Spay or neuter surgeries can cost around $200, but you risk more in cost and your pet’s health by not having the surgery.
From The Mercury News
Are you weighing whether you should have your dog spayed or neutered? You might think that not getting the surgery will save money, the costs of not getting your furry friend spayed or neutered greatly outweigh the costs to get these routine procedures for your pet.
We all know that spaying your female dog will prevent unwanted pregnancy. Proper veterinary care for a pregnant pet can cost upwards of $1,500 for vet visits, plus increased food consumption during pregnancy and while nursing, as well as supplies needed for whelping. If your dog needs a C-section because of complications during delivery, that amount can easily double.
Low-cost and no-cost spay/neuter services are often offered through local animal shelters and clinics. And while costs can vary depending on the service location and the dog’s size, a spay/neuter procedure generally ranges from free to $200.
There are the conditions your pet may develop if not spayed or neutered.
Pyometra
If your female dog is not spayed, you should be aware of the risk of pyometra, a common and extremely life-threatening infection of the uterus. While antibiotics will sometimes give you a few more days to get surgery done, the only treatment for pyometra is an emergency spay which can cost $1,000 or more.
Mammary cancer
You should also be aware that the risk of mammary cancer is vastly increased the longer a female dog is left unspayed after the reach the age of 1. A mammary tumor is the most
common type of tumor for unspayed dogs between the ages of 5 and 10.
Once malignant tumors start to grow, the cancerous cells can spread to other parts of the body. A malignant tumor usually requires surgery where the tumor is removed or the entire mammary tissue and lymph nodes are removed. The costs can range from $1,000 to $3,000 when all of the tests (x-ray, ultrasound and bloodwork) and office visits are included.
Testicular cancer
If your male dog is not neutered, you should be aware that his risk of testicular cancer, prostate disease and perineal hernia are vastly increased. Testicular cancer is one of the most common tumors in older, unneutered dogs.
Leaving your male unneutered can also lead to behavioral problems such as, spraying or territorial marking and increased chances of him running away or getting into fights.
There are three types of testicular cancer: sertoli cell tumors, seminomas and interstitial cell tumors. Symptoms of sertoli are swelling of the testicular and scrotal area, and may also include an enlarged prostate gland, enlarged mammary glands and nipples, symmetrical hair loss and anemia.
Seminomas will appear as swollen testicles, scrotum and abdominal area. Interstitial cell tumors show very few symptoms — and are mostly incidental findings.
Castration/neutering is the usual treatment, which costs on average of $200 or less. Sometimes chemotherapy is recommended. Costs range widely from $3,000 to $8,000.
Prostate disease
Prostate disease occurs when an enlarged prostate gland compresses the urethra, making urination and defecating difficult and uncomfortable. Blood can sometimes be found in the urine as well. The cost of a prostatectomy in a dog varies depending on the size of the tumor as well as any biopsies that were required. Removal of a small sized prostate gland tumor could cost around $150, while removing a larger sized tumor could cost an average of $350.
The cost to remove the whole prostate gland, including the tumor, can run about $700 to $1,000.
Perineal hernia
A perineal hernia in a dog occurs when stress in the rectal area causes a weak spot where different organs or intestines can fall into the anal area. This can cause pain, frequent urination, or constipation, and it can quickly turn deadly if the organ that has fallen through the hernia is cut off from its blood supply.
The costs to treat a perineal hernia can quickly add up to $2,000 or more.
As you can see, a routine spay or neuter procedure can prevent these painful and sometimes deadly diseases — saving you heartache as well as money. Please consider having your pet spayed/neutered.
Nicole Forsyth is president and CEO of RedRover, an organization that focuses on bringing animals out of crisis and strengthening the human-animal bond through emergency sheltering, disaster relief services, financial assistance and education. She writes Dollars and Pets for the Bay Area News Group. Send questions to petpalconnection@bayareanewsgroup.com.
