Are you wondering how much it costs to neuter a dog? It’s a common question that most dog owners ask themselves, with spraying and neutering a widespread procedure throughout the country.
Deciding whether to spay or neuter a dog is an important decision, as these procedures aren’t risk-free. Like any surgery, there are potential risks for a dog when getting spayed/neutered, so you need to think carefully about whether it’s the right choice.
Moreover, spraying and neutering isn’t the cheapest procedure, so it’s worth thinking about whether the costs are worthwhile. Because of the cost of these procedures, many pet owners shop around for a good deal.
Is it worth trying to find a cheap deal when spraying or neutering a dog? Are these procedures safe enough for most pets? Do you want to know what spraying/neutering involves before committing to the procedure?
The guide below has all the answers that you need to know about the cost of spaying or neutering your pet dog. There is information about the differences between neutering and spraying, what impacts the cost of the procedure, and much more.
With all this info, you’ll have a better idea of how much it costs to neuter and dog, and whether it’s the right choice for your pet.
Neutering a Dog vs Spraying a Dog – What’s the Difference?
There is often a lot of confusion around the differences between spaying and neutering. Sometimes the terms are used interchangeably, so the differences are not always clear.
Spraying is a surgical procedure performed on female dogs. The procedure involves the complete removal of the dog’s reproductive organs, including the ovaries and uterus. Spraying is the dog equivalent of a hysterectomy.
Neutering is a surgical procedure performed in male dogs, also known as castration. The procedure involves the removal of a male dog’s testes, being performed before or after the testes have dropped.
How Much Does It Cost to Spay a Dog?
As with most veterinary procedures, the cost of spraying a dog depends on a few things, such as the dog’s age, breed, size, and current health. Plus, the cost of spraying a dog often differs depending on where you live.
For instance, if your female dog is currently in heat, pregnant, or overweight, the cost of spraying is higher. Spraying is typically cheaper for dogs that are younger and healthier.
The average cost of spraying a healthy dog that isn’t in season is between $200-$400. Again, larger, and older dogs are usually on the higher end of the average, with smaller dogs being cheaper.
However, there are options for even cheaper dog spraying. For example, if you use a low-cost vet clinic, then the average cost drops to $200 for a healthy female dog. Spraying smaller dogs in these low-cost vets is also much cheaper, often around $40-$50.
What Impacts the Cost of Getting a Dog Sprayed?
The cost of getting a female dog sprayed is based on several factors. For example, the cost of spraying includes not just the surgery but also surgical supplies, medicines, and staffing costs. Spraying requires a vet and several nurses, which is reflected in the cost of the surgery.
Furthermore, additional costs may include pre-and post-surgery medicines. While not all dogs require these medicines, they could be needed depending on things like the dog’s age and health.
There is also the chance that the vet wants to conduct blood pane pre-surgery. While this may seem like an unnecessary expense, it does help determine if a dog has any underlying health issues. Again, factors such as age, health, and breed determine whether the vet might want to do a blood panel.
Should a vet recommend a pre-op blood screen, they often offer the chance to opt-out of this procedure. Additional spraying costs may also include an e-collar to prevent the dog from chewing its wound post-surgery.
What Does Dog Spraying Surgery Involve?
Spraying is a surgical procedure involving the complete removal of a female dog’s reproductive organs, including tubes, ovaries, and uterus.
The surgery is typically performed before or after a dog is in heat, as this is the safest time to perform the procedure. When a dog is in heat, her organs are swollen so more susceptible to bleeding, increasing the risk of surgery.
The procedure involves making a careful incision across the dog’s abdomen, opening access to the reproductive organs. Once the organs are removed, the vet sutures the incision using either internal or non-dissolving sutures.
Internal sutures do require removal after the surgery, making them more convenient for most owners. By contrast, non-dissolving sutures do need to be removed, usually, 10 to 15 days after the dog is sprayed.
Most dogs recover quickly from spraying. The procedure doesn’t involve any severe side effects, with some minor bruising around the incision on the abdomen. In most instances, the incision heals without much scarring.
In fact, many vets struggle to determine whether a stray or adopted female dog is even sprayed! This is because most dogs often heal so well from the procedure that they show no signs of scarring.
For most dogs, the hardest part of recovering from surgery is dealing with the dreaded cone of shame! These e-collars are placed around a dog’s neck to prevent them from chewing or licking the incision as it heals.
How Much Does It Cost to Neuter a Dog?
As with spraying, there are various factors that determine the cost of neutering a dog. For example, the size, age, and breed of the dog influence the cost of neutering. Your location may impact the cost of neutering too, with some areas having higher costs than others.
However, the cost of neutering a dog is significantly cheaper than the cost of spraying a dog. The reason that it is cheaper to neuter a dog is that the surgery is far less invasive. So, with a less complex surgery comes a much lower price for the treatment.
There are situations where the cost of neutering a male dog is slightly higher. For example, if a dog has cryptorchid testes, then neutering is more expensive. The reason this type of neutering is more expensive is that the testes haven’t dropped so are still inside the body.
So, a more invasive and time-consuming is needed properly remove cryptorchid testes. This is reflected in the cost of the surgery, which is closer in price to a spraying procedure.
The average cost of a standard neutering procedure is between $75 to $250. Again, lower-cost clinics do offer better rates for neutering, typically below $75, costing around $20-$40.
What Impacts the Cost of Getting a Dog Neutered?
Like with spraying, there are various factors that determine the cost of getting a dog neutered. For example, costs include fees for the surgeon and other medical staff. It also includes the various medicines and supplies used before, during, and after the procedure.
Furthermore, dogs typically require medicine for several weeks after the surgery to help with their recovery. The dog may also need an e-collar, further adding to the overall cost of getting the dog neutered.
As with spraying, the vet may also want to conduct pre-op blood tests. Again, this is most likely needed for older dogs or less healthy dogs. However, some vets like to be cautious, completing blood tests on fit and healthy dogs. This measure is taken to ensure there are no risks before undergoing anesthesia.
While you have the option to opt out of a pre-op blood test, it’s always recommended to invest in it. Doing so ensures there are no underlying health risks you may be unaware of before neutering them.
When it comes to the well-being of your beloved pet dog, there’s no reason to take unnecessary chances!
What Does Neutering Surgery Involve?
Neutering is a dog is much more straightforward than spraying a dog, which is why the procedure costs less.
The procedure involves making a small surgical incision along with the dog’s scrotum. Then, the testes are carefully removed before the incision is closed, either with internal or non-dissolving sutures. In some instances, surgical glue is used to close the incision, although it’s mostly saved for smaller dogs.
As mentioned above, if a dog has cryptorchid testes (i.e., they haven’t dropped), then the surgical procedure is more complex.
For example, cryptorchid neutering is similar to spraying, where the surgeon makes a small incision across the abdomen. Once the incision is made, the surgeon carefully removes one or both testes inside the body.
Because the surgery is more invasive than conventional neutering, there are more risks involved with cryptorchid neutering. However, it is important to understand that cryptorchid testes still allow a dog to reproduce, so will need to be removed if you want them neutered.
How Long Does it Take to Recover from Spraying or Neutering?
Spraying and neutering have quick recovery times, with most dogs recovering from surgery within 10 to 14 days. After 10-14 days, your dog’s incision wound across the abdomen is healed, at which point the vet removes the stitches.
Before the wound heals, it’s important to give your dog time to fully recover. So, you need to restrict their physical activities, while also making sure they don’t have as much food. Restricting their food intake is most important in the first few days after surgery.
Caring for Your Dog After Spraying or Neutering
It’s important to provide your dog with aftercare post-surgery. Doing so ensures they have enough rest to fully recover!
As mentioned above, you need to limit your dog’s physical activities right after surgery. So, that means no running, jumping, or playing around too roughly! You might feel tempted to play around with them to help them feel better, but this only risks their wounds opening.
Once the stitches are removed by the vet, it’s fine to resume their normal physical levels.
Another important part of neutering/spraying aftercare is preventing the dog from irritating the wound. Dogs tend to lick, check, or scratch at their surgical wounds, which is why they often need to wear an e-collar.
Make sure the dog doesn’t bathe until their surgery wounds are fully healed. Bathing or swimming may aggravate the wound before it’s had the chance to heal. it is usually okay to bathe and swim once the vet has removed their stitches.
Finally, make sure to keep monitoring the surgical wound across your dog’s abdomen. Check over the incision every day, looking for any swelling or bleeding. If you notice some sort of discharge or similar issues around the wound, make sure to contact the vet immediately.
Conclusion
So, if you’re wondering ‘how much does it cost to spray a dog?’, then the above guide has you covered. There are various factors that determine the cost of spaying or neutering a dog, from their age and size to your location.
Some low-cost vets offer more affordable rates for spaying or neutering a dog, although not everyone has access to these. Price ranges vary depending on the unique factors of your dog’s health, and what’s needed before, during, and after surgery.
Spraying is usually more expensive because it’s a more complex surgery. Prices range from $200-$400, while some low-cost vets may do it for under $75 for smaller dog breeds.
Neutering is often cheaper and quicker, usually around $75-$200, or even below $50 for low-cost vets. However, a cryptorchid neutering is more expensive due to the surgery being more complex, costing similar prices to spraying.
While spraying/naturing is often, it’s typically worth it for your dog’s overall wellbeing. The procedure also helps prevent unwanted puppies from ending up in shelters, or worse, euthanized.
In any case, always make sure to talk with your dog’s vet! They offer lots of useful info about the cost of spaying/neutering, along with many advantages and disadvantages it has. with all this information, you can make the best-informed decision for your dog’s health and wellbeing!