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At what age can I spay/neuter my dog or cat?
We recommend spaying (ovariohysterectomy) your dog/cat by 6 months of age. We recommend neutering (castration) your dog/cat by 6-8 months of age.
How will a spay/neuter affect by dog/cat?
Your pet may be tender at the surgery site for the first few days. Having your pet spayed/neutered will help decrease aggression. In some pets it may decrease hyperactivity and decrease some unwanted male behavior (marking territory).
My dog/cat just had puppies/kittens. When can she be spayed?
It is best to wait at least one week after all the puppies/kittens have been weaned off the mother. The next heat cycle (estrus cycle) will occur about 4 months from the birth date of the last litter.
Should my dog/cat have puppies/kittens first before being spayed?
No. If you spay your dog or cat at 6 months of age before the first heat cycle, you will decrease her chances of breast cancer by 85-90%. After the first heat cycle and before the second heat, you will decrease her chances of breast cancer by 50%. Spaying at any time eliminates ovarian and uterine cancers and life threatening infections.
What is a normal gestation (pregnancy) period for dogs/cats?
The average gestation (pregnancy) of dogs/cats is about 63 days.
What is a spay?
A spay is another term for ovariohysterectomy. The complete surgical removal of the female reproductive tract (ovaries and uterus).
What is a neuter and what are the benefits?
Neuter is the surgical removal of both testicles of a male pet. Benefits include the decrease of aggression, decrease of unwanted male sexual behavior and decrease in the chances of prostate and testicular cancer.
Can a dog/cat by spayed while in heat?
Yes, pets can by spayed during a heat cycle but the blood supply to the female reproductive tract is increased, therefore, more bleeding will occur during surgery. There is an extra fee to perform the surgery during the heat cycle.
How often does a dog/cat come in to heat? How often? How long?
Dogs and cats first come into heat when they are between 6-8 months of age. Dogs will come back into heat about every 6 months and a heat cycle will last about 21 days. Cats come into heat about every 5-6 months. Cats are spontaneous ovulators, so they are easier to become pregnant. Their heat cycle will also last about 21 days.
How old is too old for a dog/cat to be spayed or neutered?
With proper anesthetics and physical examination, no pet is ever to old to be spayed or neutered.
My dog just got bred by mistake. What should I do?
Your pet can either be spayed now and prevent the pregnancy from continuing or she can go ahead and have the puppies. There is a mismating injection but it must be given within 72 hours from the mating. This will cause an expanded length to the heat cycle but it will be infertile. We do not recommend re-breeding at this time. There is also increased chances of a uterine infection which could be life threatening and will require your pet to be spayed.
At what time during the heat cycle is breeding most likely to be successful?
In the dog, days 9-12 of the heat cycle are the most likely days to conceive.
My dog/cat is pregnant. What should I do?
First, make sure she is fed a high quality diet during her pregnancy. The last 2 weeks of her pregnancy and during breast feeding the mother needs access at all times to a high quality growth food. Second, make sure she has a warm and safe environment.
How will I know when my dog/cat is ready to give birth?
You will need to keep count of days from time of conception. The average length of pregnancy is 63 days. You may notice the pet develop the nesting instinct and make a bed or act restless or nervous. Your pet's temperature will drop and maintain below 100 degrees about 24 hours prior to giving birth.
My cat is having her kittens. What do I do?
You need to make sure she has a warm, safe, uninterrupted area to have her kittens. For the most part, cats do not have difficulty giving birth. Watch her and make sure she is getting the sack (that each kitten is in) opened and kittens are breathing. Notify the veterinarian if the cat has been in active contraction labor for 4 hours without having any kittens. Notify the veterinarian if the cat has passed a kitten but has been 1-2 hours since she passed the previous kitten and she is still having contractions. Give her room! Be quiet! Do not have an audience. There should be a sack (placenta) passed for each kitten--be certain to count. Retained afterbirths will cause serious illness.
My dog is having her puppies. What do I do?
You need to make sure she has a warm, safe, uninterrupted area to have her puppies. Next, make sure she is cleaning the sack (each puppy is in one) off of the puppies so they can breath. Notify the veterinarian if the dog has been in active contraction labor for 4 hours without having any puppies. Notify the veterinarian if there is longer than 1 1/2 hours between puppies and she is actively still having contractions. Give her room! Be quiet! Do not have an audience. There should be sack (placenta) passed for each puppy--be certain to count. Retained afterbirths will cause serious illness.
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