Hormone-sparing options such as hysterectomy or vasectomy sterilize the pet while preserving the hormones. Learn more about these options for female dogs and male dogs so you're prepared to discuss the best option for your dog when veterinary clinics are fully operational.
The best hormone-preserving sterilization for female dogs is a hysterectomy, or removal of the uterus and cervix while leaving the ovaries intact, called ovary-sparing (OSS) or partial spay. You could opt for Tubal Ligation instead, but this will not remove the risk of Pyometra.
Female dogs can get much more life threatening conditions if they are not spayed. They can get an uterine infection, called pyometra, that requires emergency surgery. If this condition is untreated or surgery is not done as soon as possible, the infection gets into the bloodstream and becomes fatal.
It is not uncommon for unspayed cats to suffer from ovarian cysts and uterine infections due to constantly fluctuating hormone levels. Spaying your cat will reduce the risk of mammary cancer as she ages. Spaying your cat will not impact her ability to grow and does not cause your cat to get fat.
Even if your cat is to be kept as an 'indoor cat', it is kinder to neuter her, as she will still come into season, which is very frustrating for her and for you. Un-neuterd females are also more at risk of developing cystic ovaries and the potentially fatal pyometraMALE CATS - if you love them, get them neutered!
It is recommended that all non-breeding cats be sterilized. Several health benefits are associated with spaying your cat. First, spaying eliminates the risk of ovarian and uterine cancers. Second, breast cancer is the number one type of cancer diagnosed in intact (unspayed) female cats.
Spaying prevents uterine infections and decreases the incidence of breast tumors, which are malignant or cancerous in about 50 percent of dogs and 90 percent of cats. Spaying your pet before her first heat offers the best protection from these diseases.
The spayed pet no longer attracts males and their annoying advances and serenades. Spayed cats are also easier to get along with. They tend to be more gentle and affectionate. Spaying keeps your cat healthier.
Spaying your female pet drastically slashes her risk of mammary cancer, which is fatal in about 50% of dogs and 90% of cats. Neutering your male pet eliminates his risk of testicular cancer. Spaying and neutering limits pet overpopulation.
A Laparoscopic Spay Is Less Invasive
A traditional spay requires a 2-4 inch long incisions. Compare that to a lap spay that requires two separate incisions that are each only one-fifth-inch to two-fifth-inches long. You can see why laparoscopy is considered less invasive.
The benefits to a laparoscopic spay are numerous as compared to a traditional one. Major upsides include: A smaller incision, which translates to less pain post-operatively (up to 65%) and quicker healing. Better visibility for the surgeon, resulting in shorter anesthesia times and fewer complications such as bleeding.
Spaying young females significantly increases the risk of osteosarcoma (bone cancer), a common cancer in larger breeds with a poor prognosis. #2: When female dogs are spayed before puberty, distinctly female disorders rise. The risk of recessed vulva, vaginal dermatitis, and vaginitis increases.
Spaying large breed dogs before bone growth is complete has been associated with increased risk of cruciate ligament tear (knee injury). Spaying before maturity may be associated with increased risk of certain behaviors such as noise phobia.
Basically, we are seeing that delaying spaying and neutering until after maturity lessens the risk of hip dysplasia, cruciate ligament tears, other bone and joint abnormalities, and some cancers. Behavior disorders, including aggression and noise phobias have also been related to hormone status.
An age of six to nine months of age may be appropriate for neutering or spaying a toy breed puppy or small breed puppy but a larger or giant breed may need to wait until they are near or over 12-18 months of age.
Non-surgical sterilization for dogs, cats and small animals — Calcium chloride dihydrate solution is a chemical sterilant for male animals that is administered via intratesticular injection. It can be obtained through a compounding pharmacy or in pre-measured doses that can be mixed onsite.
Recovery After Spaying Surgery
Most pets will start to feel better in 24 - 48 hours, but full recovery takes between 10 to 14 days. During this period you should aim to keep your pet calm and refrain from allowing them to jump, as this could cause the incision to reopen.
Experts say not to worry. “Overall, your cat's personality should not change,” Brömme says. Your cat may seem more reserved after getting the surgery, but that's because her hormones aren't fluctuating like they used to when she had heat cycles.
We know that spaying before the first heat cycle reduces the incidence of mammary cancer by 99.5% while spaying after the first heat cycle but before the second decreases the incidence by 92%. Spaying after the second heat cycle decreases the incidence rate by 74%.
Spayed female cats in the study lived 39% longer and neutered male cats lived 62% longer. The reduced lifespan of unaltered pets can, in part, be attributed to an increased urge to roam.
Neutering male pets eliminates their risk of testicular cancer and eliminates the possibility of developing benign prostatic hyperplasia which can affect the ability to defecate. Another reason why altered cats live longer than their unaltered peers, is that their urge to roam is significantly decreased.
Unneutered cats tend to be more territorial and will fight one another in competition for a female in heat. For your cat's safety (and the safety of other cats), it's best to have him neutered.
Shots Before Spaying & Neutering
It is safer for the pets to have completed their initial set of vaccines before the surgery. Unvaccinated pets run the risk of contracting illnesses from other animals in the veterinary clinic and also have a higher chance of infection after the surgery.
Spaying your dog too early can result in health problems later on since her hormones should have some time to work. Early spaying can increase the risk of hip dysplasia, torn ligaments, bone cancer, and urinary incontinence.
The most recent research has shown that spaying and neutering pets as puppies and kittens can affect their growth. Early spaying and neutering increases the length of time that the bones grow, which results in a taller pet. The concern is that increased growth may affect how joints align.