The low cost clinics exist to ensure that those who could not otherwise afford to neuter their pets have a low cost option to do so. The care may require more follow-up home care from you, but if your pets are both healthy and this is the most affordable option for you, then please do take advantage of it!

That said, your own vet has your pet's historys and will provide life long care them. On that basis, and certainly for any follow-up related to the spay/neuter you may want to stick with him/her. If you can't afford your regular vet, don't be ashamed of taking them to the low cost clinic. You're doing the right thing by having them neutered!

Low-cost clinics also exist to make spaying & neutering easier to obtain.

They usually have the owner to withhold food (& maybe water?) after a certain time the night before surgery, bring the pet in early, & pick it up the same day.

so the owner does have to "do" more, *but* this system avoids the stress of overnight stays in a scary clinical environment.

I'd take them to the clinic without a qualm.

I agree with the others. Part of the reason the cost is lower is because you are not paying for a stay in the doggy/kitty hospital, and wages for someone to monitor your pet. They are sent home the same day, but they still receive excellent care for the short time they are there, in my opinion. If you or a family member or friend cannot take a day or two off though, to stay with your pet at home after surgery to ensure that they are cared for and do not injure themselves, then it might be best to take them to your regular vet. One of my cats in particular didn't want to "take it easy" after surgery and needed lots of attention.

Neuters require very little "down time" on the table. It is a very simple operation (provided both testicles have descended). Have you checked for cryptorchidism? If they are both there, then by all means, go for the cheaper route.

They will also require very little "aftercare"...the kitty will most likely be superglued and the puppy will probably have two stiches at most. One thing you should ask is whether they give a penicillin shot (stays in the system for 48 hours) after surgery.

The spay/neuter clinic that I volunteered with did an excellent job...that is all they do (spays/neuters). They use the same equipment, do the same prep work, use the same sterilization techniques, etc... The dogs and cats were awake within minutes of surgery and ready for their owners to come back for them.

You will need to withhold food and water after 8:00 pm the night before...the reason for this is to make sure they don't have an extensive amount in their system to regurgitate if they get queasy...which can cause major problems since the animal will not be able to swallow (it will come part way up and could go back into their lungs).

Go and visit with the vet before deciding...make sure you think it is fine. Ours is very good, but that doesn't mean all of them are.

I wouldn't hesitate taking a male to be neutered at a low cost clinic. My vet doesn't keep male neuters over night anyhow - only females.

I took 3 of my 4 cats to a low cost clinic and they all did great. My sister took her male dog to the same place and he did great as well.

My toy poodle I took to my vet for her spay because they are familiar with her history. She has seizures and I wanted to make sure she got the best care and an overnight stay just in case. All was fine.

Good luck with your boys!
Sher

Where I work, all animals go home same day of surgery.

The differences being that as mentioned above, there should be much more supervision at a a hospital than at the HS. The HS may not have the best monitoring equipment, may not place an IV catheter in every patient, may not use the best suture material (many use lower cost reel suture instead of individually sterilized prepackaged suture), and your pet will probably recover in an area with sick animals. At least that is the situation in the local shelter. Of course at the shelter here, you may also have a vet student do the surgery, which isn't usually a problem for healthy animals but may be for less healthy ones because of the longer time it takes a student to do surgery. The facility at the shelter here is an RV with 3 surgery bays and a prep room. Although everyone tries to maintain sterility, it is difficult when one surgeon is doing the butt-bumps with the surgeon in the next stall. Once the animal is breathing on its own, they are no longer supervised, whereas at the hospital a tech is always checking and monitoring recovering animals. That's fine too as long as your pet recovers well.

That said, I am not aware of the shelter having any more problems post-op than a hospital. It isn't an optimal surgery suite, but the animals seem to do just as well. The difference in cost comes from the fact that many shelters are taxpayer supported, and of course a private hospital must cover all costs with the price of the services. Plus vet students and volunteer veterinarians who do spay/neuters for the shelter obviously don't get paid. So the overhead costs for the shelter is a lot lower, and they pass the savings on to you.

My only concern is that certain shelters do a lot less of a pre-op physical and bloodwork than a hospital might. Whenever my pets are put under general anesthesia, I always do a full chem panel, CBC, and UA a couple of days prior just to make sure everything is OK. When clients at the animal hospital decline bloodwork (which they are only allowed to do if the pet is healthy and under 7 years old), we still check a PCV and total solids to at least be sure the pets are not dehydrated, anemic, or hypoprotienemic. A shelter may not do any bloodwork at all, depending. The one we work with at school does do a PCV, total solids, and we check a urine specific gravity as well. Many people opt not to have preanesthetic bloodwork done in their young healthy pets and that is fine as long as you understand that some diseases that may compromise a pet while under anesthesia can be found with bloodwork but not on a routine physical exam. If you are concerned about that type of thing, you could always have bloodwork done at your regular vet a couple of days prior to surgery.

I haven't had to worry about spays/neuters in my pets for a long time. Either I've done them myself, or they came already altered.

If you want to tour the HS, that could probably be arranged if you call ahead a couple of days. It may help you knowing that the facilities are clean and well stocked, etc.

Good luck with your boys.

I agree with everything said.

I did notice that no one mentioned a reimbursement for your vet from the Humane Society, or a low cost program that he/she may be involved in.

Good luck!

SG

Some groups have arrangements with local vets for reduced fee spay/neuters and the surgeries are done in the Dr.'s clinic. Others have their own facility. Our clinic is like Meghane said tho unless there is a complication then the pet will go home late the afternoon of the surgery.

Lisa

I am fortunate in that all my cats have been neutered by my vet who also does the work for the foster group I've adopted most of my pets from..So in this case the vet care is the same and all leave the day of the surgery which is early in the morning, and the are picked up after 4 or 5..even the females.

Yea...see if you can go visit the facility....

I understand where meghane is coming from, but the type of clinic she is describing does not match the one I volunteer for....

They do use individually sterilized prepackaged sutures (have opened them myself while assisting)

Since they only do spays/neuters and only perform surgeries on the shelter animals on specific days of the week, there are never shelter animals and others in the clinic at the same time.

Once the animal is breathing on its own, they are taken to their own individual cage, but are continually monitored for signs of distress. They are also turned regularly if they are taking their sweet time waking up.

I would take any one of my animals there...

First, thanks to all who responded with their thoughts and information. I really appreciate it.

I hope my original post was not misleading; this is not a matter of money being so tight that I need to neuter in the cheapest way possible--rather, I was thinking that with both animals being healthy (and yes, two fully descended "family jewels" on each) that they would not need the bells and whistles environment of our vet's hospital and I could save over $300 (to later be spent on grooming, heartworm and flea/tic meds, etc!)

Some of the vets in my area participate in the SNAP (spay, neuter all pets) program which reduces the cost of the actual surgery (and only the surgery) to $45 or so. Our vet does not participate in SNAP and in speaking with another local hospital which does accept SNAP, I found out that with the rest of the costs added back in, the neutering would still cost about $125 or so and I would need to get my pets' medical records from our vet anyway.

Then, I called the Humane Society to find out more info. Turns out the answering machine message said the clinic is for low-income folks (we are not) and the clinic is closed for renovations and isn't expected to reopen until late January.

I am going to schedule my pup's neutering with our vet who will microchip my puppy at the same time. I may hold off on the kitten for another month or two and give him a chance to grow a bit more. Right now, he is a tiny thing, barely 6 lbs and looks like a skinny ferret running around my house. He is strictly indoor as is our other neutered cat so no danger of mini-Twinkies if we wait a bit. I think I'll also follow up with the Humane Society to see if the "low income" bit was a mistake as I am pretty certain my kitten's mama (a pregnant stray taken in by our sitter) was spayed there and her family most definitely would not qualify as low income.

If anyone is interested, I will post again with what I find out from the Humane Society. In the meantime, I am glad that for people who might have trouble affording the cost of spaying/neutering, there are lower cost options available.

I think the difference may be that in the vet's office, a veterinarian does all the surgeries. The anesthesia is much more closely monitored. There is pre-op blood work. I agree every animal should be spayed and neutered. Did they give you an estimate describing what they were charging you for. Most decent vets will explain their charges. If you are comfortable with foregoing the pre-op blood work, that could knock $40-60 off.

All of the posters so value their pets, I wonder if they would travel to places like India where most surgeries, including heart surgeries cost 1/5 of what it costs here in the States. The difference is the type of care. Most testing, surgeries and procedures are performed not by licensed physicians, but by students, interns, people are minimally trained with certificates. Would you go there to have a surgery?

I have pictures in my mind of the type of facility that the HS is able to offer. Not that good. I agree with Meghan, visit the facility prior to taking your animals. That way you will know if it is a sterile environment. If they won't let you visit, go elsewhere. Also, what about the pre-operative blood work? Are they offering that? That may be some of the additional cost at the vet.

Also, there are organizations that offer low cost spay and neuter for a small fee to be done at a proper veterinarian. I live in Mid Atlantic. When I was much younger and needed a cat neutered, there was an origanization "Friends of Animals" to whom you sent a check $15 back then 1980, and in return they send you a certificate good at certain veterinary hospitals in the area. Just a thought you could check out. All of my pets have been neutered (all males). All were same day surgery, exception was youngest cat, had hernia so he stayed overnight.

I would not do it at the humane society. I have visited shelters in my area many times and my impression disgust at the conditions. That's why the shelters in my area send the pets off to Petsmart for adoption. One, it is friendlier environemnt, definitely cleaner and easier on the nose. More traffic and the people are in an enviornment where they can pick up what they need to accommodate a new animal.

My point is that the shelters in our area are in horrid condition. Dirty, dirty, dirty with a capital D. They stink and most of the animals look listless and sick.

Twice I have adopted kittens directly from the shelter. Both ended up being sick. One was sick to the point of a week long hospitalization. Some kind of serious respiratory problem. It cost me quite a bit of money to get the little one well.

I have 6 pets and spent $300 the other night on one's visit. That same pet earlier in the day cost me $217 in daily maintenance medications not including heartworm and flea & tick protection. So two days after Christmas I dropped $517 on one of six pets. It is costly to have pets, so find a vet that is willing to work with you on making payments. Maybe you could break the cost down into 4 payments.

I think it is great you are getting it done in a timely manner, however, I wouldn't have my pets surgeried at the shelter/humane society because I believe my vet's standards in the operating suite are very different than those you will see at the HS.

Best of luck.

Also, I just noticed there was a posting by someone whose puppy got a staph infection. It was neutered prior to their adoption by a rescue society. I just think the standards of care, cleanliness are different.

While I realize the rescues/shelters/HS are doing a service for those who really can't afford a vet to spay and neuter. Also they are trying to ensure the animals are spayed/neutered before they leave to go to a home. Their heart is in the right place, but the money is there for them to always have the proper, sterile environment that should be present for a surgery, same day or not.

I was thinking about labmommas response and my sister in laws comments she has made to me (she volunteers for cats only at the local humane society and the conditions and health care for the animals is very depressing). Since you mention that money is not an issue, I would also recommend using your vet as well. It may be that the humane society program is being subsidized by the local vets which would explain why it is for low income families.

I can't imagine any surgical environment in which sterile conditions were not met.

Every animal would go home with an infection.

Shelter areas containing cages & runs will not always be "just-cleaned", but surgery isn't performed in the cages & runs.

& I bet the state health department-or some such-inspects clinics including vet clinics, & has the power to shut down facilities that are out of compliance.

I do know that there are dismal nasty "shelters", often municipally operated.

I wish they were all enlarged & staffed to handle the traffic (usually the problem) or cleaned up or closed down:

If you know of such a place, you would show the animals mercy by filing a complaint with the health authorities.

sylvia writes: "I can't imagine any surgical environment in which sterile conditions were not met."

It isn't just animals that are getting substandard conditions, there are non-sterile surgeries performed on humans every single day. I have had first hand experience with same, and would never settle for these office suites that double as a "surgery suites".

The places I have been to are county run shelters. That is the authority that polices them as well. The State has no involvement in the county run shelter, so who would you report them to, themselves? They know their shelters are disgusting. There is no money to do any better, I think. If there were more monies alloted to the shelters, perhaps they would be cleaner and therefore, healthier for the poor animals the end up there.

I think the chances of a pet coming home with an transmitted illness (respiratory, etc) is more likely in a shelter spay/neuter setting since there are so many sick animals there.

As for non-sterile, re-read Meghan's post.

Unsanitary conditions are as likely in hospitals & veterinary offices as in suites & clinics, maybe even more so due to the huge numbers of patients that go through the doors every day.

Antibiotic-resistant staph infections are spread in hospitals all the time.

A friend even told me that her husband's doctor walked up to the bed & reached toward the husband's bandaged incision & my friend sort of laughed & said lightly (have to be nice to those doctors!), "Now you ARE going to wash your hands first, aren't you?"

& that was in a big, "efficient", "professional" hospital environment, not a surgical suite.

I've seen urine stained furniture in the lobby of one very pricey vet, & her steel exam table had a very rusty support which seems like it would be difficult to clean & to keep clean.

I've seen a badly cracked cement floor in another vet's office;
I wouldn't want my dog walking on that floor.

But if surgery areas weren't sterilized, every person, every animal, would likely emerge with an infection.

Shelters & spay/neuter clinics have to comply with state law.

The attorney general, on recommendation from the state health department, can take action.

If city- or county-run surgical shelters are nasty, or if you suspect surgerical areas are not sterile, complain to the state.

The health department will inspect the premises, issue a citation warning the offender to clean up, & re-inspect to be sure the clean-up has been done.

If it hasn't, they can call in the attorney general.

The best cure for sanitary problems is publicity:

In addition to the state health department, call the nearest tv station, the SPCA (but don't expect too much from them, they always work through "local" enforcement), the largest newspaper in your area, go to council meetings, write letters, contact HSUS (Humane Society of the US).

I've visited a number of spay/neuter clinics as well as a number of shelters, & the *clinics* have all been clean.

The shelters vary.

The older the shelter, the more likely it's overburdened, overcrowded, understaffed & underfunded.

Those are the ones I'd like to see staffed & funded better & eventually replaced by more modern ones.

Thanks to all for your additional thoughts for me to consider.

Labmomma-I, too, am in the mid-Atlantic. Maryland, where I reside, uses the SNAP program I discussed in the post prior to yours. As I mentioned, the $45 certificate is good only toward the cost of the surgery itself and not all the ancillary expenses. My vet does not accept SNAP certs; another local hospital does, but with the other expenses associated with neutering, the cost still exceeds $125 + the $45 SNAP certificate. So, no bargain there, not much less than the going to our regular vet who does not take SNAP. You are right, pets are expensive--but still cheaper than my children! The orthodontia appointments I made today...YIKES!

Anyway, I have my pup scheduled to be neutered and microchipped by our regular vet in 10 days. Unless he has some sort of problem, this will be "outpatient" surgery and he'll come home the same day. The kitten I am going to give another month or two to bulk up (kitty weight-lifting, anyone?) and will thoroughly check out the Humane Society conditions should I consider that a neutering option.

Exactly what type of blood work would be done with pre-anesthesia workup? Also, do you think the post op pain meds is necessary. We felt we should have it given. I was just looking at the bill from my last spay, a female, who remained overnight following surgery...
pre-anes work up - $22
butorphanol post op pain - $12
spay - $59
TOTAL - $93

How does this compare to YOUR vet?

BTW.. we don't have shelters "rich" enough to have something like spaying clinics. I believe if you adopt from the shelter, you get your spay/neuter for the cost of adoption fee, which is about $35 or so from our local participating vets.

I haven't read all the posts on this thread but I had my dog neutered by a clinic that works on the animals at the local Humane Society. A friend also went there with the stray kittens in her barn after my recommendation. The reason I went there is because of the cost but I was highly impressed. The vet who runs the clinic was the one who used to run the vet's office that I go to. When he retired, he decided to do this service around our small populated state.

I love Petsmart to death..go there every week to see the kitties and buy food but my one cat who was adopted from there where a rescue group runs their center had upper respiratory infection and two vet visits in a week. She's 7 now, on my lap as I type, and healthy as a horse. It's the crowding..there were too many in a cage. A few weeks ago , one of the kittens I fostered all summer I thought was adopted, but he too had gotten upper respiratory as well as his cage-mates. He returned and is gone again..hopefully adopted to a good home this time.

Wow, Moonie, you gotta be kiddin' me! $93 for a spay?

My pup was neutered yesterday. The total came to $283--this included $22 for the e-collar as he was licking/biting the incision, $12 to extract a remaining baby tooth and $44 for the microchipping done while he was under anesthesia. The cost for the actual surgery was $70, so had I opted to purchase the SNAP certificate, I would have saved a whopping $25. Since our vet doesn't participate in SNAP, it was not worth the hassle of taking my puppy to a different vet and the new "patient" exam would have, I am sure, eaten up that $25 savings anyway. He did not spend the night at the vet, either. Other than his dislike of the e-collar, he seems to be doing fine.

A friend recently had her GR spayed by another vet practice in our area--it was around $300, maybe a bit more. I think this is pretty typical for where I live.

The low cost clinic that I volunteer with isn't state of the art. It's an old school bus converted into a MASH unit soley for spaying and neutering. THe vet that owns the bus has done around 27,000 spays and neuters in her career. It's all she does. No bloodwork, basic anesthesia, and no overnight stays. Basic precautions for sterility are observed, nothing fancy. Patients are monitored in recovery by volunteers rather than school trained techs. Most of the prep work is also performed by (skilled) volunteers rather than school trained techs. Usually the animals are young and healthy and just going into puberty, so that may skew things, but in her entire career, she's lost less than 50 animals on the table or post surgery. While we exist to provide folks in low income situations an option they might not otherwise have, we've never screened our clients to ensure that they are lower income. If someone who makes a few bucks feels the need to engage our services, we don't judge them. We do make a statement during the post surgical instructions that if they are happy with their services and can afford it, that they make a similar dollar donation to the Humane Society so that someone who can't even afford the $30 we charge for cats can get their animals fixed also. In this way, we are able to offer a free spay day once a year that IS specifically targeted to the lower income area of town.

So, I understand about wanting to cust costs for a basic operation that poses little risk to your young healthy pet. It's the option I chose for all 6 of my cats, even though they also have a regular vet. I'd only ask that if possible that if your local clinic accepts volunteers or donations of money or goods, that you also consider helping those who might not even have your means. One of the best feelings I'll ever have is handing back a beloved pet to an owner who really want's to take care of that animal, and just needed a little help to do so. Sometimes, that's the only vet visit that animal will ever receive in it's entire lifetime, and we try to make the experience a positive enough one that it motivates them for any future pets. What can I say, parts of the South are as bad as any Third World country. At least we're trying to do our parts.