Spay and Neuter

Overview

1. Medical Benefits

   Spaying or neutering your pet will help them live a longer, healthier life.

   Females:

   • Prevents the risk of infections in the uterus.
   • Reduces the risk of cancerous breast tumors in about 50% of dogs and 90% of cats if spayed before the first heat cycle.

   Males:

   • Prevents testicular problems.
   • Reduces the risk of prostate problems.

2. Behavioral Benefits

   Behavioral Benefits include:

   • Preventing heat cycles: heat cycles vary, but female dogs and cats both experience them. Cats can go into heat four to five days every three weeks starting as four months old. During heat cycles behavior can become unpredictable and they may yowl, try to escape, and urinate around your home looking for a mate.
   • Males will be less likely to roam: Saint Paul Animal Control impounds more unneutered male dogs than any other type. Unneutered males will always be looking for a female and will get creative about escaping a leash, tie-out, or fence to try to find one. When loose they are at risk for injury from cars or other animals. They are more likely to bite a person or another animal even if biting is unusual for them, and they may be impounded by Animal Control. A visit to Saint Paul Animal Control by an unneutered dog is expensive for the owner, who could also receive criminal citations for not properly containing their pet.
   • Neutering improves behavior: Unneutered dogs and cats are more likely to mark their territory by spraying strong-smelling urine around your home. Neutered dogs are less likely to mount other dogs, people, and objects. It can even reduce some types of aggression problems.

3. Financial Benefits

   People are often concerned about the cost of spay or neuter surgery. Depending on where the surgery is done, the cost may vary quiet a bit, but there are financial benefit to having the surgery done.

   • Spay surgery costs less than raising a litter. Whether it's a dog or cat that is pregnant, you'll have to pay for additional food for mom, and lots of food for puppies or kittens once they're weaned. You'll have to pay to care for the puppies or kittens through at least 7 weeks of age, the youngest they can be removed from mom in Minnesota. Some pets will require advanced veterinary care, such as ultrasounds, X-rays, and scheduled or emergency C-sections. It's not unusual for mom and/or some of the puppies or kittens to die.
   • Animal Control fees: Animal Control fees are significantly reduced for spayed or neutered animals. Saint Paul doesn't mandate that most pets are spayed or neutered, but you are rewarded with lower licensing and impoundment fees if you choose this important procedure for your pet. Reclaiming an unneutered or unspayed dog always costs more than $100, and increases if the pet is also unlicensed, unvaccinated, or spends multiple days at the Animal Control Facility.

4. Where to schedule surgery

   Spaying and neutering are both surgical procedures that must be done by a licensed veterinarian. There are many veterinary clinics in Saint Paul and throughout the Twin Cities that can help. In addition to traditional clinics there are also low-cost clinics and even mobile surgical trucks that have tiered pricing based on the owners income. 

   Your veterinarian can help you decide if spay or neuter surgery is right for your pet and at what age, or you can reach out to the Animal Humane Society of the Minnesota Spay/Neuter Assistance Program to see if you qualify for low-cost surgery.