How does neutering or spaying work?

Our knowledgeable veterinarians neuter cats and dogs by providing them an anesthetic and then surgically removing the testicles. Spay surgery is slightly more involved than neuter surgery. The female cat or dog receives general anesthesia, and an incision is made in the abdomen to remove the ovaries and uterus.

When should you spay/neuter your pet?

It is generally best to perform dog or cat neutering or spaying when animals are young and healthy. Healthy puppies and kittens can be sterilized as young as 8 weeks if they weigh more than 2 pounds.

Spay & Neuter Clinics for Dogs & Cats

Q: Are there benefits of spaying or neutering my dog or cat?

Yes, there are numerous health-related reasons to spay or neuter your dog or cat.

Q: How much does it cost to spay/neuter a dog or cat?

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.

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Table of Contents

1 Benefits
2 How it works
3 When to spay or neuter
4 Post-Surgery Care
5 Cost
6 Common Myths

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.

Benefits Of Spaying And Neutering Your Pet

There are numerous health-related reasons to spay or neuter your dog or cat, from preventing serious diseases to helping your pet avoid certain hormonal issues later in life.

Spay surgery reduces the risk of some diseases

Spay surgery can significantly decrease the risk of mammary cancer, which is malignant in 50% of dogs and 90% of cats. There is also a reduction in the risk of all types of mammary tumors compared with un-spayed dogs.

Spaying your pet reduces the risk of uterine cancer and eliminates the risk of mastitis from nursing.

Spaying also eliminates the risk of pregnancy complications like unintended breeding, obstructed labor, pregnancy loss, or the need for emergency C-section.

Spay surgery reduces the risk of disease surrounding menstruation, such as spotting, false pregnancy, and pyometra—an infection in the uterus that requires emergency intervention. You can further reduce the chance of your female pets contracting these diseases by taking them to Petco to be spayed before their first heat cycle.

Spay surgery can eliminate heat cycle-related issues in cats. These include howling and scratching, as well as messy stains and protective aggression over their litter from both cats and dogs.

Neutering can help with hormone and behavior concerns

There are a few vital reasons for neutering your dog or cat.

Neutered males are at a reduced risk of hormonal prostate problems, such as an enlarged prostate or prostatitis, and have no chance of testicular cancer.

Neutering may also reduce aggressive behavior that would otherwise result in fights and injuries and sexual behavior that can result disease transmission.

Neutering helps regulate the hormones of your dog or cat. This can alleviate issues like aggressive behavior and hyperactivity.

Dog and cat neutering can also help prevent spraying or marking territory with urine, fighting and escaping your home to search for females in heat—which can lead to injuries from wandering into the street.

Neutered cats and dogs may also be less likely to engage in sexual behavior like mounting other dogs, inanimate objects and humans.

Where can I find a neuter clinic?

Affordable pet neuter and spay procedures are now widely available at your neighborhood Petco’s veterinary hospital, Vetco Total Care. According to the ASPCA, around 6.5 million companion animals enter shelters around the country every year, and many are not rescued or adopted. Spaying and neutering your pets helps reduce these numbers, and reduced capacities help give workers a better chance to find homes for more of these cats and dogs.

How Neutering And Spaying Works

Orchiectomy, AKA the typical neuter procedure

Our knowledgeable veterinarians neuter cats and dogs by providing them an anesthetic and pain control, and then surgically removing the testicles—also called an orchiectomy. An incision is made near or through the scrotal sac, and the testicles are removed. This stops the production and transmission of sperm, and reduces the production of the hormone testosterone. Dogs and cats are sent home with pain medication to keep them comfortable as the surgery site heals.

Ovariohysterectomy, AKA the typical spay procedure

In female cats and dogs, an anesthetic and pain control are administered, and an incision is made on the pet’s abdomen. In most cases, the uterus, Fallopian tubes, and ovaries are removed. This reduces the female hormones responsible for the heat cycle and associated behaviors. Dogs and cats are sent home with pain medication to keep them comfortable as the surgery site heals.

FAQs

How long does spaying and neutering take?

Dog and cat spay and neutering is a commonly performed outpatient surgery. Surgical time can vary depending on the pet’s size and age but is typically performed within an hour. Both cats and dogs should be able to return home from Petco the same day. They typically return to normal behavior within a few days.

What are the risks of spaying and neutering?

s with any surgical procedure, spay and neuter surgeries come with a low risk of adverse reactions to anesthesia. There may also be surgical site complications of infection or bleeding, though this risk can be reduced with proper care at home after the procedure.

When should I spay or neuter my pet?

It is generally best to perform dog or cat neutering or spaying when animals are young and healthy. Healthy pets can be spayed or neutered as young as 8 weeks if they’ve grown to a minimum weight, but these procedures are more commonly performed anywhere from 4 to 9 months. Spaying or neutering in cats is recommended at 5-6 months of age, regardless of breed.

For dogs, the age at which to spay or neuter is based on breed, sex, and role (such as working dogs). Your veterinarian can help you determine what age is best for spay or neuter for the health of your dog. There are no known benefits to allowing your dog or cat to experience a heat cycle before spay or neuter.

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:

Make sure your cat or dog refrains from strenuous activity—including running and jumping— for at least two weeks or for as long as instructed by your veterinarian.
Find your pet a quiet place indoors to rest, free of other animals that can cause distractions or excitement.
Avoid bathing your pet for at least 2 weeks following the operation. If stitches are utilized, wait until they have been removed by your veterinarian.
Check the incision and stitches daily to ensure that the incision is healing and not infected.
Prevent your cat or dog from licking the incision, as this can cause infection. Your veterinarian will likely recommend using a recovery cone, and this should not be removed unless your pet is being directly supervised.
Follow any instructions on administering medication or other at-home care from your veterinarian.

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.