Spaying is a routine major surgery that involves the removal of ovaries and uterus in female animals with an entry made into the abdominal cavity. 

Spaying is carried out under a general anaesthetic. It is worth noting that all anaesthetics and surgical procedures have an element of risk although spaying is a routine and commonly performed procedure. Spaying is usually a day surgery carried out on animals above 6 months old and full recovery is expected in 2 weeks. There is generally minimal care required post-surgery.

Should I spay my cat/dog?

If you have no intention to breed your pet, or show your female dog, then you should spay your dog. There are also no medical or emotional reasons for a female dog to feel complete by “having one litter”. If you are unable to find committed caretakers for the puppies, you may be contributing to the population of unwanted animals. 

Will spaying make my cat/ dog fat and lazy?

It is not true as the most common cause of obesity in healthy animals is overfeeding and insufficient exercise. Weight gain has not been scientifically proven to cause obesity in animals.

What are the benefits of spaying?

Health benefits include:

• prevention/reduction of mammary cancer, pyometra (potentially life threatening uterus infection)
• prevention of testicular and peri-anal tumours and perineal hernia.

Convenience:

• Prevention of accidental pregnancies and unwanted litters.
• Prevention of noisy cats in heat and bloody vaginal discharge in dogs.
• Prevent/reduce female cats from urine marking/spraying.

When to spay?

It is not advisable to spay your pet when they are pregnant, on heat or just at the start of her heat. During these periods, the uterus becomes more friable and are also susceptible to bleeding, therefore increasing the surgical risks. It would lengthen the time of surgery as well as the incision length. An overweight animal also makes the surgery more time consuming and difficult. Under such situations, there would also be extra charges to the surgery.

It is recommended to spay an animal before the first heat when it is in an optimal body condition.

What will its character be like?

Without hormones that may cause mood swings, spayed females tend to have more even temperaments. 

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