This surgery is for sexual sterilization of females. The technical term for it is "ovariohysterectomy" and involves removal of both ovaries and the uterus. Once the patient is anesthetized, the tummy is clipped and cleaned, and surgery is begun with an incision through the abdominal wall. The doctor then locates the left ovary (which is typically easier to find than the right), and ties ligatures (special knots) around the blood vessels supplying the ovary. That ovary is then removed and the doctor follows the uterus around to find the right ovary, and ligate and remove it as well. Once the ovaries are removed, the surgeon then ligates the vessels supplying the uterus, and also ligates the base of the uterus as well before removing the bulk of that organ. The abdomen is then closed with three layers of sutures.

Also called "onychectomy" or castration, this is the surgery for sexual sterilization of males. Once the patient is anesthetized, the scrotal area is clipped and cleaned, and surgery is begun with an incision just in front of the scrotal sac. One of the testicles is then gently pushed through the incision, its covering is opened, ligatures are placed around its vessels, and the testicle is removed. The same procedure is repeated for the other testicle. Two layers of sutures are used to close the incision. A few animals have testicles which haven't descended into their scrotal sac. In these cases, the doctor must go into the abdomen and search for them; this involves surgical techniques similar to a spay.

We take special care to ensure that all ligatures are tight and secure; loose or carelessly placed ligatures can result in internal bleeding. When a group of vessels is very thick, or is surrounded by abdominal fat, we often place multiple ligatures for added safety. We give pain medications before surgery for your pet's added comfort and better recovery. In addition, just before the last row of sutures is placed, we infuse lidocaine (local anesthetic) directly into the incision site; this has proven to be quite helpful, as the skin sutures are typically the most painful. At Dogwood, we close the skin with absorbable sutures hidden within the skin; this is more comfortable for your pet, and prevents the need for suture removal later on. We also pain medications and acupuncture on every pet. Less pain means faster healing. Your pet is also closely monitored during recovery to make sure everything is going well while he or she is staying with us.