Quartz Hill and Southern Kern Veterinary Clinics Spaying and Neutering

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*Online discount not available for Brachycephalic breeds including:
Boston Terriers, Pekingese, all Bulldogs, Pugs and high risk patients.
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Quartz Hill Veterinary Clinic
Southern Kern Veterinary Clinic

ONLINE DISCOUNT PRICES:

Cats        Neuter  $55.00     Spay  $90.00

Dogs      0-50 lbs   Neuter  $90.00     Spay  $120.00
50-100 lbs   Neuter  $120.00    Spay  $150.00
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Neutering, from the Latin neuter (of neither sex^[1]), is the removal of an animal’sreproductive organ, either all of it or a considerably large part. It is the most drastic surgical procedure with sterilizing purposes. The process is often used in reference to males whereas spaying is often reserved for females. Colloquially, both terms are often referred to as fixing. While technically called castration for males, in male horses, the process is referred to as gelding.

Neutering is the most common sterilizing method in animals. In the United States, mosthumane societies, animal shelters and rescue groups (not to mention numerous commercial entities) urge pet owners to have their pets spayed or neutered to prevent the births of unwanted litters, contributing to the overpopulation of animals.

Advantages

Besides being a birth control method, and being convenient to the owner, neutering/spaying has the following health benefits:

• Sexually dimorphic behaviors such as mounting, urine spraying and some forms of male aggression (relating to females in estrus) may be reduced due to the decrease in hormone levels brought about by neutering. This is an especially significant benefit in male cats due to the extreme undesirability of male cat sexual behavior for pet owners.^[2]
• Prevention of mammary tumors: Female cats and dogs are about seven times more likely to develop mammary tumors if they are not spayed before their firstheat cycle.^[3] Female dogs that have been spayed before their first heat have a lifetime chance of developing mammary tumors of about 99.5% less than that of intact females. If allowed to go through their first heat before spaying, then their risk is close to 92% less. Also, spaying female dogs more than two years before the removal of mammary tumors increases the dog’s survival odds by 45%.^[4]
• Without its ability to reproduce, a female animal effectively has a zero risk of pregnancy complications, such as spotting and false pregnancies, the latter of which can occur in more than 50% of unspayed female dogs.^[5]

[edit] Disadvantages

[edit] General

• As with any surgical procedure, immediate complications of neutering include the usual anesthetic and surgical complications, such as bleeding and infection. These risks are relatively low in routine spaying and neutering; however, they may be increased for some animals due to other pre-existing health factors. In one study the risk of anesthetic-related death (not limited to neutering procedures) was estimated at 0.05% for healthy dogs and 0.11% for healthy cats. The risk for sick dogs and cats were 1.33% and 1.40% respectively.^[6]

• Neutered dogs of both sexes are at a twofold excess risk to developosteosarcoma as compared to intact dogs,^[7][8][9]

• Studies of cardiac tumors in dogs showed that there was a 5 times greater risk ofhemangiosarcoma, one of the three most common cancers in dogs, in spayed females than intact females and a 2.4 times greater risk of hemangiosarcoma in neutered dogs as compared to intact males^[10][11]

• Spaying and neutering is associated with an increase in urinary tract cancers.^[12]

• Neutered dogs of both sexes have a 27% to 38% increased risk of adverse reactions to vaccinations. The incidence of adverse reactions for neutered and intact dogs combined is 0.32%^[13]

• Neutered dogs have also been known to develop hormone-responsive alopecia(hair loss).^[14]

• A 2004 study found that spayed and neutered dogs had a higher incidence of CCL rupture, a form of ACL injury^[15]

• Early age gonadectomy was found to be associated with an increased incidence of noise phobias and undesirable sexual behaviors^[16]

[edit] Specific to males

• About 2% of neutered male dogs eventually develop prostate cancer, compared to less than 0.6% of intact males.^[17][18] The evidence is most conclusive forBouviers.^[19]

• In a study of 29 intact male dogs and 47 castrated males aged 11–14, the neutered males were significantly more likely to progress from one geriatric cognitive impairment condition (out of the four conditions – disorientation in the house or outdoors, changes in social interactions with human family members, loss of house training, and changes in the sleep-wake cycle) to two or more conditions. Testosterone in intact males is thought to slow the progression of cognitive impairment, at least in dogs that already have mild impairment.^[20]

• As compared to intact males, male neutered cats are at an increased risk for certain problems associated with feline lower urinary tract disease, including the presence of stones or a plug in the urethra and urethral blockage.^[21]

• Neutering also has been associated with an increased likelihood of urethral sphincter incontinence in males.^[22]

[edit] Specific to females

• Spayed female dogs can develop urinary incontinence.^[23][24][25] Studies report incidence rates of 4.9% to 20%.^[2]
• Spayed female dogs are at an increased risk of hypothyroidism^[26]

[edit] Current research

Various studies of the effects neutering has overall on male and female dog aggression have been unable to arrive at a consensus. A possible reason for this according to one study is changes to other factors have more of an effect than neutering.^[27] One study reported results of aggression towards familiar and strange people and other dogs reduced between 10 and 60 percent of cases,^[28] while other studies reported increases in possessive aggression^[29] and aggression towards familiar and strange people,^[30] and yet another study reported no effect on territorial aggression, and only a reduction in dominance aggression that existed for at least 5 years.^[31] For females with existing aggression, many studies reported increases in aggressive behavior^{[32][33][34][35]} and some found increased separation anxiety behavior.^[30][36] A report from the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation reported significantly more behavioral problems in spayed and neutered bitches and dogs. The most commonly observed behavioral problem in spayed females was fearful behavior and the most common problem in males was aggression.^[37]

[edit] Methods

[edit] Females (spaying)

 

 

Feline uterus

In female animals, spaying involves abdominal surgery to remove the ovaries and uterus(ovario-hysterectomy). Alternatively, it is also possible to remove only the ovaries (ovariectomy), which is mainly done in cats and young female dogs. Spaying is performed commonly on household pets such as cats and dogs, as a method of birth control. It is performed less commonly on livestock, as a method of birth control or for other reasons. In mares, these other reasons include behavior modification.^[38]

 

 

Surgical incision site of a female cat

The surgery is usually performed through a ventral (belly) midline incision below theumbilicus (belly button). The incision size varies depending upon the surgeon and the size of the animal. The uterine horns are identified and the ovaries are found by following the horns to their ends.

There is a ligament that attaches the ovaries to the 13th rib which may need to be broken so the ovaries can be identified. The ovarian arteries are then ligated (tied off) with resorbable suture material and then the arteries transected (cut). The uterine body (which is very short in litter bearing species) and related arteries are also tied off just in front of the cervix (leaving the cervix as a natural barrier). The entire uterus and ovaries are then removed. The abdomen is checked for bleeding and then closed with a 3 layer closure. The linea alba (muscle layer) and then the subcutaneous layer (fat under skin) are closed with resorbable suture material. The skin is then stapled, sutured, or glued closed.

Spaying in female dogs removes the production of progesterone, which is a natural calming hormone and a Serotonin uplifter. Spaying may therefore escalate any observable aggressive behaviour, either to humans or other dogs.

The risk of infections, bleeding, ruptures, inflammation and even reactions to the drugs given to the animal as part of the procedure are all possibilities that should be considered.

See also oophorectomy and hysterectomy.

[edit] Males (castration)

In male animals, castration involves the removal of the testes, and is commonly practiced on both household pets (for birth control and behaviour modification) and on livestock (for birth control, as well as to improve commercial value).

For more information, see castration and gelding (specific to horses)