Services

Spaying & Neutering

If you choose to spay or neuter your pet at Small Door, you can rest assured that their surgery is in the best hands, thanks to our experienced vets and state-of-the-art surgical suite.

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Why do we spay and neuter?

Overpopulation is a large problem, with millions of unwanted pets still in shelters, and millions of healthy pets having to be euthanized every year. Spaying and neutering have been statistically proven to decrease the number of homeless pets.

Spaying and neutering also have a number of health and behavioral benefits for your cat or dog. Spaying at a young age has been shown to reduce the occurrence of mammary (breast) cancer and uterine infections (also known as pyometra). It also eliminates heat cycles (menstruation) which can be messy and/or painful for your pet.

Neutering prevents testicular cancer and may prevent some prostate diseases, and both spaying and neutering may also help prevent or alter unwanted behaviors, such as aggression, urine marking and ‘roaming’ (where pets wander off in search of a mate).

When is the best time to spay or neuter?

Most dog spays and neuters are performed between 6 and 9 months of age. For large breed dogs, it may be worth waiting until they’re a little older to take full advantage of their growth hormones and allow their bones to mature.

For cats, both spays and neuters should typically be carried out around 6 months of age.

If you have an older cat or dog who is not spayed/neutered, they can certainly still be spayed/neutered. We’ll discuss all of your options at your first wellness visit, and advise on the best time for your pet.

Most dog spays and neuters are performed between 6 and 9 months of age. For large breed dogs, it may be worth waiting until they’re a little older.

What to expect

Before your cat or dog is spayed or neutered, we’ll see your pet for a pre-operative appointment to discuss the procedure and check your pet’s health. This will include a physical exam plus some blood work to make sure your pet is healthy for surgery.

The night before your pet’s surgery, you’ll need to withhold food from midnight onwards, but you can keep providing water. Make sure everyone in your household is aware, so no-one accidentally gives them breakfast!

You’ll drop your pet off with us in the morning and leave them at the hospital until the procedure is complete and they’ve recovered from the anesthesia. We’ll send you regular updates and photos or videos of your pet throughout the day to let you know how they’re doing. You’ll then be able to pick them up later on the same day, unless there are any complications.

Post spay or neuter care

Most cats and dogs recover relatively quickly. A little wooziness and some post-anesthesia anxiety or fussiness is normal. Young pets may want to play again the same day, but they should be kept calm for 10-14 days to help them recover. This means restricting play and exercise; dogs should only take short walks for potty breaks.

It’s useful to restrict your pet to a quiet room or area where they cannot run or jump. Crating can be helpful for dogs, and make sure your pet’s bedding is clean and dry to prevent the risk of infection. Cats should have a clean litter tray nearby, and you should remove any toys that encourage boisterous play. Chew toys and food puzzle toys can be helpful.

We’ll send your pet home with pain medication to keep them comfortable, and an E-collar (an Elizabethan collar) to prevent them from licking, chewing, or irritating the surgery site.

We’ll schedule a complimentary post-op exam around 10-14 days after your pet’s spay/neuter so we can check they’re healing well and remove their stitches if needed.

Stem cell collection and storage for dogs

During your dog’s spay or neuter, you may wish to have their stem cells collected for future therapeutic use. Stem cells are a special type of cell that are able to turn into other types of healthy cells – in humans, stem cells are found in bone marrow and umbilical cord blood. Stem cell treatment uses cells from your pet’s own body to aid healing.

While still in the early stages of research, stem cell treatment for dogs has shown many promising uses; currently, it can help to treat osteoarthritis and atopic dermatitis (a type of allergy), and in the future, there will hopefully be many other applications.

Your dog’s spay/neuter provides a one-time opportunity to obtain stem cells without a special, separate procedure. Instead of discarding the reproductive tract during routine spay/neuter, we specially prepare the tissue and send it for storage. We work in partnership with Gallant, who extract the stem cells from the tissue, expand, and store them for as long as you choose. If and when it’s determined that stem cell therapy could help your dog, we can order stem cell infusions from Gallant to begin treatment.

If you’re interested in this optional addition to your dog’s spay/neuter, please reach out to us for further details.

Common questions

What are the risks?
As with any type of surgery, there are small risks associated with the anesthetic and surgery itself. However, it’s worth remembering that spaying and neutering are extremely common, routine surgeries, with very high safety and success rates. Our veterinarians will also conduct pre-operative tests before the surgery to ensure your pet is healthy and a good candidate for surgery.
Will my pet’s personality change?
Many pet owners are worried that their pet’s personality will change after they are spayed or neutered, and while you may see some behavioral changes, they are considered overwhelmingly positive by most pet owners – such as reduced aggression and territory marking. Your pet will not lose their ‘joie de vivre’ when they are spayed/neutered; they will be just as playful and loving as before.
Will my pet stop urine marking or be less aggressive if I spay/neuter them?
For many pets, spaying and neutering has positive behavioral effects such as reducing urine marking and aggression. However, while spaying and neutering often fixes these issues, some pets may still continue to urine mark or show aggression, and additional training may be required. Our vets can provide behavioral counseling, and teach you how to discourage these unwanted behaviors.
Should I wait until my pet has been in heat to spay her?
For small dogs, there is no evidence that waiting for a heat cycle is beneficial. However, larger dogs may benefit from waiting until they are a little older, as mentioned above, and so they will likely go into heat before this time.
Can you spay my pet while she is in heat?
For dogs in heat, we recommend waiting two months to spay them, as spaying during heat significantly increases the risk of bleeding during surgery. For cats in heat, there is a slightly higher risk of bleeding, however it’s much safer than for dogs, and cats are spayed during heat fairly routinely. As cats tend to stay in heat all spring/summer, some owners may not wish to wait that long.
What are the signs of being in heat?
Your pet’s vulva may look swollen and larger than normal. They may experience bloody discharge and more frequent urination. Some behavioral changes may occur, like becoming more restless and vocal.
My pet just gave birth. How long should I wait?
If your dog or cat has recently given birth, it’s best to wait 2 months after the puppies or kittens have been weaned before spaying your pet.
Can other surgical procedures be done at the same time?
Yes, some surgical procedures, such as airway surgery for brachycephalic dogs, or hernia repairs, can be done at the same time as a spay or neuter, to avoid the need for your pet to undergo anesthesia twice. However, this will depend on the complexity of the procedure in question; if it is particularly lengthy or invasive, it may be better for your pet to undergo the surgeries at different times. Our vets will be able to advise on the best recommendation for your pet during a pre-operative appointment.
How should I care for my pet’s incision?
While you don’t need to clean their incision, you should monitor it for any swelling or discharge, and send us a picture via the app if you have any concerns. It’s also important to ensure your pet wears their e-collar (or surgical suit, depending on the pet and surgery type) at all times until their follow-up appointment/when their stitches are removed.
Can I give my pet a bath or let them go swimming during recovery?
No, it’s not safe to bathe your pet or let them go swimming while their incision is still healing, because water, dirt or soap could get inside. We recommend keeping your pet inside as much as possible during their recovery, which should hopefully lessen the likelihood of them needing a bath (and of any swimming!) If you think your pet may need a bath during recovery, give us a call for advice.
Does my pet need a pre-op appointment?
Yes, it’s important for our vets to examine your pet before they undergo surgery, to ensure they’re in good health and there are no unforeseen risks. At your pet’s pre-op appointment, we’ll conduct a physical examination, collect bloodwork and an ECG to make sure your pet is ready for anesthesia.
How much will it cost?
Spay and neuter surgeries are unique to each pet, and the requirements and cost may vary depending on your pet’s sex, weight, reaction to the procedure, and other factors. We’ll also perform a pre-operative exam to ensure your pet is ready to undergo anesthesia. Please email hi@smalldoorvet.com to inquire about costs for your pet.