Spaying (females) and neutering (males) is a common and crucial part of pet ownership. Although typically an elective procedure, spaying/neutering your pet is recommended in most situations. Led by Dr. Aparna Modi, the team at Heights Hospital for Animals is here to help you navigate the process of spaying or neutering your pet.

What is Spaying/Neutering?

Spaying is a surgical procedure in which the ovaries and uterus are removed from your pet and neutering is a surgical procedure in which the testicles are removed from your pet.

Why Should I Spay or Neuter my Pet?

Spaying or neutering your animal has numerous benefits for both you and your pet. Many studies have shown that spayed/neutered animals tend to have longer lifespans than their unaltered counterparts. Spaying/neutering also eliminates or minimizes the incidence of reproductive diseases and cancers. Undesirable behaviors such as urine marking/spraying, roaming and sexually driven aggressive behaviors can be eliminated or minimized when an animal is spayed or neutered. Altering your pets helps control the pet population by preventing unwanted litters.

When Should I Spay or Neuter My Pet?

Spaying/neutering is a big decision to make, and there’s no “One Size Fits All” approach. It’s always good to open a dialogue with your veterinary medical team about when would be an appropriate time to spay/neuter your pet. For large breed dogs, it’s often recommended to wait to spay/neuter them until they reach skeletal maturity. In situations where your pet is exhibiting undesirable behaviors it may make sense to spay/neuter them sooner. Factors such as other household pets, your pet’s species, age as well as breed can all affect when you decide to spay or neuter your pet.

I’ve Decided to Spay/Neuter my Pet: What’s Next?

Once the decision has been made the next step is setting up a preoperative exam. At this appointment, our veterinarian will do a thorough physical exam on your pet Blood Work will be performed to check blood cell counts and organ function. All of this is to ensure that your pet is healthy and able to be cleared for anesthesia.

What Happens on the Day of the Procedure?

You will be dropping off your pet to Heights Hospital for Animals at 8:30 AM, fasted (no food or water since 10 PM the night before). We will weigh your pet, get a round of preoperative vitals (temperature, pulse and respiration rate), and the doctor will do a brief pre-op exam. Then the team will shave an area on your pet’s leg and place a catheter into one of your pet’s veins. We will use this catheter to deliver fluids and anesthetic medications. Your pet will then be sedated and placed under general anesthesia. The surgery site is prepped by our team, the doctor scrubs in and performs the surgery and during this entire process your pet’s vitals are being monitored by our team. Your pet will be closely monitored during their recovery from anesthesia once the procedure is completed.

What Should I Expect After the Procedure?

When you come to pick up your pet, a member of our team will go over discharge instructions with you. This includes any medications that will be sent home and doctor recommendations for post operative care. We recommend that you keep your pet as quiet as possible during their recovery (for their safety and to make sure that they don’t damage their incision. Your pet will be discharged with a hard plastic cone to stop them from licking their incision. We will also schedule a no-charge recheck visit 10-14 days after their procedure to make sure the incision is healing well and to remove their sutures.

Have your pet spayed or neutered at Heights Hospital for Animals

Are you ready to talk to our veterinarian about spaying and neutering your pet? We are here to help! Please give the office a call at (914) 962-5579 or visit our clinic at 1865 Commerce Street, Yorktown Heights NY and the Heights Hospital Hospital for Animals team will assist you!