Spay and neuter surgery is one of the most common procedures in veterinary medicine and one of the most impactful things you can do for your pet's long-term health. At South Pasadena Animal Hospital, we perform these procedures with careful anesthetic monitoring and attentive recovery care at our Alhambra clinic.
While your pet is already here for surgery, it's also a convenient time to take care of microchipping — many owners choose to do both in the same visit.
Beyond population control, spay and neuter surgery carries meaningful health advantages for individual pets. The benefits vary by species and timing, but for most dogs, cats, and exotic pets the long-term health case is strong.
Safety is our priority at every step. Before any procedure, we perform a pre-surgical exam and review bloodwork to confirm your pet is healthy for anesthesia. Throughout surgery, a dedicated team member monitors heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and body temperature continuously.
Full physical exam and bloodwork to confirm your pet is healthy and to identify any factors that may affect anesthetic choice or monitoring needs.
Continuous monitoring of vitals by a dedicated technician throughout the procedure. We use modern anesthetic protocols tailored to your pet's species, size, and age.
Your pet recovers in a warm, supervised space before going home. We provide detailed discharge instructions and pain management guidance, and we're available for questions during the recovery period.
Reproductive surgery in exotic species requires additional planning. Female rabbits are strongly recommended for spaying given their very high rate of uterine cancer after age 3. Guinea pig ovarian cysts are common and often treated with spaying. Ferrets may benefit from neuter or adrenal management. Each exotic spay or neuter is planned individually with species-specific anesthetic protocols.
Learn about our exotic services →Timing depends on breed and size. Smaller dogs are often done around 6 months. Larger breeds may benefit from waiting until 12 to 18 months for full physical maturity. We discuss the best timing for your dog specifically at your pre-surgical consultation.
Spaying eliminates pyometra risk and reduces mammary tumor risk significantly. Neutering eliminates testicular cancer and reduces prostate enlargement. Both reduce certain hormone-driven behaviors. For rabbits, spaying is especially important due to very high uterine cancer rates.
Pre-surgical bloodwork, continuous vital monitoring throughout the procedure, and attentive recovery supervision. A dedicated team member monitors your pet from induction through discharge.
Most pets go home the same day and recover within 10 to 14 days. We provide pain management and detailed home care instructions. Activity restrictions during recovery help the incision heal cleanly.
Yes. Rabbits, guinea pigs, and ferrets can all benefit from reproductive surgery. Spaying female rabbits is strongly recommended given very high uterine cancer rates. Exotic reproductive surgeries require a vet experienced with these species and their anesthetic needs.
Pre-surgical wellness exams help us tailor the safest anesthetic plan for your pet.
Learn more →Post-operative laser therapy reduces pain and accelerates incision healing.
Learn more →Stay current on vaccines — often scheduled alongside spay/neuter planning.
Learn more →We're at 3116 W Main St in Alhambra. Established clients can schedule a consultation. Exotic patients are welcome. View our pricing or give us a call.