Our veterinarians recommend you spay (for females) or neuter (for males) your pets if they are not intended for breeding. Pets should have finished their puppy/kitten vaccines before scheduling surgery. We generally like pets to be 6 months old but this can vary depending on the pet.
Two main reasons to spay or neuter is to avoid overpopulation of animals, and to reduce the risk of certain diseases. For example, intact males have an increased risk of prostate and testicular cancer. Intact females are at risk for Pyometra, an infection of the uterus that if left untreated can be deadly.
In addition, intact females are more at risk for breast cancer, ovarian and uterine cancer. Some common myths you may have heard are that spaying and neutering causes laziness, reduced protective instincts, delayed maturity or alter their personality. These are common misconceptions! If you have concerns about your pet getting spayed/neutered, a consultation appointment can be set up with a doctor to discuss.
Schedule a spay or neuter: We only perform spays and neuters Monday – Friday. If your pet is over the age of seven, the doctor will recommend blood work within three months of your pet undergoing anesthesia. All bloodwork must be drawn at least 24-hours prior to your pet’s appointment. Most suture removals are complimentary and do not require an exam. WE MUST SEE YOUR PET IN OUR OFFICE FOR AN EXAM PRIOR TO SCHEDULING A SPAY OR NEUTER. Call (404) 873-1786 to schedule.
Deposit: We require a $100 deposit to schedule a spay or neuter procedure. Your deposit will be applied the day of your pet’s procedure or if you cancel or reschedule with at least 48 hours’ notice. If less than 48 hours’ notice is given, your deposit is non-refundable.
What to expect on the day of a spay/neuter
Before you come: All spay and neuter procedures are performed while your pet is sedated. Because sedation may cause nausea, we request all pets be fasted for at least 12 hours prior to drop-off. If your pet is over the age of seven, the doctor will recommend performing blood work within three months of your pet undergoing anesthesia. All blood work must be drawn and reviewed prior to scheduling your pet’s appointment.
Drop-off and pickup: We ask that owners drop-off their pets for dental (or surgical) procedures between 7:30 and 8 AM. You will be given an ETA for pick-up by your doctor. For our patients’ safety, we place an I.V. Catheter for all sedated procedures, so your pet will go home with a small shaved spot on his or her leg. We also perform a complimentary nail trim with all anesthetized procedures (unless requested otherwise).
The veterinarian that will be seeing your pet for the procedure will often be performing multiple procedures on a given day. Depending on the nature of the other procedures scheduled, your pet may not be the first to go. It is still important that your pet be dropped off between 7:30 – 8 AM for intake, premedication, and IV catheter installation. While your pet is waiting for their procedure, they will be provided with bedding (unless otherwise requested) to make them more comfortable. Your pet will be attended to by our technicians and dogs will be given opportunities to stretch their legs and go to the bathroom. Feline patients will be provided with a litter box.
When it is time for your pet’s procedure, you will be updated via text. The doctor will call you with an update after the procedure is completed and give you a pick-up time. If your pet has behavioral or medical reasons they need to be the first procedure in the schedule, please discuss this with the doctor or a receptionist when scheduling and we will do our best to accommodate their needs.
About the procedure: After being dropped-off, a doctor physically examines your pet to ensure s/he is safe to undergo anesthesia. Throughout the entire procedure a technician monitors and records your pet’s vital signs. Most neuters and spays require sutures, which means your pet will be sent home with pain medication and a cone (also known as an Elizabethan collar), and your pet will need to return in 10-14 days for a complimentary suture removal. YOUR PET MUST WEAR THE CONE UNTIL THE SUTURES ARE REMOVED. A technician will always go over after-care instructions at pickup.
A feline neuter is a less invasive procedure and does not require general anesthesia. Your cat will however be under sedation which also may cause nausea and must be fasted for 12 hours prior to his appointment. Typically, no sutures are required.
Although it is not required, we recommend you microchip your pet at the time of her or his spay or neuter. Learn More About Microchipping
In addition, we can scan other microchip brands to help reunite owners with their lost pets. If you’ve found a stray or lost pet, bring it to Ansley and have us scan the pet at no charge. If we find a chip number on a pet we call Petlink, give them the number and they give us the client information that is registered to that pet. We then contact the owner to pick up the pet.
IMPORTANT: Don’t forget to register your pets’ microchip with your information and update address and phone number if it ever changes. If the chip company does not have the correct information it is impossible for us to reunite pet and owner.