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What do "spay" and "neuter" mean? — 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 scrotum is not removed, only the testicles. 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.

When and how often can animals breed? — 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!

Should my female have a litter before she is spayed? — There is no medical evidence to justify allowing an animal to have a litter before spaying. In fact, the evidence shows that females spayed before their first heat are typically healthier. Spaying eliminates the possibility of developing cancers and infections associated with the reproductive organs.

Will my animal’s behavior be changed by surgery? — Behavior changes as a result of sterilization surgery are positive. Male cats reduce territorial spraying. Neutered animals fight less and do not wander in search of a mate.

Will spaying/neutering make my dog less "protective" or make my male pet feel like "less" of a male? — 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 more by genetics and his environment than by sex hormones so neutering will not change a pet's basic personality or make him suffer any kind of emotional reaction or identity crisis.

Will my animal gain weight after this surgery? — Weight gain is more a product of exercise, nutrition and aging, not neutering. Your pet will remain fit and trim as long as you continue to provide exercise and monitor food intake.

Can a brother and sister from the same litter mate? — A brother and sister from the same litter can create their own litters as early as four to six months of age if not spayed and neutered.

How soon can an animal get pregnant or father a litter? — Female cats can breed as early as 4 months; dogs as early as 6 months! To avoid those “accidental” litters, Pets In Stitches endorses juvenile spay and neuter starting at 8 weeks of age.

Will neutering my male cat stop him from spraying? — 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 six to eight weeks after surgery.

Why neuter my male animal? — Males can impregnate many females, many times during the year. Neutered males experience a decreased risk of reproductive organ cancers and infections.

Can they drink water all night before surgery? — Yes

It is very cold (hot) outside, is it OK to do surgery? — The anesthetics used in the surgical process tend to disturb the animal’s natural ability to regulate body temperature. Animals must remain indoors for seven days after surgery, in a temperature-controlled environment suitable for their human companions.

How long does the surgery take? — It depends on the animal; most surgeries are completed in 20 minutes or less.

Is it safe? — With any surgical procedure there is always risk but we take every step possible to minimize risks for your pets. Pets are constantly monitoring by hand and with specialized monitoring equipment during surgery. Pets In Stitches uses an anesthetic protocol that is widely accepted in our field. Licensed veterinarians perform the surgery while the pet is under full anesthesia. Your pet will stay at our clinic for the day so we will be able to observe them to be sure they are doing well.

Is the procedure painful? — Surgical sterilization is performed under general anesthesia with additional pain medication administered by a licensed doctor of veterinary medicine. The animal is asleep during the procedure, and may experience mild discomfort after surgery. Most animals return to normal activity within 24 to 72 hours. Pain medication is also offered for home use at an additional cost.

Do you send them home with pain medication? — They receive pain medication before surgery. In addition to that, you can purchase take-home pain medication for use after surgery.

Do you give vaccinations? — Yes, but only at the time of surgery. We are required to administer a rabies vaccination if your pet does not have a current one. We will administer additional vaccinations on the day of surgery at your request.

What vaccinations can I get?—

• Vaccinations for cats – rabies, feline distemper, or feline leukemia
• Vaccinations for dogs – rabies, distemper/parvovirus, or kennel cough (kennel cough is a non-fatal virus that usually results in nasty coughing for a few weeks and then goes away, often recommended for dogs that board, go to a groomer, or are around a lot of other dogs such as at a park.) 

Can I come in for just a rabies shot? — No, we can only give vaccinations at the time of surgery.

Do you microchip? — Yes, but only at the time of surgery.

How old do animals have to be? — Two months and two pounds. Pets can become parents sooner than you think! If you are not sure how much your kitten or puppy weighs, please bring him to our clinic and we will be happy to do a weight check for you. It is a myth that you can't spay and neuter kittens and puppies when they're so young - they actually bounce back from surgery very quickly! Juvenile spay and neuter is safe and is less stressful on the animal than waiting until he's older.

When do they start coming in heat? — They usually reach sexual maturity at about six months.

How long are they in heat? — It really depends on the animal.

How long are they pregnant? — 63 days.

Can you fix them while they’re pregnant? — Yes. The surgery will terminate the pregnancy. There are no additional charges, unless the female is at or past 30 days gestation. A fee is then charged to cover the cost of the required IV fluids to prevent complications.

Is it dangerous if they’re in heat/pregnant? — There is a higher risk if they are in heat or pregnant. If you can wait until they are no longer in heat to bring them in, that’s the best. If they are pregnant, the sooner you can bring them in, the better.

How soon after they have a litter can they be fixed? — For dogs, the mother has to stop lactating before we can do 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 six 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. This minimizes complications that milk production can cause.

What is the recovery period like? — The recovery period is seven to ten days. You need to restrict their activity and keep them indoors. You also need to watch their incision closely. We will give you Postoperative Care Instructions when you pick your pet up.

Do cats need special litter boxes after surgery? — Male cats should use shredded newspaper instead of litter for three to four days after surgery. This helps prevent irritation to the surgical incisions form the clay litter dust particles.

What is that green mark? — That is a tattoo, to identify that your pet has been spayed/neutered.

Should I be worried that my dog/cat is licking his/her incision? — Yes. You should bring them in for us to take a look at them? We are available for rechecks Monday through Thursday or follow the emergency contact instructions in After Surgery.

What should I do to keep my dog/cat from licking his/her incision? — You can purchase an Elizabethan collar from us or a pet store.

Why can you do this so cheaply? — Pets in Stitches is a streamlined practice. Unlike a private veterinarian who provides a full medical service, we are single focused. Pets In Stitches perform spay and neuter surgery and basic vaccinations and testing only. Anytime a business has a single focus, it can better maintain its overhead costs.