It can be scary to think about your pet undergoing surgery, but spay and neuter procedures are common and generally low risk. A veterinarian with the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine demystifies the process and lays out what to expect.

The basics

Spaying for females and neutering for males are sterilization procedures that prevent your pet from reproducing. These are outpatient surgeries, meaning your pet typically goes home the same day. 

Deciding when to spay or neuter is not as simple of an answer, though. 

“Pets can be sterilized as early as several months of age,” said Virginia Edwards, collegiate assistant professor of small animal clinical sciences. “However, it really is a conversation that you should have with your veterinarian, because there's a lot of considerations that come into play, such as their breed and lifestyle. For larger dogs, sometimes we want them to have full bone development before they get spayed or neutered.”

Before surgery

“To set your pet up for success on surgery day, it helps if they are already comfortable with the clinic. Making sure that they've been coming for vaccines and routine visits and that it's a familiar place for them helps them feel less anxious,” said Edwards.

Your veterinarian will advise you on fasting your pet before surgery. This is crucial for safety.

"During the procedure, your pet will be under general anesthesia, continuously monitored to ensure their comfort and safety. Fasting is required to increase the safety of anesthesia," said Edwards. "Eating too close to a surgery can lead to complications such as regurgitation and aspiration pneumonia." 

During surgery

For spays, veterinarians make an incision in the abdomen to remove the ovaries and uterus. This typically takes 30 to 90 minutes, depending on the animal. For neuters, an incision is made in the scrotal or pre-scrotal area to remove the testes, a procedure that usually takes less than 20 minutes.

After surgery

“Your pet will typically recover from anesthesia within 30 minutes to a few hours and can go home once they are awake and alert. Pain management will be provided by your veterinarian,” said Edwards.  

“One of the most critical post-surgery steps is preventing your pet from licking or chewing the incision, which can lead to complications,” said Edwards. “They don't understand that as they're healing, it's going to start itching. Dogs and cats can actually lick so much that they open up that entire incision. They can make it become infected.”

An Elizabethan collar, also known as a cone, is often necessary. 

“Light swelling and some bruising around the incision is normal after this procedure, but keep a close eye on your pet as they recover. If they are acting painful, very tired, or if red or yellow discharge is noted from the incision be sure to contact your veterinarian," said Edwards. “For two weeks post-surgery, limit strenuous exercise to aid healing.”

The Animal Instructors Program

For pet owners in the Blacksburg area, the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine's Animal Instructors Program offers free health services, including spay and neuter surgeries, for participating pets. This program provides valuable hands-on experience for veterinary students under expert supervision.

About Edwards
Virginia Edwards is a collegiate assistant professor at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine specializing in and teaching small animal clinical skills across all years of the program, including restraint, suturing, anesthesia, and small animal dentistry. She also leads an academic public/corporate clerkship, focusing on peer teaching and exploring veterinary career paths in academia.

Interview
To schedule an interview, contact Margaret Ashburn at mkashburn@vt.edu or 540-529-0814, or Margie Christianson at marjorielee@vt.edu or 540-231-5825.

Media kit including interview, b-roll, photos
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Rguq1dJN5BnLXNyfPSBUq7oGanUoa-oK

 

 

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