Spay and Neuter Clinic Welland

Have you thought about having your dog or cat spayed and neutered  recently?  Having your pet spayed or neutered is a smart decision to make as a pet owner. It is a very significant surgical procedure for your pet and require thoughtful planning to ensure your pet has a safe and successful procedure.  If you are planning to schedule your pet for surgery at a spay and neuter clinic there are some very important questions you need to have answered before you choose where the surgery is performed. Even more importantly, which veterinarian is performing the surgery.  Here are some suggestions from our Welland veterinarian to consider when making your decision.

The first question  that’s often asked when clients are looking for a spay neuter clinic is:  What is the cost of the surgery?  This is a very important question to ask.  It’s also important to realize that the cost of surgery often reflects what is included in the service.   Many pet owners would be surprised to learn that the experience that your pet goes through when they undergo surgery can be very different depending on which hospital performs the surgery.

Some important considerations to take into account when you are choosing a spay and neuter clinic include:

1. What type of facility is the procedure being performed in?  Is the hospital clean and organized? Do the staff communicate instructions with you effectively? Can you schedule surgery at a time that’s convenient for you? Will your pet be examined by a veterinarian prior to having surgery performed? Will you have an opportunity to speak with the veterinarian performing your pet’s surgery before surgery?  Do you personally know the veterinarian performing your pet’s surgery?

2.  Does the animal hospital advise that your pet has Pre-Anesthetic Blood Work before surgery? Performing this test ensures that your cat or dog has normal:  liver/ kidney function, blood sugar,protein and electrolyte levels? Checking blood values prior to anesthesia and surgery is standard practice in human medicine to ensure that the procedure is as safe as possible. This is as important for your pet because their safety should be your highest concern.

3.  Does your pet receive Intravenous (I.V.) fluids during their surgery?  I.V. fluids are incredibly important to help maintain blood pressure during surgery, maintain normal body temperature during anesthesia, allow for administration of I.V. medications during surgery and help speed the recovery process from anesthesia.  This is also a standard recommendation for both human and animal anesthetic/surgical procedures.

4. What type of care is your pet receiving when they are in surgery and during recovery?  Careful monitoring during surgery should include measuring your pets heart rate,respiratory rate, Blood pressure, Oxygen saturation levels, and Carbon Dioxide levels.  Specialized equipment and training is required to monitor your pet effectively during anesthetic.  Monitoring your pet is equally important after surgery to ensure they are comfortable and recovering safely. You should ensure that the spay and neuter clinic you choose doesn’t have such a high volume of patients that they can’t provide the individual care and attention that your pet deserves.

5.  What type of pain control will your pet receive for their surgical procedure?  The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association(  www.canadianveterinarians.net  )   guidelines recommend that dogs and cats receive pain medication before, during and after a spay or neuter surgery.  Your veterinarian should be providing you with pain medication to give at home for at least a couple of days after surgery to meet these  minimum  guidelines to keep your pet comfortable.  Many veterinarians provide additional pain control options including Laser Therapy to help reduce post surgical inflammation and discomfort.  Be sure to clearly understand how your veterinarian will keep your dog or cat comfortable before, during and after surgery.

6.  What happens if there are complications with my pet’s surgery at the spay and neuter clinic I choose?  Unfortunately complications can occur with any surgery, some are treated simply, others require significantly more care.  You should clearly understand what the process will be for you and your pet should post-surgical complications arise.  Will your pet be treated by the same veterinarian that performed the surgery? Will there be additional charges to have your pet checked after surgery?

These are just a sample of the questions should ask your veterinarian before you choose to have  your pet is spayed or neutered.  There can be significantly different levels of care your pet is provided when having surgery performed.  Take the time to make sure that you clearly understand what type of care you are paying for before you schedule an appointment to have your pet spayed or neutered.

At the Main West Animal Hospital we pride ourselves on providing the highest level of care to all our clients and their pets.  For more information on our spay and neuter surgery procedures contact us at (905) 735-7877  or visit our website at  https://mainwestvet.com/welland-veterinary-services/surgery/  for an overview.