FAQ

A spay procedure is defined as removing the ovaries to render the patient sterile or unable to get pregnant. Most commonly in the U.S., this is performed along with removal of the uterus (ovariohysterectomy). In other countries, just the ovaries are removed (ovariectomy) from the body. Either procedure is a “spay” as the result is that the patient is sterile.

If your dog weighs under 40# or will weigh under 40# when they are fully grown, they can be spayed any time from 16 weeks of age going forward. There is currently no evidence to show that early age spay has significant impact on their long-term health.

For dogs larger than 40#, there is evidence that shows waiting until they have finished growing to spay or neuter them helps form healthier joints and may have some protection against certain types of cancer.

Most large breed dogs finish growing by 18 months of age.

Many female dog owners find that twice a year heat cycles that last 3-4 weeks, and having to worry about your pet getting unintentionally pregnant is stressful and messy. Spaying your dog will end the bloody heat cycles and your dog cannot get pregnant. Many owners also like that it can reduce roaming, aggressive and territorial behaviors.

Gastropexy – a procedure where the stomach is surgically attached to the inside of the chest wall so that it cannot flip over. In large dogs that have a chest wall that is deeper than wide, there is an increased chance that the stomach can rotate in a side to side motion, which causes Bloat. Bloat is where the stomach fills with air because the both ends are twisted closed. This is a painful, life-threatening emergency that needs to be surgically relieved immediately. Great Danes, Mastiffs, Irish Wolfhounds, and German Shepherds are a few of the breeds that this procedure is highly recommended for. It is recommended for both male and female dogs of these breeds.

Anesthesia has improved so much over the last 20 years. Many of the drugs that we use are the same ones that you would receive if you were to have surgery. Dr Helmueller has decades of experience anesthetizing patients safely for surgery. She is also an expert in spays and neuters, which means her surgery times are very short and your pet is under anesthesia for no more than 20 minutes in most cases. Our patients can get up and walk within an hour of surgery and can go usually home within 2 hours.

We recommend that you confine your pet for at least one week after surgery to allow the incision to heal. We stock a variety of post-surgery protective gear for your pet that you can purchase from us. We also have a list of recommended surgery suits that you can purchase before surgery. Ace of Spays uses absorbable suture material so there is no suture removal after surgery.

Ace of Spays is a limited services hospital and we are able to keep our overhead expenses low, which allows us to keep our prices more affordable for our clients. We use the same equipment and drugs as other veterinarians. With our highly skilled surgeon and team, we are able to do more procedures safely in a day than the average veterinary practice, which also helps keep our overhead expenses lower.