Spay/Neuter FAQs
How old does my pet have to be for spay/neuter surgery?
Pets can be altered at 2lbs (cats), 5lbs (dogs) and all pets must be over 8 weeks of age. Weight is a requirement, so even if your pet is 8 weeks old, they must weigh be of weight requirement.
Can my pet have food or water the night before surgery?
Pets older than 16 weeks should be fasted. Please remove food by 10 pm; water should always be made available.
Kittens and puppies 16 weeks and younger may be fed normally the night prior to surgery. Kibble must be pulled by 10 pm but a small amount of canned food may be left down. Water should always be made available.
If your pet has not been properly fasted, please inform our staff. Risk of vomiting are higher for adults that have not been fasted and are more at risk of aspirating while anesthetized.
What time do I need to be there in the morning?
Cat and dog check-in is 7:00 am. Allow at least 30 minutes for patient check-in.
Our building is the Red House with the circular driveway. Map and address can be found here!
When you arrive, please stay on the paved road and avoid driving on grass.
Remain in your vehicle with your pet; one of our team members will be out shortly to help you.
What time do I need to be there for discharge?
Discharge is on the same day as surgery.
Please wait in your vehicle and we will assist you promptly. If a team member doesn’t come to you within a few minutes, please knock on the door and wait for a team member to greet you.
Dogs and cats are typically released starting at 3:00 pm, however we will let you know in the morning at drop off time what time to pick your pet up.
What do I need to do if I cannot make my appointment?
If you cannot make your scheduled appointment, please email us by noon on the Thursday prior to your appointment to cancel/reschedule. If your appointment is rescheduled, your deposit will remain in your account for 3 months. If your appointment is canceled without proper notice, your deposit is not refundable.
What to do if I have a voucher?
If you are using a voucher, we must receive it prior to your appointment, or we will be unable to honor the discount. Each organization that offers a voucher has its own policies. Please contact them directly regarding their requirements.
Please note we can only accommodate one voucher per pet when scheduling.
What do I need to bring the morning of my appointment?
IF YOU ARE BRINGING A CAT:
Cats must be in a clean pet carrier, with a small towel or blanket, that is safe and secure. If your carrier does not have bolts securing it, we recommend using zip ties to secure the top and bottom compartments. One cat per carrier. We will not accept cats in cardboard carriers or soft carriers. Cats brought in cardboard or soft carriers will not be accepted and you will have to reschedule your appointment. Feral cats must be in a humane trap that is covered; one pet per trap.
IF YOU ARE BRINGING A DOG:
They must be on a leash. If your dog is unsocialized, fearful or aggressive, we may need to have you wait until our doctor arrives to handle your pet.
Do you use anesthesia?
Yes! The comfort and safety of the animal is important to us. Our patients are anesthetized with safe anesthetic agents.
Do you use pain medication?
All patients receive pain medication before surgery. An additional, 5 days’ worth of pain medication is sent home for your dog. Female cats receive an injectable pain medication that last 72 hours.
Do you use a licensed veterinarian?
Our veterinarian is licensed in the State of Oregon and is highly experienced and skilled in high-quality and high-volume surgical techniques.
What can I expect after my pet’s procedure?
Your pet may be a little drowsy and unsteady when walking. Keep pet in a quiet space to recover.
Offer food and water once at home and settled. Adults should be given 1/3 of normal diet and puppies/kittens may be fed normal amounts.
The recovery period is 7-10 days. You need to restrict your pet’s activity and keep him/her indoors when possible. Feral cats will remain in a quiet temperature-controlled environment until the next day to be released.
We will give you a complete list of post-op care instructions when you pick up your pet.
General FAQ
What are spay and neuter surgeries?
Spay and neuter surgeries are performed to prevent unwanted pet pregnancies. These procedures sterilize your pet so they cannot reproduce. Spaying is performed on female pets, and neutering is performed on male pets.
Why is spaying or neutering my pet important?
Altering your pet can help reduce the number of stray animals found roaming the neighborhoods and ending up in shelters. Homeless animals suffer a great deal due to lack of care and illnesses. Additionally, by altering your pet, you reduce the risk of unwanted behavior such as howling, escaping and accidental litters.
How old does my pet need to be in order to be spayed or neutered?
Historically, veterinarians were taught that cats and dogs had to be 6 months or older to be altered. Unfortunately, this practice did little to prevent accidental litters which contributed to pet overpopulating. Today with current research, we now know that kittens and puppies can safely be spayed or neutered at the age of two months (or 2 lbs.).
There are several advantages to pediatric spay/neuter, including shorter surgery time, faster recovery time and fewer complications. However, there are also several factors to consider when performing these procedures. Fasting periods are reduced to prevent hypoglycemia, supplemental heating prior, during and after surgery to avoid hypothermia which prolongs patient anesthetic recovery. Monitoring respiration rate, heart rate and oxygenation allows us to identify anesthetic problems immediately.
Please view our spay and neuter requirements for your pet to ensure they are eligible for surgery.
Can my dog be spayed while she is in heat?
Technically you can spay a dog while in heat, but it is generally not recommended. During heat, the uterus and ovaries are engorged with blood, which can lead to excessive bleeding during surgery as well as an increased risk of infection. Waiting at least three weeks after a heat cycle has begun is preferred. There will be additional fees for dogs in heat and cost will depend on age, size and health of the pet.
Can my cat be spayed while she is in heat?
Yes! Unlike dogs, a cat’s reproductive organs become much less engorged with blood during their heat cycle, leading to a lower risk of bleeding during surgery. However, a cat in heat may still present challenges due to age, number of previous litters and overall health.
What is Cryptorchidism?
Cryptorchidism is a congenital condition where one or both testicles fail to descend into the scrotum, necessitating surgical removal due to increased risk of testicular cancer and torsion (twisting of the testicle). As this procedure can be a more complex and time consuming than standard neutering, potentially requiring additional surgical sites and materials to find the testicle(s), additional fees will apply. For further information regarding cryptorchidism, click here!
What does it mean to have an Umbilical Hernia?
An umbilical hernia is where the abdominal wall is not fully closed at or near the umbilicus (belly button). This may involve a small palpable swelling that can contain fat from the abdomen, or in more serious cases sections of organs (such as intestine loops). The reducible hernias (able to push tissue back in) involving the intestines can lead to a life threatening emergency. In some cases the smaller hernias my resolve on their own (rare), the larger ones will require to be surgically repaired. This can be done during your pet’s spay/neuter surgery. An additional surgical site near the umbilicus may be needed when this surgery is performed. This procedure will require an additional fee.
Do you sell over the counter medications?
When requested, we will administer a single-dose of an internal/external parasite treatment at time of surgery for an additional charge. Additional treatments will need to be purchased at your regular veterinarian office.
Why are tattoos (on friendly pets) or ear tips (on feral cats) mandatory?
The tattoo or ear tip serves as a permanent and simple identifier that a pet has been spayed or neutered, helping prevent unnecessary surgeries if the pet is lost, found or taken to an unfamiliar vet. For dogs and cats (non feral), the tattoo is small green line placed near the surgical incision. For feral/community cats, a small portion of the ear is removed, ear tipping serve as a easily visible universal identifier marker. RVHS performs these procedures while your pet is being spayed/neutered under anesthesia.
Do we offer microchipping services?
Absolutely! A microchip is a small device with a unique ID for each pet that is placed just under the skin between the shoulder blades, a process known as microchipping. This is an easy and successful way to increase the chances of your pet returned to you if home if lost. The perfect time to implant a microchip is while your pet is anesthetized during their spay/neuter surgery. Our fee is $30, which includes registration that we will do for you!
Do you preform surgery on Brachiocephalic (flat faced breed) pets?
Brachiocephalic pets, characterized by a short nose, narrow nasal openings, and thickened throat tissue, may experience breathing difficulties. If your pet exhibits signs of breathing difficulty during the initial exam, surgery will not be performed. Due to the high risk of complications, we strongly recommend scheduling an appointment with a full-service veterinary hospital. If your pet is healthy and has no breathing restrictions, we will perform the spay/neuter surgery for an additional fee.
Can I schedule multiple pets at each appointment?
We currently limit three pets per household per appointment. For feral cats, we accept one pet per appointment unless special arrangements were discussed with our team.