What is spaying and why is it recommended for your pets? Veterinarian answers

If you are a fur parent or interested in becoming one, managing the number of your pets is probably one of the concerns that has crossed your mind. Cats and dogs can give birth to several babies in one litter, so with just one pregnancy, you can have more kittens and puppies on your hands all of a sudden.

The good news is you can have your fur babies spayed and neutered. Every year on February 28, the international community marks the World Spay Day to encourage pet owners to do so for their beloved animal companions.

GMA News Online talked to Pet Lovers Centre veterinarian Dr. Lester Lopez to further understand what spaying is and why it is recommended for your pets.

What is spaying?

Spaying is a general term for the removal of the reproductive organs of a female animal, the veterinarian explained.

"In general, the removal of the reproductive organs of animals—dogs and cats in particular—for this purpose is neutering or castration. So, sila 'yung medyo mas synonymous," Lopez said. "Neutering often is used for males, so as with castration. Spaying naman is used for the female."

Spaying has two processes.

"Merong complete removal, meron ding removal lang of the ovaries, or merong tatanggalin both ovaries and the uterus," he said.

Why is spaying done?

Spaying is done for multiple reasons, including avoiding pregnancies and for population control.

"If it's an elective procedure, it means it's something na we want for our pets to benefit from certain procedures. Like for example, with spaying, we want to make sure that we prevent in general unusual birthing or getting pregnant," Lopez said. 

"And then, we wanna make sure that we minimize aggression if there are many males in one household because that's hormone-induced so when you reduce the source of that hormone, hindi sila masyadong mag-aaway kasi 'yung hormones nila na nagpa-facilitate o nagi-initiate ng aggression towards another, medyo bababa 'yung hormones na 'yun sa katawan," he added.

The procedure also helps in preventing certain diseases.

"Mero'n kasing overtime, as the animals grow older, merong mga sakit na puwedeng mag-develop related to, or if they have other conditions, which can be complicated by the presence of the ovaries, 'yung mga reproductive organs," he said. "In particular, we want them to prevent getting diseases like cancer or unwanted infection. Like sa female, mataas 'yung rate natin ng what we call pyometra, which is an infection in the uterus, so that's prevented by spaying."

Spaying and neutering programs are also commonly done in communities to control the population.

What is the effect of spaying on pets?

Aside from the health benefits, spaying also results in some behavioral and physical changes.

"Physically, coming from the surgery itself, few days after the surgery most patients siyempre coming from a surgery, they become lethargic, they become parang homebound na muna sila, pahinga muna. Then overtime, we can see them to be more active. 'Yung behavior nila, mas parang homey sila, they become more malambing," Lopez said.

And because the hormone-producing organs were removed, the animal's metabolism will slow down.

"It slows down so eventually, tumataba 'yung mga patients natin. So, nag-ge-gain sila ng weight overtime. But of course, we can counter that with proper diet and exercise," he said.

How safe is the procedure?

Lopez acknowledged that many pet owners are still afraid of getting their pets spayed, with the worry that the procedure might not be safe.

"Madami kasing natatakot of their pets going under the knife or undergoing surgery but it's a relatively safe procedure. It's routine, it's relatively safe. There are steps that can be done to prevent any problem," he said.

"Hindi naman basta-basta nase-spay ang isang pet. There's physical exam, iche-check muna 'yan ng vet, if they find anything unusual that might be hindi maganda para dun sa pet na mag-undergo siya ng surgery agad," he added.

There are tests done before the procedure, including blood tests, to make sure that the pet has no underlying infections.

"If in case, during the surgery merong emergencies, the vets naman would be capable of addressing those complications," he said.

When should it be done?

"There are global guidelines that can be followed with regards to spaying," Lopez said. "Often, it's given between six to eight months and up na age and they should be apparently healthy, which means walang symptoms at the time of presentation."

Meanwhile, for public spaying programs, veterinarians will mainly rely on the pet's physical appearance.

"Magre-rely lang talaga si vet sa physical appearance during the physical examination and then maybe the CBC at least, tapos 'yung history na coming from their owner. So, dapat si owner ay medyo honest din sa pagku-kuwento kung meron bang nangyari dun sa pet one to two weeks prior to the surgery," he said.

Reminders before, during, and after the procedure

Before the procedure, aside from the pet being healthy, having a normal appetite, normal stool and pee frequency, and having no fever or vomiting, they should also be alert and responsive.

"Better if they have complete vaccinations already and then of course, walang symptoms," he said.

During the procedure, Lopez advised pet owners to be calm and trust the veterinarian, adding that the length of the procedure depends on the doctor.

"Mas matagal pa minsan 'yung placing the pet on anesthesia," he said.

Spaying in cats usually takes 15-30 minutes, while in dogs, because they are often bigger, usually takes 30-45 minutes.

"After the procedure, your doctor will make sure na gising na sila. We do not send home a pet na tulog pa right after surgery so that if there are any complications that will happen, we will see that right away," he said. "Other than that, your vet will instruct you on some medications."

The medicines may include an antibiotic, an inflammatory medicine, and topicals for the wounds. E-collars or cones are also recommended.

"In some patients we put that because we don't want the pets to lick on the wound's site, baka kasi mag-infect or mag-inflame or mag-open," he said.

It's best if the pets are put in a cage or room to rest while their wounds heal. Healing usually takes seven to 10 days.

How much does it cost?

Private clinics offer cost spaying services, but pricing will still depend on the clinic.

Aside from private clinics, non-governmental organizations offer the service at a more affordable price, including the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (starts at P1,000) and CARA Welfare Philippines (starts at P700).

"Mas mura doon dahil subsidized sila ng donors," Lopez said.

Local government units also offer spaying, neutering, and also rabies vaccines for free through the agricultural office or the provincial or city veterinary.

"It's OK to have your pets spayed. Wala tayo dapat ikatakot," Lopez said. "Work with your vet with the process, with the procedure, and we are doing this for the long term. We want to make sure that we prevent our pets from getting reproduction-related diseases. So anything that could be more complicated in the future, we want to make sure that they don't get that."

For consultations, you may visit Pet Lovers Centre in Robinsons Magnolia every Tuesday to Sunday at 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.