Spay and Neuter Veterinarian in Charles Town, WV
Safe Effective Spaying & Neutering Services
Surgical sterilization is a hugely important part of overall pet care. This pet surgery helps reduce the number of unwanted litters of puppies and kittens that so overburden our nation's animal shelters. Here at Countryside Veterinary Clinic in Charles Town, we believe that every dog or cat deserves a chance for a loving home. Additionally, spay and neuter surgery actually gives your pet a happier, longer, healthier life. Females and males alike can forego the discomfort and frustration that accompany heat cycles and reproductive urges, freeing them from the howling, aggression, inappropriate urination, roaming and general misbehavior common to intact animals. And the removal of the sex organs eliminates the chance of testicular, ovarian and uterine cancer while reducing risks for prostate problems and urinary infections.
Surgery, Pet Boarding and More at Charles Town Pet Hospital
Neutering, or castration, is a relatively simple form of pet surgery. First our pet hospital staff evaluates your pet's overall health and determines what level of anesthesia is appropriate. Once your pet is anesthetized, it will not feel any pain during the surgery. Our veterinarian, Dr. Dibbern, makes an incision in the scrotum, remove the testicles through this incision and tie off the spermatic cord and blood vessels. We then close the incision, and your pet can usually come home with you that same day.
A spay surgery, or ovariohysterectomy, is more involved than a neuter surgery because it is an internal procedure. As in neuter surgery, we begin by evaluating the correct level of anesthesia. The veterinarian removes the female reproductive organs, including the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries, which necessitates an incision into the body cavity. Your pet will be under general anesthesia and will not feel any discomfort during the procedure. Once we have completed the surgery, the animal may need to remain in our pet hospital overnight for observation, but in most cases owners can bring their pets home either the same day or the next day. After a few days your pet will most likely be ready to resume its normal activities.
After spay and neuter surgery, try to keep your pet from licking the wound site, because this can lead to infection. While a moderate amount of swelling is nothing to worry about, severe swelling, discoloration, discharge or odor may call for a trip to the pet hospital. If your dog experiences some discomfort during the recovery process, we recommend a comfort package for your pet which includes an injection the same day of surgery as well as take home tablets to ease your pet's discomfort over the next few days following surgery.
Both spay and neuter surgeries should be performed as soon as your pet is old enough to withstand the procedure in question. Here at Countryside we spay and neuter at about 16 weeks old so your pet can safely undergo sterilization. Contact our Charles Town animal hospital today for an appointment with the veterinarian. And keep our pet boarding and other pet care services in mind as well!