If you are considering getting your first dog or are a lifelong pet owner, there’s a good chance that you have heard of spaying or neutering. These surgical procedures ensure that your dog is incapable of reproducing, and the type of procedure performed depends on whether the dog is a male or female. For the safety of your pets, it is important to only trust a licensed and knowledgeable veterinarian to complete a spay or neuter of your dog.
Since opening, the veterinarian team at Advanced Care Veterinary Hospital has provided countless spay and neuter procedures on male and female dogs in the Tulsa area that spans a variety of breeds, sizes, and ages. Our goal is to ensure that your pet is safe and comfortable not only during the procedure but also during any aftercare that may be required. While dog spay and neuter procedures are generally considered safe, we will still use general anesthesia, which may have a minimal risk of complications.
Advanced Care Veterinary Hospital maintains a focus on educating pet owners on why spaying and neutering your dogs is important and at what point in your dog's life, is the most advantageous time to do the procedure. Below you will find answers to some of the most common questions we receive about these procedures to help you make an informed decision about whether or not the process is right for you. If you have any questions that aren’t answered here or want to schedule your appointment, don’t hesitate to contact us!
Why Should You Spay or Neuter Your Dog?
There are many great reasons why you may want to spay or neuter your dog. According to the most recent statistics available, nearly 3.7 million animals are euthanized each year because they are unable to find suitable homes. By ensuring your dog has undergone a spay or neuter procedure, you can rest easy knowing that you aren’t contributing to this number.
At Advanced Care Veterinary Hospital, we take your pets size, breed, age, and intended purpose in to account before we recommend an age for spay or neuter. In larger breeds and working dogs, we recommend most owners delay spay or neuter until at least 18-24 months of age, to allow them to fully develop before removing their reproductive organs. We are happy to discuss the best time to spay or neuter your dog with you at any appointment.
Over time, many misconceptions about the effects that a spay and neuter process causes on dogs have become well known. Unfortunately, these misconceptions have no factual basis even though they have become prevalent and widely believed. If you have reservations, don’t be afraid to ask about potential problems or changes that could occur.
The most common misconceptions that are found relating to spay and neuter procedures for dogs include:
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Spaying or Neutering Leads To Weight Gain
One common misconception that is because a male dog is neutered, they will lose the testosterone required to control their own weight. However, this is easily remedied with portion control and regular exercise from the pet owner. Keeping a dog fit is solely reliant on the healthy habits the owner provides for the dog. Simply limiting treats, monitoring food consumption and regularly exercising your dog will help them remain fit following a spay or neuter procedure.
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Spaying or Neutering Can Change Personality
While it is common for aggressive tendencies in male dogs to decrease once they have been neutered, many people believe that the sterilization process will completely change the dog’s personality. Don’t be afraid of your dog changing their personality following this common procedure, because it is unlikely to occur.
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Is a Spay or Neuter Required?
Although no states have compulsory spay or neuter laws at the current time, you may be surprised to know that the city of Tulsa passed an ordinance in 1989 that makes it illegal for dogs or cats older than 6 months to not be sterilized. If a pet is found to not be sterilized, the owner who violates the law is subject to a $75 ticket. The primary goal of this ordinance is to reduce the pet populations found in the city’s shelter programs. If you are unsure if you are legally required to sterilize your pet, check your local ordinances to see what applies to your dog.
Dog Neutering
In most cases, the common age for a dog to be neutered is between 4 and 6 months. However, Advanced Care Veterinary Hospital recommends that pet owners wait until at least 6 months in age to bring their dog in for the procedure. In some cases, our veterinarians may recommend delaying neutering until the pet is fully grown, especially in large breed dogs. The decision to delay neutering can depend on owner preference, owner lifestyle, the intended purpose of the dog, and the size of the dog. However, any residents of the city of Tulsa must neuter their dog by 6 months of age in order to remain compliant with the city ordinance.
To complete the neutering process, a veterinarian will perform a pre-anesthetic exam and administer pain medication if your male dog is ready for the procedure. The dog will then be placed under a safe state of general anesthesia for the procedure while being monitored at all times for vital signs. Once successfully anesthetized, the veterinarian will make a small incision in the scrotum and remove the testicle and tie off the vas deferens.
After both testicles are removed, the dog will be given sutures or surgical glue in order to close the incision. Postoperative medications and care will continue to be administered until your dog recovers from the effects of anesthesia. Once the dog has recovered we will provide the owner with aftercare instructions and send the dog home. We understand the importance of keeping your dog safe and comfortable and will work to educate you completely about the requirements needed for home care following the procedure.
Dog Spaying
Like neutering, the common age for a female dog to be spayed is between 4 and 6 months. We also recommend that pet owners wait until the dog is at least 6 months old before scheduling a spay procedure. Our veterinarians may recommend delaying spaying your dog until she is fully grown, especially in large breed dogs. The decision to delay spaying can depend on owner preference, owner lifestyle, the intended purpose of the dog, and the size of the dog.
To complete the spaying process, a veterinarian will perform a pre-anesthetic exam on your female dog and then administer pain medication prior to starting the procedure. Like the neutering process, your dog will then be placed under general anesthesia while they are monitored for vital signs like heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen levels and much more. Once the dog is under general anesthesia, the spaying process can then be started. To do this, the veterinarian will create a small incision in the abdomen of the dog and remove their ovaries and uterus.
Once these reproductive organs have been removed, the incision will be closed with sutures. At this time, the dog will be given postoperative medications and will continue to receive care until she has recovered from the effects of the general anesthesia. As the dog completes the recovery process, our veterinarian explains the aftercare procedures required for the dog and then send her home with the owners once recovered completely.
Why Choose Advanced Care Veterinary Hospital for Pet Sterilization?
Because your puppy is a new part of the family and you will have quickly made a connection with him or her in the first 6 months of their life, the thought of a spay or neuter can be a little frightening. While it may seem scary, our veterinarians are here to ensure your puppy is cared for and safe throughout the entire process. From the moment you both enter our facilities, we will work had to provide compassionate and comfortable service.
All dogs that receive spay or neuter procedures at Advanced Care Veterinary Hospital are administered pain medication no matter what size or breed they may be. And, although anesthesia is required, we take every step necessary to monitor their vital signs to keep them safe until the anesthesia wears off and the procedure has been successfully completed. You can rest easy knowing that your pets spay or neuter will be handled by a veterinarian with many years of experience.
Our team works hard to ensure that pet owners have all of the information needed to successfully provide postoperative care to their dog following a spay or neuter procedure. Until your pet is ready to go home, they will receive the support needed for a speedy and painless recovery process. Advanced Care Veterinary Hospital is committed to ensuring pet owners are confident with the home recovery process before sending a pet home from a procedure.
How Can I Get My Pet Spayed or Neutered?
If you are ready to get your dog spayed or neutered, the team at Advanced Care Veterinary Hospital is here to make the process easy. We have refined the process of completing these procedures safely and effectively while minimizing the amount of pain or recovery that your beloved pet will experience. Contact us to get started or schedule your dog spay or neuter appointment today. We look forward to helping you ensure your pet remains happy and healthy.
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