How Much Does It Cost to Neuter a Dog?

VIEW ORIGINAL ARTICLE >

Miami Herald
By: Alison Tobin
Published: Feb 20, 2024

Spaying or neutering your dog has long been considered a beneficial surgery. After all, it controls the animal population — limiting the number of stray dogs and those in shelters — and has key pet health and safety benefits.

If you’re considering this surgery for your dog, you probably want to know how much it will cost. Depending on where you live, among other factors, spaying can cost as little as $10 or as much as $700 or more. Luckily, there are a few ways you can save money on the procedure. Some pet insurance plans may also help cover the cost.

Here’s everything you need to know about how much it costs to neuter your dog, including what the price includes and how you can save money.

What are the typical costs associated with neutering a dog?

The total cost billed for a neuter surgery usually includes:

• Pre-surgery exam fee
• Bloodwork
• The surgery itself (including anesthetic agents and monitoring)
• Dog pain medication to manage any discomfort at home
• Follow-up appointments

What factors affect the cost of neutering a dog?

The cost of your dog’s neutering procedure can vary depending on the following:

• Your dog’s health: If your dog has a particular medical condition — such as a heart murmur, brachycephalic airway syndrome or kidney disease — they may require extra precautions or monitoring during and after the procedure, which costs more.

• Your dog’s size: Neutering large dogs is more expensive because they require more anesthesia. You may also incur additional travel expenses if you don’t live near a clinic equipped to do surgery on giant dog breeds.

• Your location: In general, you can expect to pay more in a larger city where the cost of living is higher than a rural area

• The veterinary clinic: Veterinarians may charge higher rates for more in-depth or high-tech procedures that use state-of-the-art equipment.

Should I get my dog neutered?

Neutering (also known as castration) is a surgical procedure to remove the reproductive organs of a male animal so they are unable to reproduce. It’s called spaying for female animals and entails the surgical removal of the ovaries, uterus and fallopian tubes.

Veterinarians may also recommend neutering to address cryptorchidism in dogs, a condition in which one or both testicles fail to “drop” and remain in the abdominal area.

Getting your dog neutered — or “fixed” — is likely the first surgery you’ll consider for your puppy. It’s usually done when they are at least six months old, but it can vary. If your dog is an adult, neutering may still be safe as long as they are healthy. However, surgery complication risks can increase as your dog gets older, so discuss it with your vet.

The procedure itself is usually very quick, only taking up to twenty minutes. However, your dog must go under general anesthesia, which involves preparation before and recovery after the anesthesia wears off. You can expect your dog to be at the vet from a few hours to the whole day, depending on how busy the vet is with other surgeries.

Vets usually recommend neutering your dog because of the community and health benefits it provides. However, as with any surgery, there are some things to keep in mind.

Benefits of neutering a dog

Getting your dog neutered has the following benefits:

• Controls the dog population – Shelter Animals Count, a national database that tracks animal shelters and rescues, estimates that around 2,000 animals are euthanized in U.S. shelters daily. While some animals are euthanized because they are suffering from an illness or injury or are unsafe, another reason is pet overpopulation and overcrowding in shelters. Neutering your dog can help limit the number of dogs in shelters.

• Can increase your dog’s lifespan – Neutering has the potential to help your dog live a longer life. According to a University of Georgia study based on the causes of death in more than 40,000 domestic dogs, sterilization increased the life expectancy of male dogs by 13.8%.

• Decreases or eliminates the risk of certain health conditions – In male dogs, neutering can lower the risk of benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate glands) and eliminate the possibility of testicular cancer.
• Decreases or eliminates certain behaviors – Neutering can help reduce or eliminate certain mating and territorial behaviors related to hormones and breeding instincts. The behaviors can include roaming — leaving home in search of a mate — and marking their territory with urine. Roaming can be dangerous because of the risk of injuries, diseases and more.