Spaying and Neutering

From improved health to reduced risk of unwanted behaviour, this procedure offers many advantages.

Surgical sterilization has many benefits. Spaying and neutering your pets in their first 12 months will prevent unwanted litters, undesirable behaviour (wandering, marking, aggression) and also have many health benefits such a decreased risk of testicular or mammary tumours.

What does neutering/spaying a dog do?

Spaying and neutering is a surgical procedure, where the reproductive organs are safely removed. Therefore, eliminating the ability for them to breed with other dogs. Pets are anesthetized, intubated and maintained on intravenous fluids. All patients are closely monitored by a veterinarian and registered veterinary technician for the entire procedure. We use equipment to ensure temperature, heart rate, breathing and blood pressure remain stable. Pets are given fast-acting pain control to ensure their utmost comfort.

Why is it important to neuter/spay my dog?

Surgical sterilization is a very important aspect of preventative medicine and responsible pet ownership. Female dogs are at a high risk of developing mammary tumours and fatal uterine infections if they are left intact. Male dogs are at a high-risk of developing testicular cancers and endorsable behaviours if left intact. By neutering or spaying, you are preventing unwanted litters and therefore, keeping pets out of shelters. Surgical sterilization decreases hormones that can make training difficult. Undesirable behaviours such as, marking, mounting, wandering and aggression is decreased once the pet has been spayed or neutered.

How old should a dog be before neutering/spaying?

Generally, we recommended spaying or neutering canines at the age of 6 months.
The 6-month time frame allows the sterilization to occur before the first heat cycle in females and before males will begin mounting. Surgery and recovery are faster and less painful because the reproductive organs are much smaller. From a medical standpoint, Morinville Veterinary Clinic recommends that all male dogs that will grow to more than 27 kg (60 pounds) when they are adults should have their surgery at one year of age. As pet owners ourselves, we understand that this is a personal decision as well, which needs to be made based on the information provided and the dynamics of your home. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.

How much does it cost to neuter/spay a dog?

The cost of spaying or neutering varies on many factors. Give us a call today and we can create a treatment plan best suited to your pet.

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