Dog Spay Information

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Spaying your female dog is one way of contributing to the good health and long life of your pet, while preventing increases in the population of unwanted pets. The best age to perform this procedure is controversial and Dr. Zimmerman is happy to discuss various options and theories. The incidence of breast cancer decreases with spaying and the possibility of ovarian cancer and a uterine infection are eliminated once the procedure is performed.
In order to protect your pet and other pets in the hospital, we require that all dogs be current on vaccinations for Rabies, Distemper, Parvovirus, and Bordetella, be on heartworm preventative, and have had a negative fecal exam within 1 year. We also require a pre-anesthetic blood screening to check for anemia, liver disease, and kidney disease. These diseases can affect the amount or type of anesthesia used. A physical exam will be performed prior to anesthesia. If fleas are noted, your pet will be treated to prevent the spread of fleas to other patients and to prevent contamination of the surgical site.
Canine spaying (ovarian hysterectomy) involves the removal of the ovaries and uterus through an abdominal incision. The pet is under general gas anesthesia, and the procedure is performed in a sterile operating room with a warm water heat pad and monitoring equipment. As with any general anesthesia, there is a small chance of complications. Most dogs are ready to go home the same day as the surgery. Some dogs require skin sutures and some are given a buried line of sutures just below the skin. If your dog receives skin sutures, a suture removal appointment should be scheduled for 7 to 10 days post operatively.
The spay price includes medications for pain relief, sedation, anesthetic induction (IV), anesthetic maintenance (gas inhalation), IV fluid therapy with an infusion pump, warm water heating pads, respiratory, cardiac, and oxygen saturation monitors, the surgical procedure, and one day in the hospital.