Spaying and Neutering for Pets

An unexpected litter of puppies or kittens can be difficult to take care of. Even changes in your pet’s behaviour while they’re in heat can be a lot to handle. Spay and neutering helps curb your pet’s ability to reproduce, and also limits the numbers of unwanted pets that end up in shelters. Please consider allowing our team to perform this procedure earlier in your pet’s life. If you have questions about the procedure, please connect with our team at 403-335-3519.

What happens in a spay/neuter procedure?

Your pet will need to go under anesthesia for their procedure. Before we give your pet anesthesia, we will run a series of tests to make sure they will not be negatively affected by the drug. The purpose of the anesthesia is to make sure your pet is completely asleep during surgery and unable to move. Your pet will have surgery to remove their reproductive organs. For male pets, their testicles are removed, which stop them from producing sperm. For female pets, their uterus and ovaries are removed, which prevents them from mothering puppies or kittens.

Will my pet be in pain post-surgery?

Your pet might feel pain after the surgery but we develop a pain management plan to minimize any discomfort your pet might feel. This includes prescribing medication that you’ll be instructed to help your pet with as well as signs of pain you should look for. These might include your pet:

• Attempting to chew or lick their surgical wound
• Seeming less social and not wanting to interact
• Shaking or trembling frequently
• Whining throughout the day or more than usual
• Sitting or laying down in an unusual manner

What type of care will my pet need after they get fixed?

Spaying and neutering is a major surgery for your pet. Try your best to make them as comfortable as possible. Be sure to monitor the incision area (the tummy for female pets and near the scrotum for male pets) to check that your pet isn’t licking or biting it. If they do, this could cause infections and complicate the recovery process.