That does it! Even though you love your him dearly, you've had more than enough of all his antics. You’ve lost count of the number of times you woke up in the middle of the night only to discover him gone, having snuck out to meet up with the bitch next door. You’ve had enough, and you’re definitely going to put a stop to this. Tomorrow you’re going to have your furry housemate neutered!

We’re sure Fluffy won’t have any objections (not like he can do anything about it anyway) and the decision to control his urges and make him stop wanting to make puppies ultimately lies in your hands, but there are things that you might need to know first before you make your fur baby go under the knife.

FN answers the top spaying and neutering questions that might be circling around in your head.


1. WHAT HAPPENS DURING THE PROCEDURE?

During the neutering surgery for male pets the patient is first sedated, then “the veterinarian shaves the surgical area and disinfects it using a skin cleanser. The surgeon (then) makes a small incision just in front of the scrotum (or the sac that contains the testicles). Each testicle is removed separately, and the blood supply is ligated or tied off,” explains Dr. Janet Tobiassen Crosby in a spaying and neutering article for vetmedicine.about.com.

On the other hand, during the spaying procedure for female pets, according to Maureen Kochan in an article for dogchannel.com, the pet is put under general anesthesia.  The surgeon then makes a small incision in the dog's belly/abdominal area and removes the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus before the veterinarian closes the incision.


2. WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF HAVING A PET SPAYED OR NEUTERED?

“Not only will you contribute significantly to the reduction of unwanted pets on the streets, on top of that, you’ll somehow provide a better life for the pets since undergoing the procedure will ensure that they are going to be free from pyometra, cystic ovaries, mammary gland tumors, and testicular cancer, among others,” explains Dr. Rey del Napoles during an interview with FN.

Dr. del Napoles who has been the consultant for CARA (Compassion and Responsibility for Animals) also says that spayed and neutered pets “no longer have the desire to look for a mate, so they are more home bound and generally healthier than the intact ones.” Aggression is also reduced in most neutered male dogs and cats.


3. HOW MUCH WILL IT COST? AND HOW OLD MUST THE PET BE BEFORE SPAYING OR NEUTERING

The procedure normally costs around P2,000 for male pets and P3,500 for females. There’s also an additional laboratory fee of around P1,000. The cost for anesthesia usually starts at around P500, but this will go up depending on how much of it is used, which in turn depends on your pet's weight.

However, there are animal welfare organizations that offer spaying and neutering for a much lower price. CARA’s spaying, for instance, goes for around P1,700 for dogs and P700 for cats. Neutering for dogs costs around P1,500 for dogs and P500 for cats.

As for the ideal age at which you should have the procedure done, most vets recommend that your pet be at least be 6 months old or weight at least 1 kilogram.


4. WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT A PET OWNER MUST DO TO PREPARE THE PET FOR THE PROCEDURE?

Aside from the physical examination, the pet, according to Dr. Blanche Bolo, resident veterinarian for Cartimar Veterinary Clinic, will need to go through other lab tests. “Laboratory work, which includes blood chemistry and complete blood count, should be done to determine whether the dog has an underlying condition and to minimize the possibility of complications,” she explains. “An 8-hour fast is also necessary before the procedure.”


5. WHAT DOES POST-PROCEDURE CARE INVOLVE?

After the procedure, Dr. Bolo says the animal is put on a course of oral broad-spectrum antibiotics for 7 to 10 days. They cannot be given baths for 10 days or until the sutures are taken out. The owners must also clean the surgical area with a topical antiseptic. Finally, the animal could be made to wear an Elizabethan collar to prevent it from licking the wound, which could lead to infection.

Dr. del Napoles, on the other hand, advises owners to observe the pet after the surgery and watch for allergic reactions or complications. The owner must thus keep the number of the attending physician ready for immediate advice in case something happens to the pet after the procedure.


6. WHAT'S THE DOWNSIDE?

While there hasn’t been a study to finally confirm all the negative effects of spaying and neutering to pets, there have nevertheless been findings about some of them. On the notion that spaying pets makes it hard for them to control where and when they pee, Dr. del Napoles shares how a research conducted in Utrech, Netherlands, has noted that early spaying and neutering (having the surgery done before the pet is 2 years of age) appears to contribute to the increase in the incidence of urinary incontinence among dogs. However, he notes that “all other information remained unverified and unsubstantiated.”

Similarly, Dr. Bolo has met owners who reported that their pets became lazier after the procedure, but like Dr. del Napoles, she has not found a study to solidify the claims.

However, in 2009, a research team led by Purdue Research Park’s David J. Waters, a doctor of veterinary medicine, found that there is a relationship between keeping a female dog’s reproductive organs and their life longevity. According to the study, while it is true that “like women, female dogs are more likely than males to achieve exceptional longevity. The removal of ovaries during the first 4 years of life erased the female survival advantage.”

And like any other procedures involving the use of anesthesia there are risks. “If an expert or a well-trained veterinarian will conduct the procedure, risk is not at all a big issue,” Dr. del Napoles says.  “However, we have to remember always that not all dogs and cats will respond the same way to the medicines that were used. Some idiosyncratic reactions make take place,” he adds.

Spaying or neutering a pet must be planned and researched well beforehand, and the owner must make sure that the dog goes through all pre-procedure tests to make sure that he/she is ready.

(Photo courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons)