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Spay and Neuter

What Exactly is Spay and Neuter Surgery?

Surgical sterilization is usually the most complex procedure to happen during the life of most dogs and cats. Because spay and neuter are done so routinely, many equate this with simplicity.

As animal advocates, we must always consider our patients’ comfort and safety when considering a drastic measure, like surgery, in the solution of a problem. Therefore let us look at exactly what these procedures are and why they are carried out before discussing the controversy of timing.

Female Spay or Neuter
These terms are used interchangeably for surgical sterilization of the female. Because it involves removing the entire uterus and both ovaries, the surgery is commonly performed via an incision on the belly of the patient. This invasion of the abdomen requires attention to sterile technique to prevent life-threatening infection, post-operatively.

Historically this procedure has been performed to solve the following problems:

• stop the animal from heat (reproductive cycling) 3-4 times per year
• prevent unwanted pregnancies initially, and in the last 20 years an
• attempt to solve the unwanted dog and cat overpopulation
• provide preventive health care by decreased incidence of breast cancer (when spayed prior to heat cycles) and less reproductive
  tract disorder in the aged pet
• decrease problems in behaviour during heat cycles (running away, sex-related fighting, trauma, etc.).

Male Castration or Neuter
These terms are used as synonyms, generally meaning the removal surgically of both testicles. The surgery is less dangerous because the organs in question are found in the scrotum, in most cases. Because of that fact the procedure is faster and less risky. Larger dogs require more overall care and technique.

Males undergo this procedure because the owner is usually trying to take advantage of the following:

• attempt to control intermale aggression
• curtail the animal from roaming particularly when there are females in heat within the immediate area
• prevent testicular and prostatic disease later in life \
• control population by decreasing random breeding
• decrease discharges from penile sheath in some cases.
  

The majority of the veterinary profession recommends these procedures around six months of age. Generally the importance of spaying the female prior to heat is stressed.

Reprinted from a factsheet published by the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies. May, 1995