Call or Text Us: 254-776-7303
Why Spay/Neuter?
ABC is dedicated to providing compassionate care for the cats and dogs in our community.
Free spay and neuter for cats or dogs of low-income and qualifying families is available to McLennan County, as donations and funding allow. If you need this one-time household assistance, please specify in the Note Field during the appointment scheduling process.
What is Spay and Neuter?
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These are common surgical procedures which reduce excess reproductive hormones and prevent animals from being able to reproduce and overpopulate. Spay and neuter are the most common surgical procedures performed on cats and dogs.
The spay surgery performed on females removes the ovaries and uterus so they no longer have heat cycles.
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The word "neuter" is commonly used for sterilizing a male animal, but can be used to refer to an animal of unknown sex (or to a group of animals of mixed or unknown sex). The testicles are removed when neutering a male animal.
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Anesthesia and pain medication are used, so the surgery is painless. Pain medication is also provided for three days after surgery, so discomfort after surgery is minimal.
Why is it good for my pet to be spayed or neutered?
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A spayed or neutered pet is happier, better-behaved, more affectionate, satisfied, calm, and trainable. Overall, neutered pets are much better companions, as they are able to focus attention on you and your family.
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A spayed or neutered pet typically lives a healthier, longer life. Many preventable health problems can be difficult and expensive to treat for an unneutered pet.
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A spayed or neutered pet is less likely to have negative behaviors which can lead to bites. The desire to roam is significantly reduced.
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Spaying and neutering is good for your community which spends hundreds of thousands of dollars and countless community hours to manage the heavy burden of too many cats and dogs. These unwanted animals are often lost, hungry, hurt, or sick. Many others are living in shelters or rescues with limited opportunities for a new home. They are expensive to care for - and if not adopted, they are euthanized by the thousands.
What age should my pet be spayed or neutered?
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​As puppies and kittens (before the first heat cycle for females). A puppy or kitten that is spayed or neutered at four to five months of age benefits greatly is several ways. The first heat cycle and a litter is avoided for females, and males haven't developed common undesirable marking habits due to excess hormones. A younger patient is likely to experience an easier surgery with a faster recovery and healing.
Why should my female dog be spayed?
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If you spay your female dog before her first heat, she will have a near zero chance of developing common mammary cancer, a potentially fatal form of cancer. If spaying occurs after her first heat, this incidence climbs to 7 percent, after the second heat the risk is 25 percent and continues to increase.
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She won’t have messy heat cycles (twice/year for 6-12 days). Otherwise, she will experience a bloody discharge and attract area male dogs.
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Without a uterus dogs won’t experience Pyometra, a common life-threatening uterine infection. Without expensive, emergency treatment, she will likely die.
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No chance of costly, common pregnancy complications.
Why should my female cat be spayed?
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Without a uterus cats won’t experience Pyometra, a common life-threatening uterine infection. Without expensive, emergency treatment, she will likely die.
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She won't have heat cycles. Cats in heat are annoyingly vocal, agitated, aggressive, often spraying urine in the house. These occur every two to three weeks for six to seven days until she is spayed or bred.
Why should my male dog be neutered?
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Roaming, escaping, wandering typically decreases by 90 percent due to the reduction of excessive hormones driving him to search for in-heat females. This results in fewer dogs injured or killed by cars.
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Fighting, territorial marking, “humping” will decrease. A neutered dog will typically retain the instinct to protect his home and family as well as an unneutered dog, but excessive aggressiveness is usually reduced.
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He is less likely to have infections and cancers of the reproductive organs, such as testicular cancer and prostate disease.
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Dogs are calmer, more socialized, better trained, and less likely to attack or bite.
Address
3238 Clay Avenue
Waco, Texas 76711
Call or Text
254-776-7303
General Hours
Mon - Fri
7:15 am - 5:30 pm
Surgery Patient Check-In
Mon - Fri
7:15 am - 8:30 am