Spay and Neuter For Cats and Dogs

Spaying or neutering your dog or cat is one of the most important decisions you can make for their preventive health care. These procedures are colloquially referred to as “fixing.” Dog and cat neutering and spaying have numerous health-related and behavioral benefits for your pet that can also improve your lives together.

Petco offers affordable spaying and neutering for cats and dogs at our full-service pet hospitals. Check out veterinary services provided by Petco to book an appointment at a great cost.

How To Take Care Of Your Pets Post-Surgery

Following neuter or spay surgery at Petco, your pet will need time to recover. This helps them avoid complications that can require further treatment. Here are some tips to help your cat or dog through their recovery period:

If you see any redness, swelling, discharge, missing stitches, an open wound, or notice any lethargy, decreased appetite or diarrhea, you should contact a veterinarian immediately.

How Much Does Spay or Neutering Cost?

Neuter and spay surgeries are medical procedures, so pet parents can worry that these operations are expensive. While this might once have been true, medical technology and training for these surgeries have advanced to the point that the cost to spay or neuter a dog or cat is generally very affordable. At Petco, our full-service veterinary hospitals contain all the equipment necessary to perform the procedure conveniently and easily. Due to the slight differences in weight between breeds, and unique needs of your pet, the cost may vary. Follow up with your hospital for an accurate estimate for your pet.

Common Myths

While altering procedures are standard options for today's pet parents, there is still a lot of misinformation about neutering and spaying. Concern about the effects can discourage some pet parents from scheduling the surgery. Here are a few of the most common myths:

• It will make my pet overweight: Although spay and neuter surgery does minimally lower a pet’s metabolism, a slight adjustment in the amount fed can easily prevent a patient from becoming overweight after the procedure. Unaltered dogs and cats can still be overweight or have low energy, which can be caused by overfeeding, disease or a lack of exercise. Keeping your pet active and on an appropriate healthy diet in suitable portions is the best way to avoid weight gain.
• I should wait until my pet is a certain age: While there is newer research showing some developmental benefits to postponing spaying and neutering until your pet is done growing, this advice is specific to certain breeds and sizes of dog. Discuss the best time to spay or neuter your pet with your veterinarian.
• It is too late to spay a cat or dog after a certain age: Your pets are rarely too old for cat or dog neutering or spay surgery. Unless your veterinarian finds a health condition that would complicate surgery, your dog or cat can benefit from these procedures at almost any age.
• Children should experience pet birth: While the promise of tiny, adorable offspring is appealing, labor can be unpredictable. You can lose the mother pet or some of the litter. Finding homes for a whole litter is a demanding task, and this is how many animals eventually end up in shelters.
• It's too expensive: Compared to the costs involved in animal births, altering your pets is quite affordable. Pet neutering and spaying can be performed at our full-service pet hospitals with vet services—many of which offer affordable dog neutering, cat neutering, dog spaying and cat spaying.