About the Spay Procedure For Dogs and Cats

Spaying refers to the surgical procedure performed on female dogs and cats to render them infertile. There are many benefits to spaying your female companion. First, you will contribute to the prevention of dog and cat overpopulation. Second, spaying will eliminate the sometimes ‘messy’ heat cycles that attract male dogs to your house from miles away. Third, you will help prevent diseases in your pet, such as pyometra (infection in the uterus) and mammary cancer. Spaying involves the surgical removal of both ovaries and the uterus. It can be performed under several anesthetics and monitoring devices.

If you are shopping around for a competitive price on this procedure, be sure to question the type of anesthetic used and the monitoring equipment and procedures followed. Animal Medical of New City uses several monitoring devices during your pet’s anesthetic. A registered veterinary technician continually assesses your pet’s vital signs during the procedure. Although the risk of an anesthetic death in a normal healthy pet is very rare, our monitoring devices and procedures allow us to respond to an anesthetic emergency faster. Faster responses can save lives.

Ovariectomy vs. Traditional Spay (Ovariohysterectomy)

Traditionally, veterinarians in the United States have performed ovariohysterectomy (OVH), which removes both the ovaries and the uterus.

This approach developed largely from the belief that removing the uterus was necessary to prevent pyometra, a potentially life-threatening uterine infection.

However, veterinary research and decades of experience in Europe—where ovariectomy (removal of the ovaries only) has been the standard for years—demonstrate that:

• Removing the ovaries alone effectively prevents heat cycles

• Ovariectomy prevents pregnancy

• The risk of pyometra is no greater than with full reproductive tract removal

Because uterine cancer in dogs is extremely rare, leaving the uterus in place poses minimal health risk.

At the same time, traditional OVH surgery can carry a higher risk of complications such as:

• Increased post-operative pain

• Bloody vaginal discharge

• Granuloma formation between the bladder and colon

• Larger surgical incisions

For many dogs, laparoscopic ovariectomy provides the same medical benefits with significantly less surgical trauma.

Benefits of Laparoscopic Spay Surgery for Dogs

Modern laparoscopic surgery offers several advantages compared to traditional spay procedures.

Reduced Pain and Stress

One of the biggest advantages of laparoscopic surgery is the dramatic reduction in post-operative pain.

Because the procedure requires only small incisions and minimal tissue manipulation, dogs typically experience:

• Less inflammation

• Reduced discomfort

• Faster return to normal behavior

Many pets recover much more comfortably than they would after traditional open surgery.