Did you know over 13,516,349 lost and unwanted pets are being put to death in animal shelters each and every year? Having your pet spayed or neutered is the only way to reduce this tragic number of unwanted dogs and cats destroyed. Your pet’s life depends on the decisions you make as a pet owner! Make the right choice and have your pet spayed or neutered.

What Happens If I Don’t Have My Dog Fixed?

• Females:

      • Excessive bleeding and discharge during the heat cycle.
      • False pregnancies.
      • Mammary gland tumors.
      • Uterine Infections.
      • Tumors of the ovaries and uterus.
      • Aggressive behavior during heat cycle.
      • Birthing difficulties.
      • Unwanted males lurking about.

• Males

      • Territorial aggression
      • Humping inappropriate objects
      • Prostate tumors and infections.
      • Tumors of the testicles and anal areas.
      • Strong urine odor.
      • Marking their territory with urine.

What Are The Most Common Advantages Of Having My Dog Fixed?

Spaying a dog eliminates her heat cycle. Estrus last an average of six to twelve days, often twice a year in dogs. Removal of the entire canine female reproductive tract takes away the source of the bleeding, the possibility of uterine infections, and the possibility of false pregnancies. And tumors of the mammary glands, ovaries, and uterus are reduced in females.

Removal of the entire male reproductive tract takes away aggressive tendencies, humping, marking, and strong urine smell. Hormonal aggression is removed. And tumors of the testicles and anal areas are reduced in males.

What Is Actually Done During A Dog Spay Or Neuter?

In both cases, your pet is put under general anesthesia so that it cannot feel anything. A spay surgery (also called an ovariohysterectomy) is performed on females. While performed routinely, an ovariohysterectomy is a major surgery in which the reproductive tract (including the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus) is removed.

Neutering refers to the complete castration of a male. It is a surgical procedure in which both testicles are removed.

How Old Should My Dog Be Before Surgery?

Current research has shown that, it is safe to alter dogs as early as eight weeks of age, but we recommend your pet be at least four months old before undergoing surgery with anesthesia.

Should A Female Dog Have A Heat Cycle Or A Litter Before Being Spayed?

If your pet is going to be a companion animal rather than a breeding animal, then there are no benefits to allowing her to have a litter or to go through a heat cycle. It is actually healthier for your dog never to experience a heat since it lessens the animal’s chance of getting mammary gland cancers and decreases the pet’s stress and risks due to pregnancy and delivery.

Research indicates dogs spayed prior to their first heat have less than half of 1% chance of experiencing mammary cancer as compared to an 8% chance after their second heat.

Will My Dog Become Fat And Lazy?

No. Weight gain is due to being fed more calories than your pet uses. Watch the quantity of food you give your dog. Also, older pets need fewer calories than younger ones because they tend to be less active and are no longer growing. Regular play and exercise, along with diet, are the keys to keeping your dog in shape.

Dog Surgery Prices:

Includes Pre-anesthetic Examination, Anesthesia, Surgery, Pulse Oximetry Monitoring, and Post-op Pain and Antibiotic Injection.

Preferred Surgery Program For Pets Less Than 7

• Complete Blood Cell Count (CBC): checks for infections, anemia, and clotting problems
• Pre-anesthetic Blood Work: includes BUN (kidney), Creatinine (kidney), ALT (liver), Alk Phos (liver and muscles), and T. Protein
• Toe Nail Clip
• Anal Gland Expression

• Complete Blood Cell Count (CBC): checks for infections, anemia, and clotting problems
• Pre-anesthetic Blood Work: includes BUN (kidney), Creatinine (kidney), ALT (liver), Alk Phos (liver and muscles), and T. Protein
• Toe Nail Clip
• Anal Gland Expression

You will receive premium pet care at an affordable price at Pet Doctor. We may not be the cheapest practice in town, but we are definitely not the most expensive. You will not be surprised with any unexplained charges like many of the other clinics in our area where you are originally quoted a low price; but once you get there you run into hidden charges.

Some of our competitors quote a price for a surgical procedure without them mentioning to you that they also charge for anesthesia, pain medication, medical waste fees and surgical pack fees separately, making your bill sky rocket without you even knowing it.

At Pet Doctor, your pet’s surgery will include Pre-anesthetic Examination, Anesthesia, Surgery, Pulse Oximetry Monitoring, and Post-op Pain and Antibiotic Injection in the standard costs of our surgical procedures. There are no hidden costs! We are very straight forward and will discuss any possible costs before any procedure is preformed on your pet.

Are Blood Tests Important For My Dog?

The concept of health screening using blood has long been embraced by the veterinary community. We know that animals are inconveniently adept at hiding illness, and that the best way to identify early disease in older pets is to run blood tests every six to twelve months. However, we are seeing diseases, previously believed to be “geriatric” problems, in younger animals more frequently now.

This may be due to changes in our environment and our pet’s lifestyles, or because we are becoming more aware and are looking at younger animals more closely than we were fifteen years ago. In either case, a good argument can be made for routine laboratory screening starting well before the age of seven years. Not only may an annual blood screening expose a life threatening disorder, it also establishes baseline values that are “normal” for your pet should a problem arise later in life. Blood screening also fills an important gap between pre-anesthetic testing younger pets undergoing their spay or neuter and geriatric blood work for older pets.

What Is The Chance Of My “Healthy” Dog Having Underlying Problems?

About 27% of patients who appear healthy on a physical examination have abnormal blood test results. Of this 27%, about 1/3 of these patients have a potentially life threatening disease. Early detection of metabolic disorders allows us to better treat and control them. That’s why a blood screening is such an invaluable tool.

When Should I Start Having My Dog’s Blood Tested?

The ideal case, of course, would be to run a full blood panel with a complete chemistry profile, thyroid check, blood count, and urinalysis once every six months starting at the age of four months old. This is, however, overkill for the average young pet.

A blood profile checking the major liver enzymes, BUN and creatinine for kidney function, blood protein levels, and a complete blood cell count done once a year beginning at four months of age will screen for the major problems likely to arise in a younger pet. Depending on the pet’s physical condition, a thyroid test might be recommended. A urinalysis can also be added to screen for diabetes, urinary tract infection, urinary crystal formation, and numerous other problems.

How Often Should I Have My Dog’s Blood Tested?

We recommend a blood profile be performed yearly when your pet is in for their annual vaccinations or examination. This routine blood work will consist of a variety of blood tests to check for early signs of kidney disease, liver disease, heart disease, thyroid disease, diabetes, anemia, dehydration, infection, and more. This information is important because catching early stages of the above conditions can many times avoid aggressive treatment necessary if your animal begins to show symptoms. In fact, in many cases, slight gradual changes in organ function can many times be treated with diet and/or dietary supplements. This health screen serves as an extension of the physical examination.

Dog Neuter Video

Dog Spay Video

Dog Pyometra Video