The decision to spay or neuter your pet is the easiest way to improve their lifelong health. But, that doesn’t mean these surgeries are simple matters that can be taken lightly, or that you won’t have questions or concerns—including the standard what, where, and how, as well as any associated risks. At Central Kentucky Veterinary Center, our clients are part of the pet care team, and we strive to ensure you always have the information you need to help you make confident, informed decisions for your beloved pet.

To that end, let’s take a closer look at the ordinary-but-extraordinary veterinary spay and neuter procedures.

Why should you spay or neuter your pet?

First, understanding why your veterinarian recommends spaying or neutering (i.e., surgical sterilization) your pet is important. Thanks to public awareness campaigns, spaying and neutering are now synonymous with preventing unwanted litters and reducing pet overpopulation, but the procedures also eliminate or reduce health and behavior problems associated with intact (i.e., unspayed or unneutered) pets, including:

  • Certain cancers — Some cancers, including mammary and testicular cancer, can be prevented.
  • Reproductive issues and emergencies — Spay and neuter procedures can prevent many of these conditions, including uterine infection (i.e., pyometra), false pregnancy, prostatitis, benign prostatic hyperplasia (i.e., enlargement), and birthing emergencies, such as dystocia.
  • Heat cycles in female pets — Without ovaries, spayed pets do not experience an estrus cycle and its associated discharge, altered behavior, and attraction to male pets.
  • Hormone-induced behavior — Spaying and neutering may reduce male and female hormonal behavior, such as roaming, aggression, and territorial marking. However, pets who already exhibit these problems often require training for complete resolution. Some pet owners report their pets are generally calmer after being spayed or neutered, although this also is not guaranteed.

The spay procedure in female pets

The spay procedure (i.e., ovariohysterectomy) is performed on female pets and involves ligation and removal of the ovaries, uterus, and the fallopian tubes that attach the ovaries to the uterine body. An ovariectomy, which is a less-invasive spay option in which only the ovaries are removed, is sometimes performed. 

The traditional or open spay is an abdominal surgery that involves a three- to four-inch incision—proportionally less in small pets—near the belly button, and although the desired outcome is achieved, this surgery can result in unnecessary pain, bruising, and prolonged healing time.

Central Kentucky Veterinary Center is proud to offer a minimally invasive alternative—the laparoscopic spay, which features three tiny “keyhole” incisions, reduced postoperative pain, fewer complications, and a faster recovery. See our website for more information about this new, exciting spay procedure and its advantages, and ask your veterinarian if your pet is eligible. 

The neuter procedure in male pets

The neuter (i.e., castration or gonadectomy) procedure is performed on male pets and involves surgical removal of both testicles. For most pets, the surgery requires only an incision directly in front of the scrotum, but if both testicles have not descended into the scrotum, they will need abdominal exploratory surgery to locate and remove the testicles laparoscopically. Retained testicles (i.e., cryptorchidism) can become cancerous, so our veterinarians recommend neutering all cryptorchid pets.

The best time to spay or neuter your pet

Several factors should be considered when you schedule your pet’s procedure, especially if you own a large-breed puppy. While early spaying and neutering (i.e., before 6 months) has its advantages—and is still recommended for kittens—modern research suggests that waiting until skeletal maturity (i.e., growth plate closure) may reduce a dog’s risk for future orthopedic injuries, and specifically cranial cruciate ligament rupture (CCLR).

Your Central Kentucky Veterinary Center veterinarian will help you weigh the risks versus benefits to reach the best decision for your pet and your lifestyle. 

Potential spaying and neutering complications in pets

While we do our best to provide a safe anesthetic experience, a certain risk level always exists, which our team minimizes with pre-anesthetic screening tests, intraoperative electronic and hands-on patient monitoring, and the latest surgical techniques (e.g., laparoscopy) that reduce anesthetic time and speed healing. 

Post surgical complications, which are rare, generally relate to the decrease in circulating sex hormones. Notable changes may include:

  • Weight gain — Altered pets have a reduced metabolism, which can lead to weight gain. Food portion reduction and frequent exercise can reduce or eliminate this risk.
  • Urinary incontinence — Spayed females may experience urinary incontinence—generally while at rest—later in life. The urinary sphincter is influenced by estrogen and may therefore weaken after a spay, but hormone replacement therapy can alleviate this issue.
  • Orthopedic disease — Dogs who are spayed or neutered before skeletal maturity may have an increased risk for orthopedic disease (e.g., CCL rupture, and hip and elbow dysplasia, bone cancer), with obesity and lack of exercise and conditioning also contributing to the risk. 

Some pet owners decide to spay or neuter their pet automatically, considering the procedure a rite of passage, a developmental milestone, and a social responsibility. Others, however, find signing up their pet for major surgery daunting or scary. If you have questions or concerns, let the Central Kentucky Veterinary Center team give you the peace of mind by making informed decisions about your pet’s care. Contact us by phone or through our app to schedule an appointment or to chat with our team.