Spay and Neuter Los Angeles

Happier, Healthier Life for Your Pet

According to the Humane Society of the United States, over 4 million unwanted pets have to be put down each year. The pet population has become a serious issue nationwide. While deciding whether or not to have your pet spayed or neutered is a very personal decision, vets encourage pet owners to consider having the procedure done on their pet. Affordable Animal Hospital has some of the best results in low-cost spay and neuter Los Angeles has to offer and is also known as one of the best vet clinics in the Los Angeles area. Quality and care are our focus because our patients mean the world to us.

Dogs and cats that are spayed or neutered are able to avoid many serious health issues. By removing your pet’s reproductive ability, you won’t have to deal with hormone-related behavioral issues such as aggression, territory marking, or the embarrassment of a pet that mounts other animals or people.

Spaying or neutering your dog or cat will leave you with a furry friend that is both healthier and happier. Los Angeles County has very tough laws on pet sterilization, and requires that most dogs and cats are spayed or neutered by the time they are four months old.

Having our clinic available that provides excellent results in services such as low cost spay and neuter in Los Angeles makes it easy on the owner. Some cats and dogs are exempt, including pets that take part in shows or competitions, guide dogs, police dogs, and professional breeders.

The Spay and Castration Surgical Procedure

Spaying and neutering are very simple, routine surgeries. Your Affordable Animal Hospital veterinarian is experienced in all spaying and castration surgical procedures. Here is a brief description of each:

Spaying

In this procedure, a small surgical incision is made in your pet’s abdomen. Then, the vet removes your pet’s female reproductive organs (fallopian tubes, ovaries and uterus). The incision is then closed with sutures.

Neutering

In this procedure, our vet makes a small incision at the base of your pet’s scrotum. Then, the vet removes your pet’s male reproductive organs (testicles). The scrotum is left physically intact. The incision is then closed with sutures.

Before Spay and Neuter Surgery

Ensure your pet does not consume any food the night before surgery (especially after 9 p.m.). Water is fine. Make sure your pets are kept inside the house the night before their spaying or castration surgery. Your puppy or kitten must be in good health. If your pet is coughing, sneezing, has runny eyes, diarrhea, or any other sickness, surgery will be rescheduled.

What to Watch for After Your Pet is Spayed or Neutered

One thing to keep in mind is that even though it’s a simple procedure, a spaying or neutering is still surgery. After the surgery, your pet may experience a few days of grogginess or sleepiness. This is completely normal.

Trouble Signs to Watch for After Spaying or Neutering

While your dog or cat recuperates, your role as a responsible pet owner is to keep track of their behavior or healing process after their spaying or neutering. Watch for any possible trouble signs, such as the following:

• Your pet being listless or not moving for more than two days.
• Severe swelling or discoloration around the incision.
• Your pet gnawing or chewing on their stitches.
• Bleeding.
• Your pet having difficulty urinating or defecating.

Benefits of Spaying or Neutering Your Pet

It is known that spaying or neutering pets allow them to lead to longer, healthier lives.

Spaying or neutering your pet either greatly reduces or eliminates the following:

• Chances of your female dog or cat developing breast cancer and uterine infections.
• Chances of your male dog or cat developing testicular cancer and prostate issues.
• The natural urge to mate. By taking away this hormonal drive, your pet will be less distracted and will be far easier to train.
• The urge for animals to roam the neighborhood searching for a mate. (This decreases chances of your pet getting lost or injured.)
• Aggressive tendencies.
• Spraying or marking territory.
• Sexually mounting of other animals or people.
• The costs of caring for an unexpected litter of puppies or kittens.

Don’t You Only Need to “Fix” Female Dogs and Cats?

This is a myth. Pets of both sexes must be spayed or neutered. A male cat or dog can easily father hundreds of kittens or puppies during a lifetime. Male dogs and cats can be a nuisance to your neighborhood if they have not been “fixed.”

Roaming male dogs and cats often get into fights with injuries that require treatment, contract infections, and are typically far less happy and calm. Intact male animals are also far more likely to mark their territory with strong smelling urine.

Will Spaying or Neutering Change My Pet’s Personality?

This is an old myth than never seems to go away. No, spaying or neutering your pet does not change the personality of a pet. By not being driven or distracted by the instinct to mate, your dog or cat has the same personality, but is far more calm and balanced, and easier to control.

Spay or Neuter: Dogs

Modern dog owners see spaying and neutering their pets a part of being a responsible pet owner. This wasn’t always the case. When dogs and cats became household pets, the number of unwanted animals exploded. Why? There were no reliable, humane ways to control the pet population. It wasn’t until 1972 when the ASPCA (the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), legally required all adopted animals to be spayed or neutered.

In the past couple decades, feral cat trap-neuter-release programs and the No Kill Movement in animal shelters have gained popularity. Spaying and neutering pets is important to not only controlling the pet population, but is important to your pet’s health and well-being.

Why Should I Spay or Neuter My Dog?

By spaying or neutering your dog, you can help them live longer, healthier lives. Spaying and neutering can help protect your dogs from health issues like breast cancer or uterine infections. Male dogs that have been neutered have a far lower risk of enlarged prostates or testicular cancer. Spaying and neutering can also minimize behavioral issues. Beyond these important health issues, in Los Angeles County, dogs (and cats) are required to be spayed or neutered.

When Should Dogs Be Spayed or Neutered?

Puppies should be spayed or neutered before turning six months old. By spaying or neutering your dog when they’re younger, you help them avoid developing behaviors that put them at risk. Spaying dogs early means your dog (if female) will never go into heat.

Is Spaying or Neutering Safe for Your Puppy?

Yes, spaying and neutering are both completely safe. For your dog, being spayed or neutered is just a minor, routine surgery. Much like a human surgery, your dog will feel no pain during the surgical procedure and will be sedated. All your dog will experience is a deep sleep, immediately forgotten.

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) recommends dogs be spayed or neutered when they are puppies. Dogs can be safely spayed or neutered as young as eight weeks old. According to the AVMA, spaying or neutering is much easier for puppies because they heal much more quickly than adult dogs. It is also a legal requirement for dogs in Los Angeles County.

Caring for Your Female Puppy After Spaying

After being spayed, your puppy will heal very quickly. Our vet will most likely prescribe minor pain medication and teach you how to help keep the incision clean. Any stitches or staples used to close the incision will be removed within two weeks after the spaying procedure. The first few days after spaying, your dog may need gentle care and a specific diet that is easier on their body. Your vet will have detailed, easy-to-follow instructions to follow to help your puppy recover quickly and safely.

Caring for Your Male Puppy After Neutering

Neutering is a minor surgery, requiring little in post-operative care. Your dog may even be able to go home with you the same day as their procedure. After neutering, your dog will be able to eat and drink normally, so they can go right back to their usual diet. However, you should be gentle with them and do not engage in any strenuous activities, and completely avoid activities that include your puppy running, or any rough play. Dogs will be provided a cone shaped E collar that keeps them away from the surgical wounds. Neuter wounds should heal in about one week’s time, allowing your puppy to quickly get back to his normal, rambunctious self.

Spay or Neuter: Cats

Affordable Animal Hospital is committed to providing the community with quality care at reasonable prices. Most cat owners understand that spaying or neutering a feline friend is the responsible thing to do. Spaying and neutering cats is very important in controlling the pet population, but also has the benefit of improving cat health and longevity.

What is Spaying and Neutering?

Essentially, spaying and neutering are minor routine surgeries that sterilize your pet. When you spay or neuter your cat, they will not be at risk of either impregnating another cat, or becoming pregnant. Spaying your cat means that they will not go into heat and experience the compelling need to mate. Neutering also addresses the natural drive to reproduce and attract a mate by marking territory. The process will give you a calmer, happier cat.

Why Spay or Neuter Your Cat?

The ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) advocates spaying or neutering pets at a young age, for several reasons. Studies show that spaying a female cat before their first heat cycle drastically reduces the chances of your cat developing uterine infections and breast tumors that are cancerous in about 90 percent of cases. Neutering a cat also helps avoid major health and behavioral issues affecting male cats. The cost of spaying or neutering your cat will also be much, much less than the cost of caring for a litter of kittens or trying to clean up the strong smell of cat spray.

How Does Spaying Work?

When your female cat is spayed, their fallopian tubes, ovaries and uterus are surgically removed. Female cats are often physically mature enough to mate as early as six months old. Cats go through “heat” cycles every six months, often engaging in nervous and unusual behaviors. Some cats will attack, roll on the floor, or even beg for attention through vocalizing. Spaying removes the cause of these behaviors: hormones related to mating and the natural urge to reproduce.

How Does Neutering Work?

When your male cat is neutered, their testicles are surgically removed. Most male cats are physically able to mate and reproduce at about six months of age. Unneutered cats are much more likely to wander the neighborhood in search of un-spayed female cats. By neutering your male cat, you curb this type of behavior (and help them avoid sexually transmitted diseases and pet overpopulation). Neutering also decreases a male cat’s need to “mark” territory and often reduces any aggressive tendency to fight other cats – and potentially need treatment. After being neutered, your cat will still keep their unique personality, but will be less likely to roam, spray, or act aggressive.

Helping Your Cat Before and After Spaying or Neutering

Before your cat undergoes spaying or neutering, your vet will have some pre-surgical advice you will need to follow. The main recommendation will be to avoid feeding your cat after midnight the night before spaying or neutering. Your vet will also have post-operative steps that help your cat heal faster and better. Your cat may experience some pain or discomfort following their surgery, so it may be necessary for your cat to have medication to control pain.

• Be sure to give your cat space and quiet to recover and protected from interaction with other pets in the household.
• Keep your cat from activities like running or jumping for up to two weeks, and keep them indoors.
• Your cat will be restricted from licking their surgery incision site, as licking the wound can cause infections.
• Don’t bathe your cat for at least a week to ten days after the surgery.
• Keep checking on their incision site to make sure it’s healing properly, and report any worries to our veterinary office at once.
• If you notice any swelling, discharge or discoloration at your cat’s incision site, contact our clinic so we can help. Other common trouble signs to look out for include your cat acting lethargic, having a decreased appetite, or vomiting or diarrhea.

Contact Your Veterinarian Today

Affordable Animal Hospital is here to help control our local pet population and ensure your pets’ health and safety. Contact us today to schedule some of the best spaying and neutering we have to offer for all of your pets.