... . . ; •* ... • . . * . Herald - Lantern - Dispatch 23 April '86 5?

Pet Patrol MARK W. LOGAN. V.M.D.

Owners of female dogs and cats sooner or later will have to make a decision concerning having .< their animal spayed. Such^r a decision may seem easy to some of us and difficult for others. This week's column will cover some of the basics of the spaying decision and the surgery itself. When your local veterinarian spays an animal, he removes the entire female reproductive tract within the abdomen. Both the ovaries and the parts of the uterus down to the cervix are removed. THE INCISION is made near the umbilicus or "belly button". Various vessels are tied off with thread-like suture material during the operation to reduce bleeding. To perform the surgery, and truly a spay operation is abdominal surgery, your veterinarian must place your animal under anesthesia. By having ydur female animal in an unconscious state, no pain is felt by your pet during the operation and stress before or after the surgery is held to a minimum. By using anesthesia, your veterinarian can also maintain a sterile surgical area because an anesthetized animal will not move during the surgery. WHY WOULD owners want to spay their female pets? In dogs, spayed females will not go into "Wow I r*dwc*d my food blwMilmnDockxr jU the got)6 look-ng kj*n im it doo« I'M me how Doctoi «©v»<J "■v me Spxng ivmmei. ond Ml i wih p>oi*tvono> io'« ondtul'w" And ihey cod >»»i rt»on txxkbwoling do * vouncM When I 'old my o«n»f he pyl do»n o dun, bog ot leihi >re« ond failed Now I m ~«tl led lo- leu And he I oileep .n Ihe hommeyk l»wni mrywlwN. "1 • DOOO»] > Spring special. . i ^$10 OFF : J I I ANNUA!. PRICE J i~CAU 465-3700 \ i LAWN DOCTOR OF * CAK«AYOTU NTY_J

heat every seven mouths (on average) eliminating ""cNean-up problems, Wegnancies, and unwanted /^Visits by male dogs. Female dogs spayed before or immediately after their first heat have a lower incidence of breast tumors later in life when compared to those who are NOT spayed. Check with your veterinarian concerning when he would prefer your female dog be spayed. Some veterinary researches have found that female dogs spayed before their first heat cycle may show urinary incontinence (loss of control) in later life. IN CATS, females will be very vocal and active during their heat cycle, which will re-occur quite often, sometimes at 2-3 week intervals through the spring and summer. Spaying will stop this behavior. Once again, check with your veterinarian concerning the age at^which a cat spay should be performed ; hospital policies may differ from one another. The best place to have your female pet spayed is at your veterinarian's office Your local veterinarian probably has been servicing your pet's needs since it was a young kitten or puppy. HE AND HIS staff know your animal and in some cases, know of any medical problems which might affect anesthetic protocol. Most veterinary hospitals promote proper preventive medicine before the spay, including a professional check-up, vaccinations and effective worming, in- } eluding heart worm prevention in dogs. Your local veterinarian will also attend to your pet's problems for years after the operation. The fee for the spay operation is calculated upon the materials used and services performed by the doctor. Your veterinarian must anesthetize your pet, perform the surgery and oversee your pet's recovery in the hospital. AS WITH your own doctor, this service takes lime and expertise. Adjustments of the spay fee might be made depending upon pregnancy, uterine infection or unusual surgical complexity. Check with your veterinarian; he may have to charge more for larger dogs because a larger

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volume of anesthetic must be used and more usage is made of the hospital space. The State of New Jersey does have a successful program in place for individuals who truly are in need of assistance. Qualifications are based on receipt of any of many diverse forms o( state and/or federal assistance. THE PET OWNER pays $10 and a state fund covers the rest of the surgical fee. Distemper vaccinations are included in this program. Contact a state social services office or your own veterinarian for details on this very worthwhile program. Readers who live in Middle Township can have their cats spayed by the veterinarian of their choosing if they qualify for that township's cat spay program. THERE IS NO requirement that you have your cat spayed at a specific location. This taxpayer subsidized program costs the cat owner $15 for the spay surgery. What should you do when your newly spayed pet returns home? In most cases, no aftercare is needed except normal feeding and walking, and a limit on strenuous exercise for a few weeks. External sutures ("stitches") should be removed according to your veterinarian's instructions, usually at approximately two weeks after surgery. THE SUTURES of the skin are NOT the only ones •holding your pet together '. Several other layers of sature material in the muscle and connective tissue will eventually dissolve as healing takes place. "Won't 'Frisky' get fat because you spayed her?" is an often raised question in the examination room. If you reduce your pet's daily food intake aftr her operation, she will not get overweight. I Since a female's metabolism will slow down after a spay surgery through hormone changes, food intake must be reduced to match this lower need i for calories in the diet. | " 'CINDY' needs to have0 a litter first before we have her spayed." . This is a myth. No bitch or queen needs to have a litter to be a better pet. There are too many orphan animals looking for a home; please don't create rrfore homeless animals tYkr ough unneeded pregnancies. "My dog, 'Puffy', doesn't need to be spayed because she is only a little poodle " Breed and size of the animals make no difference in the need for the spay operation. Unspayed female dogs do run the risk of pregnancy or more likely uterine infection following the "heat" cycle with advancing age. The male pets will get equal time in the next article when Pet Patrol will discuss neutering of male cats and dogs.

j^laL i I is I i Senior Citizens j i Month at i i Anchor Savings J j & Loan | ilEHSSB®1 inpHi i^SBH1 i BHKSBfitSJ 1 This Prize includes a full-course lunch at the Beautiful Hotel DuPont in Wilmington, Delaware, and a Guided Tour of the ■ WINTERTHUR MUSEUM, Gardens and Grounds. — How To Enter! — J From April 1 to April 30. 1986. Senior Citizens making any i ■ Anchor Savings account transaction will be given an entry ■ blank from one of our tellers. Complete the entry btank and drop it into a ballot box at any ■ of Anchor Savings' six convenient office locations. I 22 WINNERS WILL BE DRAWN ON I FRIDAY, MAY 2, 1986, AT NOON AND NOTIFIED BY PHONE AND MAIL. Enter as often as you like, but only one prize will be awarded ■ to any individual Anchor Savings customer. 1 1} IF YOU'RE A SENIOR, YOU'RE A WINNER! I W/ For during April, no fees will be applied to Senior Citizens « \]f purchasing Money Orders. Travelers Checks and Cashiers JE/a Checks | 1®_ m AHCHORI I 886-5422 :^| P? VIHGS & LOAN | _ North Cape May Office ASSOCIATION _ ^ja^shore Road