Yes, the surgical procedure can be done at this time for an additional fee. If you think your pet may be in heat and you have any questions and or concerns please call your veterinarian.

There are many factors to consider in selecting the correct time to spay or neuter your pet. Most veterinarians will suggest doing it shortly after the completion of puppy vaccines, which is around five months of age. In the case of male pets it may be an especially good idea to neuter them at this time before they develop bad habits, such as aggression.

Spaying a dog or cat before their first heat cycle virtually eliminates the possibility of the pet getting breast cancer. Neutering will limit the possibility of the pet getting testicular cancer and greatly cut down on prostate problems. Spaying and neutering sterilizes the animal and thus reduces unwanted litters. It also may reduce undesirable behaviors such as spraying, marking, straying, aggression towards other animals and mating behaviors.

You need not wait for your female pet to have her first heat to be spayed. The ideal age for spaying is around 6 months of age.

Spaying before the first heat cycle reduces your pet’s chance of breast cancer to less than 10%. More than one out of every 500 female dogs will get breast cancer if not spayed. No messy “heat” cycles. When a female dog goes into “heat” she has large amounts of foul smelling bloody fluid which leaks from her vulva. This fluid gets all over the furniture and carpet creating a mess. This can last for a 2 week period of time. Fewer mood swings.

We recommend against spaying a dog that is in heat but it can be done. During this time the ovaries and uterus are swollen and filled with blood, increasing the risk of hemorrhage. We prefer to wait until about 4 weeks after your dog goes out of heat to perform surgery. We can spay cats that are in heat. What is a neuter and what are the benefits? Neutering is the surgical removal of both testicles.

There are many reasons why it is important. The main one would be to help prevent the suffering and deaths of millions of animals. Millions of animals (who were once "cute" kittens and puppies) end up suffering as strays, or are euthanized because they are no longer wanted or cared for. Many of these animals are the result of unwanted and/or unplanned litters. Another reason is to have a better behaved animal.

Unspayed females are allowed to participate in daycare if they are not in heat. If they are in heat or come into heat during their stay at The Velvet Snout, they will be removed from the playgroup and placed into their suite where they will receive walks and individual attention. Unneutered males are taken on a case by case basis andare usually not allowed in playgroups but can board.

No. However we can assist with low cost spay/neuter. Please call us or email for more details or visit the Spay/Neuter Your Pet website.