Although spay and neuter surgeries are the most common elective procedures that veterinarians perform, many pet owners still do not understand what the surgeries actually involve. To clear up any confusion about spay and neuter surgeries, our Advanced Veterinary Care of Pasco team outlines the ins and outs of these procedures. 

The basics of spay and neuter surgeries for pets

Although different regions use different terminology for sterilization surgeries, we stick with spay and neuter, the traditional terms. First, before we explain what happens to your pet when they are spayed or neutered, we want you to understand the difference between the two surgeries.

  • Spay — A spay, or ovariohysterectomy (OVH), is performed on female cats and dogs. Both ovaries and the uterus are removed to prevent pregnancy, heat cycles, and various reproductive tract disorders, such as a pyometra (i.e., uterine infection) or cancer.
  • Neuter — A neuter—often called a castration in the large animal world—entails removing both testicles. In some cases, the scrotum is also removed to prevent a scrotal hematoma, where the scrotum fills with blood and fluid after a neuter surgery.

Preparing for a spay or neuter surgery

Before your pet undergoes anesthesia for any reason, our team performs a comprehensive pre-anesthetic assessment that includes a physical exam and blood work. We may also recommend additional diagnostic testing, such as checking clotting factors, to ensure your pet is healthy.

Once we’ve evaluated your pet’s test results, we formulate the safest possible anesthetic protocol according to their individual health status. We start with a basic formula and then tweak drugs and dosages to ensure your pet feels no pain or anxiety before, during, or after their surgery.

To prepare your pet for surgery and general anesthesia, we first administer a cocktail of pain medication and tranquilizer that helps them relax and allows for smoother anesthetic induction and optimal pain control. We also place an intravenous (IV) catheter to provide venous access for drug and fluid administration. 

Next, we induce anesthesia and place an endotracheal tube (ETT), which protects your pet’s airway, and allows us to administer fresh oxygen and anesthetic gas to make your pet unconscious. We also apply various monitoring equipment, such as an electrocardiograph (ECG), pulse oximeter, blood pressure cuff, and thermometer. Because your pet must be hooked up to a multitude of monitoring devices, they are never left alone during their anesthesia—our highly trained team is our most valuable monitoring equipment.

Undergoing a spay or neuter surgery

Once your pet is safely anesthetized, we prepare the site for surgery.

  • Female pets — In female pets, we shave the abdomen, typically making a rectangle that extends from the umbilicus to the pelvis, where we will make the incision.
  • Male dogs — In male dogs, we will shave a small area close above their scrotum, unless they are undergoing a scrotal ablation, which requires shaving all around the scrotum.
  • Male cats — In male cats, we will “pluck” the fur from their scrotum to prevent irritation and razor burn.

We then scrub the surgical area to remove fur and dirt, and our veterinary surgeon dons sterile attire. We place surgical drapes over your pet to create a sterile field, and begin the procedure.

  • Female pets — In female pets, we make a single incision in the middle of the abdomen through which we exteriorize and remove the ovaries and the uterus. After we remove the reproductive organs, we close the incision with sutures.

Neuter surgeries vary, based on the species.

  • Male dogs — In dogs, we make one pre-scrotal incision, through which both testicles are removed. The incision is then sutured closed. In some cases, such as with large or older dogs, the scrotum is also removed (i.e., scrotal ablation) to prevent a scrotal hematoma from forming.
  • Male cats — In male cats, we typically make an incision in the scrotum over each testicle. These incisions are left open and the cat heals rapidly, provided they do not lick at the area and remain inactive.

Recovering from a spay or neuter surgery

Once your pet’s surgery is complete, we recover them from anesthesia. We monitor their recovery as closely as we did while they were anesthetized and stay by their side until they are fully conscious. We keep a sharp eye out for pain or anxiety signs so we can administer medication to keep them comfortable.

When your pet is discharged, we will provide postoperative instructions that outline how long they need to stay inactive, and what you should watch for when checking the incision site. Depending on your pet’s surgery, they may need to return for suture removal, or the sutures will dissolve on their own. The keys to a successful postoperative recovery are inactivity and prevention of licking at the incision.

If you have questions about your pet’s upcoming spay or neuter procedure, give our Advanced Veterinary Care of Pasco team a call to discuss your concerns. We are always more than happy to outline the ins and outs of the procedure to put your mind at ease before the big day.