Consumer Guide to Spay and Neuter Surgery
If you call around town, you will find a big difference in the prices the various clinics charge to spay or neuter your pet.
For example, in January of 2019, the prices to spay the same small dog ranged from $90 to $260. That’s nearly a three-fold difference.
The reason for this is that not every clinic does things the same way! Now, this is not what we are used to as humans. When we humans go to the hospital for surgery, we expect that every hospital does things pretty much the same way. Everybody gets their blood pressure monitored, everybody has an IV line in, everybody gets the best pain management there is, etc.
This is not the case in veterinary medicine. There are major differences in how the various clinics do the same procedure. It’s a pretty good bet that Dr. $90 does things quite a bit differently than Dr. $260. We’re talking about major differences in
- how pain and anxiety are managed
- how anesthesia is administered
- even in how the surgery itself is done.
At Sunnyside Veterinary Clinic, we offer choices.
We realize each patient and each client are different, so instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, we offer several choices as to what level of care you want for your pet. Some owners choose just the basics. Others choose the very highest level of care possible. Many owners choose a more intermediate level of care that covers more of the bases but isn’t priced at the top of the range either. Choice is a good thing.
Spoiler Alert: most of our clients end up choosing our Free Laser Surgery Package, a package that includes
- the best pain and anxiety management,
- the best anesthesia package,
- a free up-grade to laser surgery.
This lets us do our best work at controlling pain and anxiety, managing anesthesia in a safe way, and of course there's the free laser surgery upgrade. And the price is still quite reasonable. Click here for a price sheet.
You can choose to have just the basic procedure done. It will cost less this way, but the draw-backs are that at this price we are not able to manage pain and anxiety as effectively as we would like, we can’t manage the anesthesia as safely as is possible, and of course you miss out on the free upgrade to laser surgery.
You can mix and match as well, choosing maybe just one of the upgrades.
Click the links below to go to a more detailed discussion of the basic procedure each upgrade. Don't worry, we'll have plenty of time to discuss all this at your pet's pre-surgical exam the morning of surgery.
Pre-emptive pain management 
There are lots better ways to treat post-surgical pain than just taking pills after the surgery is all over. If you don't start pain medication before the pain starts, you're just playing catch-up. Same with anxiety. Pre-emptive Pain Management starts the minute they leave the pre-surgical consult. It is a much more effective way to control pre-op anxiety and post-op surgical pain, and it results in a happier, more pain-free patient. Follow the link to learn more.
IV Fluid Support
Since 40% of dogs and cats develop low blood pressure under anesthesia, it only makes sense to be prepared for that. IV Fluid Support keeps blood pressure in the healthy range so they feel good when they wake up, and it provides for a vaulable safety net if there are problems. Follow the link to learn more
Pre-anesthetic Lab Work
About 5% of the young, healthy cat and dog population out there have problems that can't be seen with just a physical exam. It takes labwork to identify them and make the changes in the anesthetic plan needed to keep them safe. Follow the link to learn more.
Laser Surgery
Laser Surgery is cutting-edge medicine without the cutting edge. Laser Surgery results in less pain, less swelling, and much less bleeding. It's available as a free up-grade if you choose any two of the other up-grades. Follow the link to learn more.
It’s all up to you and your budget.
And now for some good news!
Click here to print out a coupon for a free up-grade to Laser Surgery. We are offering this upgrade to our clients free of charge. All you have to do is choose at least two other upgrades, for example Pre-emptive Pain Management, and IV Fluid Support, and you can get the up-grade to laser surgery free.
Over the years, this has proven to be a very popular package, with about 90% of our clients choosing to do things that way. This package is highlighted in yellow on the price sheet. Click here to read more about the benefits of Laser Surgery.
If you have a large-breed dog, click here to read about a potentially life-saving procedure that you might want to consider having done during the spay or neuter surgery.
If you are considering declawing your cat, click here for more information.
So what's does all this cost?
Click here for current pricing. But before you click, please note that these prices are for young (under 1year old), healthy patients that are not in heat or obese. If your pet is older, fatter, or in heat, these prices may not apply.