Spaying & Neutering
Spaying and neutering is the most common surgery done for dogs and cats.
Here at Sploot, we make sure this routine procedure is done with exceptional care. We ensure a stress-free experience for both pets and pet parents.
What is Spaying & Neutering
Both spaying and neutering refer to the removal of the pet’s capacity to reproduce.
Spaying (also known as ovariohysterectomy) is a procedure done on female pets — wherein the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus are carefully removed. Neutering (also known as orchiectomy) is a procedure done on male pets — and it involves the careful removal of the testicles.
Why is Spay & Neutering important?
Spaying and Neutering helps protect pets from many serious illnesses, including mammary cancer and testicular cancer in females and males, respectively. Additionally, it reduces aggressive and unwanted behaviors, and prevents pet overpopulation in our communities.
Health and Behavioral Benefits
Avoiding Accidental Breeding
Abiding by Municipal Legal Requirements
When to Schedule Your Pet for Spaying or Neutering
We recommend that female dogs get spayed at 6 months of age. Meanwhile, male dogs can be neutered between the ages of 6 and 12 months.
Cats can be spayed or neutered a bit earlier, at around 5 months of age.
When you bring your pet in for pre-surgical consultation, our vets will assess other factors (such as breed or weight) that will affect the optimum time for a pet to get spayed or neutered.
Ready to schedule your pet's spaying or neutering?
What to Expect: Spaying & Neutering
Before the Operation
During the Operation
After the Operation
Got Questions?
We’re Here for You
Reach out to our Pet Parent Concierge Team with questions, whether it’s surgery, symptoms, scheduling, or something else!
Ready for Exceptional Veterinary Care?
We accept scheduled appointments, same-day appointments, & walk-ins.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Spaying and neutering are veterinary surgeries that carefully remove parts of the reproductive organs, with the purpose of providing better health and quality of life for pets. Spaying and neutering also prevent unwanted pregnancies and help reduce unethical breeding.
Spaying and neutering carry plenty of health benefits for dogs and cats, such as preventing certain types of cancers and infections. This is one of the main reasons why spaying and neutering are encouraged by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), and other organizations.
Spaying and neutering can also help reduce potentially problematic behaviors that are tied to a dog or cat’s instinct to mate — such as a pet’s urge to escape or run away to seek a mate, urine marking, aggression, and mounting/humping other animals.
Last but not least, spaying and neutering are legally required in some municipalities. Make sure to check with your municipality to know if this procedure is mandatory in your place of residence.
Yes. Unless a medical issue prevents a pet from undergoing spaying and neutering safely, these procedures are mandatory for dogs and cats over the age of 6 months. Spaying and neutering are also required for getting the required pet license for dogs and pet license for cats in Denver.
In Chicago, spaying and neutering is not mandated, although there have been proposals in the past to make them so. Currently, pet parents are required to carry a pet license for pets over 4 months of age; spayed or neutered animals get discounted fees for this pet license.
The ideal age for spaying or neutering a pet varies on individual factors like breed, overall health, and so on. At Sploot, we do puppy/kitten wellness exams wherein our vets discuss the ideal time for spaying and neutering, along with other preventive care recommendations. In order to maximize the full health benefits offered by spaying and neutering, pet parents need to get their dog or cat spayed or neutered within the prescribed age.
Yes, it is still possible to spay or neuter an older pet. However, this could mean that a pet will not get the full spectrum of health benefits offered by these procedures when done earlier.
Most spaying and neutering procedures can be completed in under an hour, but are influenced by factors such as the size of the pet, the breed, and other medical considerations.
Yes. A pre-op appointment is crucial to ensure a successful and safe surgery.
The vast majority of spaying and neutering procedures are smooth, with no complications. There are rare instances that complications may arise because all types of surgery have potential complications. Should any post-surgical complications arise, reach out to our team and we’ll walk you through the next steps.
To an extent, spaying and neutering will help reduce potentially problematic behaviors such as the tendency to roam or escape, aggression, urine marking, and mounting other animals. This, however, does not mean that spaying or neutering is a cure-all for all problematic pet behaviors because a pet’s core personality, as well as non-mating-related habits, will likely remain the same after the procedure.
By themselves, spaying and neutering procedures do not cause weight gain in pets. Though these procedures may slow down a pet’s metabolic rate, it generally only takes a balanced diet and sufficient exercise to prevent unhealthy weight gain in spayed or neutered pets.
Spaying and neutering contributes to helping a pet live a long, healthy life. These procedures reduce the likelihood of some life-threatening diseases (e.g. uterine infection, testicular tumors, ovarian cancer, etc.); hence, helping pets avoid these diseases, through spaying or neutering, can save their lives.
Recovery from spaying or neutering takes around 10 - 14 days. Veterinarians will prescribe any needed medication for preventing infections and managing pain during this time. In addition, pet parents are advised to limit their pet’s activity, make sure the dog or cat is wearing recommended protective devices (e.g. cone collars, special clothing), avoid pet baths or contact with dirty water, and adhere to other instructions given by the veterinarian.
The price of spaying or neutering is affected by the pet’s weight, size, special medical needs, and so on. Here at Sploot, we offer transparent pricing from the get-go. Reach out to our team today to learn more!
Pet parents may be reimbursed by their pet’s insurance for spaying or neutering if this elective surgery is covered by their insurance plan.
It's important to note that not all pet insurance plans cover spaying and neutering. To make sure that your pet’s insurance covers this treatment, please contact your insurance provider.
Schedule your pet’s surgical consultation for spaying or neutering months, weeks, or days in advance. If you need an urgent appointment, we also accept same-day appointments!
We accept cashless payments only to ensure the safety of our clinics and clients. We happily accept all major credit and debit cards, along with CareCredit and ScratchPay.
