Low-Cost Spay and Neuter

Prior to bringing your pet in for surgery, please familiarize yourself with the important information below.

Without Food

• Please make sure that your pet (over four months of age) does not eat after midnight.
• Pets four months of age and younger may eat up until 6 a.m.
• All pets may have water up until their appointment time. 

Check in:

• Check-in is from 7:15 a.m. to 8 a.m. Due to a large number of animals coming in each day, please be prompt.  A late fee will be assessed for clients arriving after 8am.  Clients arriving after 8am may be asked to reschedule.  
• Check-in generally takes 10 to 15 minutes, so please plan accordingly.
• If you prefer, you can pick up the paperwork and complete it prior to your appointment. 
• For the safety of your pet, dogs must come in on leash and cats must be in a carrier.
• If you do not have a carrier, you may purchase a cardboard carrier from us for $5 to get your cat from the car into the center.

Rabies Vaccinations:

• By law, all pets 12 weeks of age and older must be vaccinated against rabies.
• If your pet has been vaccinated, please bring the rabies vaccination certificate along with you to your appointment.
• If you are unable to provide proof of current rabies vaccination, our veterinarian will administer a rabies vaccine to your pet.  Additional charges apply. 

Payments:

• We accept cash or credit/debit cards.
• Sorry, we do not accept checks.

Check Out/ Cats held over night:

• Dogs are ready for pick up the day of surgery between 4:15 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• Cats are picked up the day AFTER surgery from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. 
• If your cat is having surgery on Thursday, pick up will be between 4:15 p.m. to 5 p.m. the same day.
• In the event the appointment list is completed early, you may be contacted and offered same day pick up.  This service is not gaurnteed and is dependant on workload.  

Tattoo:

• Your pet will receive a small green tattoo near the site of the incision. Having a tattoo will ensure that anyone examining your animal will readily see that a spay or neuter has been performed.

Upon arrival we will ask that you fill out an admission form with basic information about your pet. Please leave your pet in the car until the paperwork has been completed.

One of our team members will be available to answer any final questions you may have.

Before surgery your pet will be weighed and our veterinarian will examine your pet. Your pet will then be placed in a kennel until time of surgery. The dogs and cats are kept in separate rooms in order to reduce stress. We strive to maintain a quiet and relaxing environment at all times; we will often dim lights and play soft music for the comfort of our patients.

When it is time for surgery your pet will be brought into our surgical prep room and given anesthesia medications. Once your pet is asleep the surgery site will be clipped and aseptically prepared.  Next, your pet will be moved into the operating room where the surgery will be performed. During this time, your pet’s anesthesia is closely monitored. We utilize monitoring and alarm equipment as well as the watchful and trained eyes of Licensed Veterinary Technicians and our veterinarian.

After the surgery is complete, your pet will be moved to a post-op recovery area for observation before being returned to their kennel where they will receive a small snack.  We encourage our patients to rest and relax for the remainder of the day while staff members continue to check on your pet regularly and ensure a safe recovery.

Before being reunited with your pet, our trained staff will examine the surgical incision and confirm your pet is ready to safely return home. They will also discuss with you all post-op instructions  and send you home with a copy of the recommendations. It is very important that these instructions are followed for your pet’s safety & well being.

Post-surgery care of your pet is of the utmost importance to us. Please carefully review the post-surgery instructions below. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. Failure to follow these instructions could result in serious injury to your pet.

For the 7 to 10 days post-surgery:

• Restrict activity.
• No running, jumping, playing, swimming or other strenuous activities.
• Pets must be kept indoors where they can stay clean and dry.
• No baths.

Check the surgery site:

• Check the incision site twice daily.
• There should be no drainage. A small scab may be present and is considered acceptable.  There may also be a small scab associated with the tattoo site. 
• Redness and swelling should be minimal.
• Do not allow your pet to lick or chew at the incision site. If this occurs, an Elizabethan collar (cone) MUST be applied to prevent it. These collars can be purchased at a variety of pet stores and can also be purchased at the NHS Spay and Neuter Center.

You pet’s appetite/feeding you pet:

• Appetite should gradually return within 24 hours after surgery. Please do not change your pet’s diet during the post-op recovery period.
• Avoid giving your pet table scraps, milk, or any other “people food” for a minimum of seven days.
• Changes in your pet’s diet could mask post-surgical complications.

Complications to watch for:

• Pale gums
• Depression
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Discharge or bleeding from the incision
• Difficulty urinating
• Labored breathing

Monitor your pet’s pain level:

If you suspect your pet is in pain after surgery, please call the center at 402-905-3490 for an appointment. Our veterinarians will examine your pet and may prescribe additional mediactions.  While a re-check is free, post-surgery, a nominal fee may be assessed for any prescribed medications.  

Although we do not expect your pet to have any complications after surgery, please keep a close eye on your pet and watch for any of the signs listed above.

We are here for you and your pet!

If you have any questions or concerns about your pet’s time with us or how your pet is recovering from surgery, please call us at 402-905-3490.

Please contact our clinic immediately if you notice any of the following signs of illness:

• Depression
• Vomiting*
• Diarrhea*
• Discharge or bleeding from the incision
• Difficulty urinating
• Labored breathing
• Pale gums
  **You may be asked to follow up with your regular veterinarian, as vomiting & diarrhea are non-specific signs of illness and may or may not be related to the surgery performed.  A full service veterinary clinic has access to necessary diagnostic equipment.  We are happy for your regular veterinarian to refer your pet back to us if they determine the concern is surgical in nature.  

Steps to take if your emergency is happening during regular business hours (Monday-Thursday, 7:15 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.):

• Please call the Center at 402-905-3490.
• We will treat complications directly resulting from the surgery.
• There is no charge assessed at NHS SNC for re-check examination of an animal with a possible post-operative complication.  Furthermore, we always strive to keep treatment costs minimal.
• If you have any questions or concerns directly related to the surgery during the recovery time period, please do not hesitate to contact our Center at 402-905-3490.

Steps to take if your emergency is happening when the Center is closed:

• If your pet requires emergency care when the Center is closed, please call or visit your regular veterinarian or local emergency veterinary clinic.

Please Note: Each client is responsible for paying the cost of an emergency visit directly to the veterinarian or emergency clinic delivering treatment. If we determine that the complication is a surgery-related issue, we may reimburse our client the cost of the emergency visit.

Please keep in mind that your regular veterinarian must address diseases, illnesses, or injuries that are not a direct result of surgery. We cannot be responsible for the following:

• Treatment of a contagious disease that your pet develops after visiting our clinic.

  We highly recommend that all pets be dewormed and vaccinated against the most common contagious diseases for dogs and cats before coming to the NHS SNC for surgery. It can take days to weeks for a pet to develop immunity after receiving a vaccination.  The stress of surgery can also cause an animal with internal parasites to show signs of illness post-surgery. 
• Underlying health issues not known at the time of surgery.

  We recommend pre-surgery blood work and examination at a full service veterinary clinic prior to spay or neuter surgery. The pre-surgery work-up can help to uncover undiagnosed medical conditions which could put your pet at risk for serious complications during or after surgery. If owners forego this testing we cannot be responsible for any issues that may develop at or after surgery.
• Complications that develop when the post-op instructions have NOT been followed.

  Serious complications can develop because the post-op instructions have not been followed. If an owner elects to not follow our instructions for any reason we cannot be responsible for post-surgery complications.

There are many myths surrounding spaying and neutering pets. Test your knowledge!

Myth: My female should have one litter before is spayed.
Fact: There is not information that supports this statement. In fact, spaying your female at a young age can prevent infections of the uterus which may be fatal. Spaying also reduces the risk of mammary cancer, not to mention it eliminates unwanted males from bothering your pet.

Myth: I want my child to witness the miracle of birth.
Fact: Most frequently a female animal will go to a quiet place by herself to have babies or does so at night. It is more important to teach your children about being a responsible pet owner.

Myth: Spaying or neutering my pet will negatively affect its behavior.
Fact: You will see changes in behavior… positive changes! Males are less likely to fight, and they don’t learn the behavior of marking their territory.

Myth: My pet will become lazy and fat after being neutered or spayed.
Fact: The reason pets get fat is usually because they are over fed and under exercised.

High Volume/High Quality

Low-cost, high-quality, high-volume, spay and neuter (HQHVSN) programs like NHS Spay & Neuter Center (SNC) have a vital place in the veterinary profession and are essential to decreasing cat and dog overpopulation and shelter euthanasia. Preliminary research shows a reduction in shelter intake and euthanasia associated with HQHVSN programs. By providing care to underserved patient populations, spay and neuter work enhances the quality of life for animals and the humans who live with them. SNC adheres to the standards set forth in The Association of Shelter Veterinarians Veterinary Medical Care guidelines for Spay-Neuter Programs.¹

This document provides practical standards for high-quality, humane, and efficient care of veterinary patients in high-volume spay and neuter programs. These guidelines promote consistent, quality medical and surgical care for all patients in a variety of spay/neuter settings.

Techniques and Tools

Pain Management

Veterinary medicine now requires a standard of care that incorporates pain relief for all patients undergoing painful procedures. Ovariohysterectomy and castration are both known to be painful procedures requiring treatment for pain. The current recommendations encourage the use of multimodal analgesic therapy. Our protocols reflect this data and include an opioid pre-operatively followed by a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug post-operatively.

Miller's Knot

We commonly use this knot on the ovarian pedicles and the uterine body. It is extremely secure, minimizing complications.

Ovarian Pedicle Tie

Upon isolation of the ovarian pedicle, the pedicle is feathered over the surgeon’s finger to allow identification of the individual structures. The suspensory ligament is located and can be cut with surgical instruments or torn with digital pressure. A mosquito forcep is then utilized to tie off the ovarian pedicle on itself.

Scrotal Neuter Technique

SNC frequently utilizes a scrotal approach when neutering adult dogs.

Historically, a pre-scrotal incision has been utilized by both private practice veterinarians and veterinary teaching institutions, and although this approach arguably remains the most common, the scrotal technique is quickly gaining in popularity for a variety of medical reasons.

SNC joins a vast number of surgeons maximizing on the benefits of a scrotal neuter technique including expert surgeons in the field of spay/neuter as well as board certified veterinary surgeons. In fact, the scrotal technique is currently being taught as the preferred surgical approach in multiple veterinary schools across the United States.

Benefits of a Scrotal Neuter Approach in the Adult Dog

• Smaller incision reduces recovery time
• Shorter anesthesia time
• Less tendency for scrotal hematomas
• Less tendency for irritation and self-trauma

Incision Closure

The incision may be closed with a variety of techniques including absorbable suture and/or tissue glue.

All of these closure techniques utilize the body’s natural healing mechanisms, which means a small amount of clear to bloody discharge is expected and normal for the first few days following surgery. As with any surgical incision, it is important to ensure that the dog is not licking and that the surgery area is kept clean and dry.

Low Cost

Spay & Neuter Center (SNC) strives to remove roadblocks including cost, convenience, and perception that hinder animals from receiving sterilization in order to decrease animal intake and subsequent euthanasia at local shelters and rescues.

We do not want to “steal surgeries” from community veterinarians, when a pet would otherwise be sterilized at full price. In fact, if we attempted to target these clients (who can and would pay full price for a surgery), we would be doing our clinic and our mission a disservice as we would not be contributing to the overall increase of sterilization surgeries within our community.

Although cost of surgery is undoubtedly a big hurdle that must be addressed in order to increase spay and neuter in our community, it is far from the only element involved and is perhaps not the most important issue to consider. It is for this reason that SNC does not require proof of low income at this time in order to schedule a surgery. For example, the reason a pet remains unsterilized may be related to misguided perceptions or the cultural value of the spay/neuter service. Just because an owner has the means to purchase a full price surgery does not mean they will.

We work diligently to ensure that our surgery center will NOT lead to a decrease in procedures performed by private practitioners as some might fear. In a study of five communities with targeted spay/neuter programs, the total number of spays and neuters in the communities increased, including the number performed in private practices.

Our goal is to increase the number of sterilizations being completed in the communities we serve by specifically marketing to clientele that were otherwise not sterilizing their pets regardless of the motivations behind their choices.

Routine Vet Care

Education is a key piece to motivating pet owners to seek out, pay for, and value routine vet care and lifesaving procedures like spay and neuter surgery.  One of our fundamental goals is educating and advocating responsible pet care on behalf of our community veterinarians and the pets that you serve.

Your private practice vet clinic has no bigger advocate than NHS. We want nothing more than the pets of our community to come to your clinics on a regular basis and for these clients to partner with you for the behavioral and physical wellbeing of their pet. Our desire is for your clinic to spay and neuter as many pets as possible, but if a client is unable or unwilling to elect this service we would love to be a referral option for you to utilize at your discretion.

If you are interested in partnering with SNC to provide routine and lifelong veterinary care to the under served pets of the communities we serve, please let us know so we can include you on our list of veterinarians willing to provide post-surgery and routine vet services to the clients that utilize SNC.

Open Door Policy

We understand that many veterinarians may be unfamiliar with some of the advances in high quality, high volume surgery technique and innovative community solutions. At SNC, we love the opportunity to share our experience and passion with veterinary colleagues and discuss any concerns or questions regarding the follow-up care of our patients, general business practice, or overall mission and method. We invite you to call or stop by our clinic anytime during normal business hours.