What is spay and neuter?
Spay and neuter are surgical sterilization procedures: spaying (ovariohysterectomy) removes the ovaries and uterus in females, while neutering (orchiectomy) removes the testicles in males.
These paired surgical procedures render animals unable to reproduce. Spaying refers to ovariohysterectomy, in which a veterinarian removes both the ovaries and uterus from a female dog or cat. Neutering refers to orchiectomy, the surgical removal of the testicles from a male animal. Both are considered sterilization procedures because they eliminate the animal's capacity to breed.
Spay and neuter surgeries are performed under general anesthesia and require an incision, typically in the abdomen for spays and on the scrotum or abdomen for neuters. The procedures are permanent and irreversible. Sterilization differs from other reproductive controls (such as hormone implants) because it surgically removes the organs rather than merely preventing their function.
These operations are routine in veterinary practice across Austin and elsewhere. Many low-cost veterinary providers offer spay and neuter services as core procedures, and the surgeries are often recommended during an animal's first or second year of life, though they can be performed at various ages depending on health and breed considerations.