Common Vet Myths – Canine & Feline Spays

What is a spay or Ovariohysterectomy? A spay is when we remove a female’s reproductive organs to prevent the possibility of pregnancy.

Why do we recommend spaying your pets? Spaying your female cat or dog not only prevents pregnancy but can also help in the prevention or reducing the risks of life-threatening medical conditions such as:

Pyometra – A life-threatening infection of the uterus which, when caught early, can be treated by spaying your pet. If the infection is more serious, spaying becomes more complicated and there is more involved follow-up care, such as hospitalization, IV fluids etc.

Mammary Masses/Tumors – If a spay is done earlier in the pet’s life, ideally before their first heat, it can greatly reduce the risk of mammary masses.

What are some of the risks? As with any type of surgical procedure, there are risks associated. Some of those are:

Anesthetic – Though our staff are highly trained and take great care in ensuring all pets are well monitored before, during and after surgery, there is always a risk. Using diagnostic tools such as pre-anesthetic blood work allows us to see if there are any obvious risks in the bloodwork, and doing an exam prior to having a procedure done is crucial to catch things such as heart murmurs or other medical conditions that could create larger risks under anesthetic.

Weight Gain/Obesity – Once a pet has been spayed they are more likely to gain weight. This is easily avoided by discussing the proper feeding amounts and sticking to a strict diet plan. One of our nutrition specialists can meet with you and work out the best plan for your pet.

What are some of the myths we often hear surrounding spays?

1. “Should I let my pet have a litter prior to spaying?” “Should I let my pet go into heat at least once prior to spaying?” The risk of the medical issues discussed earlier are increased the more often you let your pet go into heat. The surgery itself also becomes more difficult after they have had a heat. Ideally, we are spaying before the first heat. Also, unplanned pregnancies add to the pet overpopulation problem which we never want to do. Breeding, when done properly, is an expensive and very time-consuming thing. If you are not prepared to incur the cost and responsibility of a litter then you should not breed your pet.
2. “It’s expensive to spay (or neuter) my pet.” Owning pets, in general, can be an expensive endeavour. You should be aware of all costs before deciding to adopt or purchase a new pet. Spaying (or neutering) your pet is part of responsible pet ownership and the cost should be included in your pre-adoption research. Always remember, there is no such thing as a free cat or dog!

Written by Blair Lutes