by Robyn Fehring

Created on: March 02, 2007   Last Updated: March 15, 2010

Spaying and neutering your pet doesn't always have to cost an arm and a leg. I work in a vets, so I know it can cost hundreds, depending on what needs to be done. Many places will spay/neuter a pet before you even adopt it, and the same goes now for many breeders when they retire an animal. If you have an animal you need spayed, you should check with your vet about the following things:

1. What shots do they require prior to spaying. By law, a vet can't treat an animal without a rabies and often won't spay without a distemper (and in the case of a dog, a heartworm test.) If this is so, see if someone is offering a vaccine clinic so you can get the shots for less, prior to.

2. Does your pet need blood work? Most pets do not require blood work prior to being put out, although most vets offer to do so. They offer to make sure your pet is healthy before you knock them out, and also should your animal become sick in the future, they have blood tests to use as a comparative to blood draws if your animal is ill. If you have an older animal, you may be required to do the blood work, each vet has different requirements on this.

3. Does your vet accept FOA certificates? FOA stands for Friends of Animals, and you can get these from their website, offering low cost spay/neuter. Most vets will require you to be a patient, or come in and establish yourself before hand with an exam and rabies if your pet doesn't have one, but it's far cheaper this way.

4. Your local SPCA typically will offer a spay/neuter clinic. My only advice with this, is find out about after care. Many females (dogs) will require a suture removal, and some clinics don't offer a follow up. This is also a problem if your pet's stitches break, or their is an emergency with the surgery, you won;t be able to call them like you would your vet, and may get stuck going to a clinic which WILL cost an arm and a leg.

You should always spay and neuter your pets. It is not true you should wait and let them have a litter, go into a heat, etc. Most cats, once they go into heat, will not go out. (Even if they aren't exhibiting symptoms) This will also result in an extra in heat surcharge fee! The longer you wait, the more unhealthy it can be for your pet.

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