Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. The surgery will terminate the pregnancy. There may be additional  charges if later in the pregnancy. A fee is then charged to cover the cost of the required intravenous fluids to prevent complications and the extra time the surgery entails. You can see these fees on a our Pet Services page.

Dog Services

Cat Services

Approximately 63 days.

Female cats can breed three times a year and have an average of four kittens per litter. Dogs can breed twice a year and have an average of six to ten puppies per litter. Female cats can breed as early as four months of age and dogs as early as six months of age. To avoid those accidental litters, Pets In Stitches endorses spay and neuter starting at four months of age.

We recommend four to five months of age for cats and most dogs. The decision for some dogs, especially large and giant breed dogs, can be a little more complicated. Please read our blog for more information.

For dogs, the mother has to stop lactating before we can do the spaying surgery. This is typically two weeks after the puppies stop nursing completely.

For mother cats, we can do the surgery when the kittens are at least four weeks old. Lactating cats may undergo a flank spay where the reproductive organs are removed though an incision on the side of the abdomen rather than the  underside.

There is a higher risk if your pet is in heat or is pregnant. If you can  wait until they are no longer in heat to bring them in, that’s the best choice. If they are pregnant, schedule their appointment as soon as possible.

There is no medical evidence to justify the advantage of allowing an animal to have a litter before spaying. Spaying eliminates the possibility of developing cancers and infections associated with the reproductive organs.

Females are spayed and males are neutered. In females, the uterus and ovaries are removed through a small incision in the abdominal wall. Females are then unable to get pregnant. In males, the testicles are removed, leaving the scrotum intact. Removal of the testicles prevents production of sperm and the male will no longer be able to father puppies or kittens 30 days after the surgery. To learn more, read our blog on the Benefits of Spaying and Neutering.

They usually reach sexual maturity between four and six months. The length of heat depends on the animal.

Males can impregnate many females, many times during the year, which contributes to the pet over-population crisis. Intact males are more likely to roam and participate in fights with other animals. Neutered males also experience a decreased risk of reproductive organ cancers, enlargements, and infections.

In some cases, for dogs, we recommend a vasectomy instead of a traditional neuter or to wait until the dog is older. You may learn more by reading our blog.

Weight gain is more a product of exercise, nutrition and aging, than spaying or neutering. Your pet will remain fit and trim as long as you continue to provide exercise and monitor food intake.

For best results, neuter males before they reach six months of age. If a cat is currently spraying, neutering may help to curb this behavior within eight weeks after surgery.

Spaying or neutering does not affect a pet’s natural instinct to protect the home and the family. Pets do not have any concept of sexual identity or ego. A pet’s personality is formed by genetics and his environment rather than by sex hormones so neutering will not change a pet’s basic personality.