Spaying and Neutering: What Every Pet Parent Should Know
written by Dr. Traci Baker
Every week, we meet pet owners who tell us they've been meaning to schedule their pet's spay or neuter—they're just unsure about the timing, the surgery itself, or whether it's really necessary. Those are great questions, and they're exactly the ones we're here to answer.
Here, we will break down the benefits, timing, and what to expect so you can feel confident before making this important decision for your pet.
What Does “Spaying” or “Neutering” Mean?
Spaying (or ovariohysterectomy) is a surgical procedure for female pets that removes the ovaries and uterus.
Neutering (or castration/orchiectomy) is a surgical procedure for male pets that removes the testicles.
Both of these procedures are surgeries performed under general anesthesia, but they are considered routine in veterinary medicine.
Why Is Spaying/Neutering Important?
Spaying and neutering aren’t just about preventing unwanted litters, though that is an important consideration. These procedures have real, lasting health and behavioral benefits for your pet.
Health Benefits
For female pets, spaying:
Eliminates the risk of ovarian and uterine cancers
Reduces the risk of breast cancer (especially if done before the first heat cycle)
Prevents a life-threatening uterine infection called pyometra
For male pets, neutering:
Eliminates the risk of testicular cancer
Reduces the risk of prostate problems and infections
Helps prevent certain hormone-related conditions
Because pets often hide illness well, signs of these health issues may not become obvious until the disease is advanced, spaying and neutering can eliminate or drastically reduce the chances of them ever occurring! Simply put, spayed and neutered pets often live longer, healthier lives.
Beyond the general health benefits, there are breed, age, and sex-specific considerations when deciding the best time to spay your pet. One of the most significant is the risk of mammary (breast) tumors. Research has shown that female dogs spayed before their first heat cycle (estrus) have approximately a 0.5% lifetime risk of developing malignant mammary tumors. If they are spayed after their first heat cycle, that risk increases to approximately 8%, and after the second heat cycle, it rises to approximately 26%. After about 2 years of age, spaying no longer appears to provide a significant protective effect against mammary tumor development. In addition to reducing the risk of mammary cancer, spaying is the only permanent way to prevent false pregnancy (canine pseudocyesis).
Behavioral Benefits
Hormones can strongly influence your pet’s behavior.
Spaying and neutering can help:
Reduce roaming while seeking out a mate or expanding ‘territory’
Decrease marking (releasing a small amount of urine or stool with pheromones to leave a scent) or spraying (forcefully spraying urine and potentially anal gland secretions vertically) in the home
Minimize mounting behaviors
Reduce certain types of aggression
Reducing these unwanted behaviors not only can lead to a happier and healthier life for your pet, by diminishing hormone-driven activity, but will help avoid unintended consequences from occurring. Aggression, mounting behaviors, and roaming can lead to fights with other animals, increasing the risk of injury, disease transmission, and even death. Roaming also puts pets at risk of becoming lost, stolen, or injured, and exposes them to highly contagious and potentially life-threatening diseases and infections.
For female pets, spaying also eliminates heat cycles. These cycles can involve loud vocalizing, restlessness, and unwanted attention from male animals.
Preventing Overpopulation
One of the most well known benefits to spaying and neutering is that it prevents litters and helps reduce overpopulation. It’s no secret that we are at a point of crisis with pet overpopulation, with many overwhelmed with more pets than they can care for - both animal shelters and pet owners alike. Spaying and neutering is one of the most effective ways to reduce this issue.
Accidents happen, and even when all precautions have been taken you can still end up with a surprise litter! The good news? The ever-growing issue of overpopulation, and overfilled shelters and homes, can be resolved by spaying and neutering your pet!
When Should My Pet Be Spayed or Neutered?
Timing can vary depending on your pet’s:
Species
Sex (male or female)
Breed and size
Overall health
Lifestyle
Traditionally, many pets are spayed or neutered around 6 months of age, but some may benefit from later timing - especially larger breed dogs.
The best approach? Talk with one of our veterinarians to create a plan tailored specifically to your pet.
Is the Surgery Safe?
Spaying and neutering are very common procedures, and complications are rare.
That said, they are still surgeries requiring anesthesia. All surgeries come with some level of risk of anesthesia reaction, bleeding, or infection. However, these complications are uncommon - especially in pets that are younger and healthy. Modern monitoring equipment and protocols make the risk very low, and our veterinary team will take every precaution to keep your pet safe.
What Happens on Surgery Day?
We know having your pet undergo surgery can feel nerve-wracking. Our goal is to keep you informed every step of the way while providing the safest, most comfortable experience possible.
Here's what you can typically expect:
Morning Admission
You'll drop your pet off at the hospital in the morning. One of our team members will review the procedure, answer any last-minute questions, and make sure we have the best phone number to reach you throughout the day.
Pre-Anesthetic Examination
Before anesthesia, your veterinarian performs a thorough physical examination to ensure your pet is healthy enough for surgery. We also review any recommended pre-anesthetic bloodwork to help identify concerns that may not be visible during the physical exam.
Anesthesia and Monitoring
Once your pet is comfortably asleep under anesthesia, a dedicated team member closely monitors their heart rate, breathing, blood pressure, oxygen levels, body temperature, and other vital signs throughout the procedure to help keep them safe from start to finish.
Intravenous (IV) fluids are available as an optional service during anesthesia. If elected, IV fluids help support blood pressure, hydration, and circulation while your pet is under anesthesia. Your veterinarian can discuss whether this option is appropriate for your pet and answer any questions you may have before the procedure.
The Procedure
Your veterinarian performs the spay or neuter procedure using sterile surgical techniques. Every patient receives individualized anesthesia and pain management tailored to their age, health, and specific needs.
Recovery
After surgery, your pet recovers in a warm, quiet area where our team continues to monitor them as they wake up from anesthesia. We make sure they're comfortable, alert, and recovering appropriately before they go home.
Going Home
When your pet is ready for discharge, we'll review home care instructions with you, discuss medications, answer any questions, and schedule any recommended follow-up care. We'll also let you know what is normal during recovery and what signs would warrant giving us a call.
Every member of our team treats your pet as if they were our own. From admission to discharge, our focus is on providing compassionate care, effective pain control, and a safe surgical experience.
Common Myths About Spaying and Neutering
There is a lot of information—and misinformation—about spaying and neutering. Here are a few of the questions we hear most often.
"My female pet should have one litter before being spayed."
There is no medical benefit to allowing a pet to have a litter before being spayed. In fact, for many pets, spaying before the first heat cycle offers the greatest protection against mammary (breast) cancer.
"Neutering will change my pet's personality."
Neutering doesn't change who your pet is. Your dog's playful, affectionate, or goofy personality will still be there. What may change are behaviors that are driven by reproductive hormones, such as roaming, urine marking, or mounting.
"My pet will automatically become overweight after surgery.
Spaying and neutering can slightly reduce your pet's calorie needs, but weight gain isn't inevitable. Maintaining a healthy weight comes down to appropriate nutrition, regular exercise, and routine monitoring.
"My pet is an indoor pet, so they don't need to be spayed or neutered."
Even pets who spend most of their lives indoors benefit from the health advantages of spaying and neutering. While an indoor lifestyle greatly reduces the chance of an accidental litter, it doesn't protect against conditions like pyometra, mammary cancer, testicular cancer, or prostate disease. And as many pet owners have discovered, even the most dedicated escape artist only needs one open door or window.
"Spaying and neutering are only about preventing puppies and kittens."
Preventing unwanted litters is certainly important, but it's only one piece of the picture. These procedures can also help prevent serious medical conditions, reduce hormone-driven behaviors, and contribute to a healthier, safer life for many pets.
Ready to Talk About Spaying or Neutering?
Spaying or neutering your pet is one of the most important decisions you can make for your pet’s long-term health and well-being. Beyond preventing unwanted litters, these procedures offer protection against serious diseases and help create a happier, more stable home life.
If you’re considering spaying or neutering your pet, or have questions about the procedure, timing, recovery, or whether surgery is the right fit for your pet, we’re here to help. Every pet is unique, and we’re happy to guide you through the best options for your furry family member.
Call Cheney Veterinary Clinic at (509) 235-6860 to schedule an appointment with one of our veterinarians. We’d love to talk through your pet’s lifestyle, health, and your goals so we can make a plan together.
Planning ahead? September is Spay & Neuter Month at Cheney Veterinary Clinic! Throughout the month of September, we're offering 25% off routine spay and neuter procedures to help make this important preventive surgery even more accessible.
RESOURCES
1: Overley B, Shofer FS, Goldschmidt MH, Sherer D, Sorenmo KU. Association between ovarihysterectomy and feline mammary carcinoma. J Vet Intern Med. 2005 Jul-Aug;19(4):560-3. doi: 10.1892/0891-6640(2005)19[560:aboafm]2.0.co;2. PMID: 16095174.
2: Gobello C, de la Sota RL, Goya RG. A review of canine pseudocyesis. Reprod Domest Anim. 2001 Dec;36(6):283-8. doi: 10.1046/j.1439-0531.2001.00322.x. PMID: 11928922.
3: Schneider R, Dorn CR, Taylor DON. Factors Influencing Canine Mammary Cancer Development and Postsurgical Survival.Journal of the National Cancer Institute. 1969;43(6):1249–1261.
