Frequently Asked Questions

Spaying is a general term used to describe the ovariohysterectomy (removal of the ovaries) of a female animal. The ovaries are removed through a small opening in the abdominal wall.  Neutering is a general term used to describe the castration of a male animal.  When an animal is neutered, the testes are removed, but not the scrotum.

Spay or neuter prevents unwanted, unplanned litters.  Each year, millions of dogs and cats are euthanized due to lack of homes.  In addition to being the number one way to combat pet overpopulation, there are many other benefits to spay/neuter:

• Your female won't go into heat!  No more mess or weeks with every intact male in the neighborhood hanging out in your yard.
• Your female cat won't yowl at all hours of the day and night.
• Neutering decreases male and female animals' desire to roam.
• Neutered males have a decreased desire to mark their territory.
• Spaying and neutering decreases the risk of cancers of the breast and eliminates the risk of cancer of the ovaries, and testes.
• Spaying a female eliminates their risk of pyometra (a dangerous uterine infection).
• Your pet will live a longer, healthier life!

Spay/neuter will not change your pet’s  personality. You will likely see some behavior changes – for the better! Spayed and neutered animals are generally less aggressive, more relaxed, and pay more attention to their owners. When the urge to find a mate is eliminated, cats and dogs tend to be calmer and more content. A neutered dog protects his home and family just as well as an intact dog.

Many pets calm down after spay/neuter surgery.  Just like people, pets become overweight when they eat too much and/or exercise too little. A good diet and lots of activity will keep your pet at an ideal weight.

Spraying is most common in unneutered males. Unneutered males usually start spraying or "marking their territory" when they reach sexual maturity (about 6 months). Male cats in multi-cat households or in close proximity to other cats may spray at a younger age. It's best to neuter males before they reach sexual maturity and before they start spraying. If a cat has started spraying neutering may help. It takes about 6-8 weeks for hormones to subside after the neutering so you may not notice an immediate difference.

Dogs and cats must be at least 3 months old and 3 pounds.  

No.  We only offer vaccines at the time of spay/neuter.  If your pet needs wellness services and vaccinations, you will need to visit a full-service veterinarian.

Everyone who uses our clinic receives the lowest price that we are able to offer. There are no additional discounts to rescue groups or shelters.

No.  Declawing can lead to pain and behavioral problems for your cat, please research this procedure before opting to have this done.  Some alternatives to declawing are:

• Make the objects of your cat's scratching affection unattractive.  Some people swear by aluminum foil or double-sided tape on furniture to dissuade scratching.
• Provide good scratching surfaces.  Cat trees and cardboard scratchers allow your cat a safe place to exercise this natural cat behavior. 
• Trim your cat's nails!  Trimmed nails can't do much, if any damage.  Check out this video for more info on how to trim your cat's nails:  https://youtu.be/5YLDQMvskH8
• Apply nail caps.  Nail caps prevent your cat from doing any damage.  They will need to be reapplied regularly and the caps need to be applied to trimmed nails.  If you're having trouble doing this yourself, many groomers offer this as a service.