of the ovaries and uterus) of female dogs and castration (surgical removal of the testicles) of males, for all dogs that will not be used for purebred breeding. This should be done when your animal reaches 6 months of age. Your animal will be a healthier, happier pet, and you will have done your part to reduce the pet overpopulation problem.

While your pet is anesthetized for surgery, we can also remove any retained baby teeth, and implant a microchip ID.

 

Microchipping

The latest in pet identification and retrieval is microchipping. This tiny device is implanted with a  needle so the process is much like getting an injection. Veterinary hospitals, humane societies and animal shelters across the country have microchip scanners used to detect the presence of a microchip and your dog’s unique identification. A national registry assists in the return of microchipped pets throughout the United States and Canada. We strongly recommend that all pets be microchipped.