| Spaying your Dog | Spaying your Cat |
| Castrating your Dog | Castrating your Cat |
| Teeth Cleaning in Dogs & Cats | Declawing your Cat |
General Information
Ovariohysterectomy is the medical term for spaying or neutering a
female dog. The procedure consists of surgical removal of the
ovaries and uterus. If the ovaries are not removed, the bothersome
heat periods still occur even though pregnancy is impossible.
Surgery is usually performed at 6 months of age.
Though it is routinely performed, ovariohysterectomy is major
abdominal surgery requiring general anesthesia and sterile
operating technique.
Prevention of pregnancy and heat periods are the main reason for
the surgery, but the procedure is often necessary in treating
severe uterine infections; ovarian or uterine tumors, and some
hormonal skin disorders.
What are the Advantages?
There will be no more heat periods. There will be no unwanted
puppies. Pyometritis, a serious uterine infections will not occur.
Mammary gland cancer seldom develops in dogs spayed before their
first heat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will it make my dog fat and lazy? -- No. Obesity is due to
excessive calorie intake. Weight can be controlled with proper
feeding and exercise.
Will it change her personality, disposition or intelligence? -- No.
Dogs' personalities do not fully develop until 1-2 years of age.
If there is a personality change in a dog neutered at a young age,
it would have occurred without surgery.
Shouldn't my dog have a litter first? -- No. There is no advantage
in allowing your dog to have a litter of puppies.
Are there any problems associated with spaying? -- A very small
percentage of dogs have trouble holding their urine as they become
older. This can be controlled with medication.
Surgery? I'm scared!
With advances in sterile technique and gas anesthesia, veterinary
surgery is extremely safe, and every precaution before, during and
after surgery will be taken. Dr. Martinson, our staff surgeon, has
18 years of experience in the operating room and has performed this
procedure several thousand times. Also, we do this procedure as an
outpatient surgery. Our patients usually go home the day of their
surgery. There are, however, a few simple procedures you can carry
out at home to minimize risks and prevent unnecessary problems.
Important Considerations Before Surgery:
Good nutrition is very important to reduce surgical stress and aids
prompt recovery. If you have not already done so, discuss your
dog's diet with the doctor or veterinart technician.
Your dog should be free of intestinal parasites (worms) and all
vaccinations should be current before surgery. If you are in doubt,
check with your doctor or veterinary technician before surgery.
If your dog is in heat, it is best to delay surgery until her heat
period is over. A dog in heat usually requires a bigger incision
and has a small additional risk of hemorrhage. A spay should be a
routine procedure. Let's keep it that way
If your dog is taking medication or has an existing health problem,
inform the doctor or veterinary technician before surgery.
Anesthetics are best given on an empty stomach. Do not feed your
pet for 8 hours before surgery. Water may be given up to 1 hour
before surgery.
Exercise your dog before bringing her to the hospital, making sure
she urinates and moves her bowels. Exercise her again when you
arrive at the hospital.
Important Considerations After Surgery:
Restrict your dog's activity for 7 days after surgery.
Notify the Doctor if Any of the Following Occur:
If there is swelling, redness or drainage at the incision. Your dog
licks or chews the incision. Your dog refuses to eat or seems
depressed after the first day home. There is a change in your dog's
general health.
Other things you need to know:
Dr. Martinson has developed a technique that requires a very small
incision. All of the sutures are buried and dissolve after several
weeks. As a result most dogs spayed at the Range Animal Hospital do
not need to return for suture removal. We will tell you if your
dog is one of the few that does.
our dog will be admitted between 8AM and 9AM the day of her
surgery. Most dogs go home the same day between 4PM and 5PM.
I hope this information helps you, and please call 932-3531 or
1-888-380-6319 (toll free) for an appointment, if you have any
questions, or if you need a price quote.
Click here to return to the top of the page
General Information
Castration is the surgical removal of the testicles. Such surgery
is performed to eliminate sexual activities and render the dog
sterile. Castration usually (but not always) reduces a dog's
tendency to roam and fight. The general level of aggression may
also be reduced. However, castration is not a replacement for
obedience training by the owner.
In older dogs, castration may be necessary due to diseases of the
testicles or prostate gland.
What are the Advantages?
A castrated dog is less likely to wander off and get into trouble.
A male dog's annoying sexual behavior will likely be eliminated.
Prostate disease is almost unheard of in castrated dogs.
Testicular disease cannot occur.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will it make my dog fat and lazy? -- No. Obesity is due to
excessive calorie intake. Weight can be controlled with proper
feeding and exercise.
Will it change his personality, disposition or intelligence? -- No.
Dogs' personalities do not fully develop until 1-2 years of age.
If there is a personality change in a dog neutered at a young age,
it would have occurred without surgery.
Will it affect his hunting ability. No. Only sexual behavior is
regulated by the testicles. Hunting instinct is not.
Surgery? I'm Scared!
With advances in sterile technique and gas anesthesia, veterinary
surgery is extremely safe, and every precaution before, during and
after surgery will be taken. Dr. Martinson, our staff surgeon, has
18 years of experience in the operating room and has performed this
procedure several thousand times. Also, we do this procedure as an
outpatient surgery. Our patients usually go home the day of their
surgery. There are, however, a few simple procedures you can carry
out at home to minimize risks and prevent unnecessary problems.
Important Considerations Before Surgery:
Good nutrition is very important to reduce surgical stress and aids
prompt recovery. If you have not already done so, discuss your
dog's diet with the doctor or veterinary technician.
Your dog should be free of intestinal parasites (worms) and all
vaccinations should be current before surgery. If you are in doubt,
check with your doctor or veterinary technician before surgery.
If your dog is taking medication or has an existing health problem,
inform the doctor or veterinary technician before surgery.
Anesthetics are best given on an empty stomach. Do not feed your
pet for 8 hours before surgery. Water may be given up to 1 hour
before surgery.
Exercise your dog before bringing his to the hospital, making sure
he urinates and moves his bowels. Exercise him again when you
arrive at the hospital.
Important Considerations After Surgery:
Restrict your dog's activity for 5 days after surgery.
Notify the Doctor if Any of the Following Occur:
If there is swelling, redness or drainage at the incision. Your dog
licks or chews the incision. Your dog refuses to eat or seems
depressed after the first day home. There is a change in your dog's
general health.
Other things you need to know:
Dr. Martinson's technique requires no external sutures. All of the
sutures are buried and dissolve after several weeks. As a result
most dogs castrated at the Range Animal Hospital do not need to
return for suture removal. We will tell you if your dog is one of
the few that does.
Your dog will be admitted between 8AM and 9AM the day of his
surgery. Most dogs go home the same day between 4PM and 5PM.
I hope this information helps you, and please call 932-3531 or
1-888-380-6319 (toll free) for an appointment, if you have any
questions, or of you need a price quote.
Click here to return to the top of the page
General Information
Ovariohysterectomy is the medical term for spaying or neutering a
female cat. The procedure consists of surgical removal of the
ovaries and uterus. If the ovaries are not removed, the bothersome
heat periods still occur even though pregnancy is impossible.
Surgery is usually performed at 6 to 9 months of age.
Though it is routinely performed, ovariohysterectomy is major
abdominal surgery requiring general anesthesia and sterile
operating technique.
Prevention of pregnancy and heat periods is the main reason for the
surgery, but the procedure is often necessary in treating uterine
infections; ovarian or uterine tumors, and some skin hormonal
disorders.
What are the Advantages?
There will be no more heat periods. There will be no unwanted
kittens. Pyometritis, a severe uterine infection will not occur.
Mammary gland cancer seldom develops in cats spayed before their
first heat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will it make my cat fat and lazy? -- No. Obesity is due to
excessive calorie intake. Weight can be controlled with proper
feeding and exercise.
Will it change her personality, disposition or intelligence? -- No.
Cats' personalities do not fully develop until 1 year of age. If
there is a personality change in a cat neutered at a young age, it
would have occurred without surgery.
Shouldn't my cat have a litter first? -- No. There is no advantage
in allowing your cat to have a litter of kittens, and there are
far too mony unwanted kittens born each year.
Surgery? I'm scared!
With advances in sterile technique and in anesthesia, veterinary
surgery is extremely safe, and every precaution before, during and
after surgery will be taken. Dr. Martinson, our staff surgeon, has
18 years of experience in the operating room and has performed this
procedure thousands of times. There are, however, a few simple
procedures you can carry out at home to minimize risks and prevent
unnecessary problems.
Important Considerations Before Surgery:
Good nutrition is very important to reduce surgical stress and aids
prompt recovery. If you have not already done so, discuss your
cat's diet with the doctor or veterinary technician.
Your cat should be free of intestinal parasites (worms) and all
vaccinations should be current before surgery. If you are in doubt,
check with your doctor or veterinary technician before surgery.
If your cat is in heat, it is best to delay surgery until her heat
period is over. A cat in heat usually requires a bigger incision
and has a small additional risk of hemorrhage. A spay should be a
routine procedure. Let's keep it that way
If your cat is taking medication or has an existing health problem,
inform the doctor or veterinary technician before surgery.
Anesthetics are best given on an empty stomach. Do not feed your
cat for 8 hours before surgery. Water may be given up to 1 hour
before surgery.
Important Considerations After Surgery:
Restrict your cat's activity for 7 days after surgery.
Notify the Doctor if Any of the Following Occur:
If there is swelling, redness or drainage at the incision. Your cat
licks or chews the incision. Your cat refuses to eat or seems
depressed after the first day home. There is a change in your cat's
general health.
Other things you need to know:
Dr. Martinson has developed a technique that requires a very small
incision. All of the sutures are buried and dissolve after several
weeks. As a result most cats spayed at the Range Animal Hospital do
not need to return for suture removal. We will tell you if your
cat is one of the few that does.
Your cat will be admitted between 8AM and 9AM the day of her
surgery. She will go home the following day between 8AM and 5PM, or
9AM and noon if it is Saturday.
I hope this information helps you, and please call 932-3531 or
1-888-380-6319 (toll free) for an appointment, if you have any
questions, or if you need a price quote.
Click here to return to the top of the page
General Information
Castration is the medical term for neutering a male cat. The
procedure consists of surgical removal of the testicles. When a cat
is castrated just before sexual maturity at 9 months of age, the
cat's sexual instincts are reduced, and he becomes sterile. He will
however keep his natural hunting instincts. The strong odor of a
male cat is also reduced. Surgery is usually performed between 6
and 9 months of age.
Though it is routinely performed, castration does require general
anesthesia. Recovery is generally uneventful, the hospital stay
short, and aftercare is minimal.
What are the Advantages?
There will be a lesser tendency to spray urine in the house. There
will be less desire to go out "Catting" and come home injured from
fighting. There is a decreased urine odor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will it make my cat fat and lazy? -- No. Obesity is due to
excessive calorie intake. Weight can be controlled with proper
feeding and exercise.
Will it change his personality, disposition or intelligence? -- No.
Cats' personalities do not fully develop until 1 year of age. If
there is a personality change in a cat neutered at a young age, it
would have occurred without surgery.
Surgery? I'm scared!
With advances in surgery and anesthesia, veterinary surgery is
extremely safe, and every precaution before, during and after
surgery will be taken. Dr. Martinson, our staff surgeon, has 18
years of experience in the operating room and has performed this
procedure thousands of times. There are, however, a few simple
procedures you can carry out at home to minimize risks and prevent
unnecessary problems.
Important Considerations Before Surgery:
Good nutrition is very important to reduce surgical stress and aids
prompt recovery. If you have not already done so, discuss your
cat's diet with the doctor or veterinary technician.
Your cat should be free of intestinal parasites (worms) and all
vaccinations should be current before surgery. If you are in doubt,
check with your doctor or veterinary technician before surgery.
If your cat is taking medication or has an existing health problem,
inform the doctor or veterinary technician before surgery.
Anesthetics are best given on an empty stomach. Do not feed your
cat for 8 hours before surgery. Water may be given up to 1 hour
before surgery.
Important Considerations After Surgery:
Restrict your cat's activity for 2 days after surgery.
Notify the Doctor if Any of the Following Occur:
If there is swelling, redness or drainage at the incision. Your cat
licks or chews the incision. Your cat refuses to eat or seems
depressed after the first day home. There is blood in his urine or
bleeding from the insision area. There is a change in your cat's
general health.
Other things you need to know:
Dr. Martinson's technique requires very small incisions and there
are no external sutures. As a result cats castrated at the Range
Animal Hospital do not need to return for suture removal.
Your cat will be admitted between 8AM and 9AM the day of his
surgery. He will go home the following day between 8AM and 5PM, or
9AM and noon if it is Saturday.
I hope this information helps you, and please call 932-3531 or
1-888-380-6319 (toll free) for an appointment, if you have any
questions, or you need a price quote.
Click here to return to the top of the page
General Information
Scratching with the front claws is normal, instinctive behavior for
cats. The purpose of this activity is to remove old, worn fragments
of nails. Though scratching is normal for cats, this behavior can
be destructive and costly in the home. For many cat owners,
declawing is the only solution.
A declawed cat should be confined indoors as much as possible,
since the claws are its primary means of defense. As long as the
rear claws remain, they can still climb trees. A house cat has
little need for defense and is a more suitable pet because it can
no longer ruin furnishings or scratch people. Cats that have all 4
feet declawed must be indoor pets for the rest of their lives or go
outside only under very close supervision.
The Surgical Procedure
Declawing (onychectomy) is performed under general anesthesia and
consists of surgical removal of the nail bed. The feet are usually
bandaged, and the cat is usually hospitalized overnight. After the
bandages are removed, your pet will be able to walk normally,
though tenderness may be evident for a few days or more.
Surgery? I'm scared!
With advances in surgery and anesthesia, veterinary surgery is
extremely safe, and every precaution before, during and after
surgery will be taken. Dr. Martinson, our staff surgeon, has 18
years of experience in the operating room and has performed this
procedure thousands of times. There are, however, a few simple
procedures you can carry out at home to minimize risks and prevent
unnecessary problems.
Important Considerations Before Surgery:
This procedure can be done at any time in a cat's life, but they
seem to recover more quickly if it is done while they are young,
that is 10 to 16 weeks old.
Good nutrition is very important to reduce surgical stress and aids
prompt recovery. If you have not already done so, discuss your
cat's diet with the doctor or veterinary technician.
Your cat should be free of intestinal parasites (worms) and all
vaccinations should be current before surgery. If you are in doubt,
check with your doctor or veterinary technician before surgery.
If your cat is taking medication or has an existing health problem,
inform the doctor or vet tech before surgery.
Anesthetics are best given on an empty stomach. Do not feed your
cat for 8 hours before surgery. Water may be given up to 1 hour
before surgery.
Important Considerations After Surgery:
Exercise: Restricting exercise is difficult. However, you should
prevent your cat from jumping as much as possible for the first 5
days.
Bleeding: Occasionally a cat breaks open one of the small scabs
where the nail was removed. A few drops of blood is OK, but the
bleeding usually stops quickly. Call the doctor if bleeding
persists.
Litter Box: Replace the normal granular clay litter with torn
strips of newspaper or a pelleted paper litter for 10 days.
Bandages: They can be removed 1 or 2 days after the cat is released
from the hospital.
Notify the Hospital if any of the Following Occur:
Your cat's feet appear swollen or bleed frequently. Your pet is
reluctant to walk. There is a change in your cat's general health
or behavior. Your cat refuses to eat or seems depressed after the
first day home.
Other things you need to know:
Dr. Martinson's technique requires no sutures. As a result cats
declawed at the Range Animal Hospital do not need to return for
suture removal.
Your cat will be admitted between 8AM and 9AM the day of the
surgery. It will likely go home the following day between 8AM and
5PM, or 9AM and noon if it is Saturday.
I hope this information helps you, and please call 932-3531 or
1-888-380-6319 (toll free) for an appointment, if you have any
questions, or need a price quote.
Cleaning your Dog or Cat's Teeth
This portion is under construction; check back at a later date.
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Revised 5-2-02