As most dog owners are aware, many vets recommend that female dogs should be spayed. However, often forgotten is the cost of this procedure. With the global cost-of-living crisis showing no signs of abating, many of you might be wondering if you can get your dog spayed for free. Let’s investigate this.
Why Spay Dogs At All?
Spaying, or the surgical removal of the female reproductive organs, is a procedure that is recommended by vets for most female dogs. We’ve discussed the procedure itself, the best time to spay, and the pros and cons of spaying before many times, so we’ll keep it brief here.
A spay is performed surgically under general anaesthetic and involves removal of the ovaries (ovariectomy) and usually the uterus as well (ovariohysterectomy). Some practices may perform the procedure laparoscopically (keyhole spay). The best time to spay is contentious, but generally recommended after at least a year old. Larger dogs should be spayed later to prevent skeletal immaturity, so most dogs can be spayed by two years old. In some cases, dogs are spayed before they start puberty, but this can lead to complications, as we’ve recently discussed.
Spaying a dog ensures she cannot become pregnant. This reduces the risk of illness, injury and death during mating, pregnancy and giving birth. It also prevents season-related behaviour, such as nesting, false pregnancy, and interest in male dogs. Spaying will almost completely eliminate the risk of uterine diseases, such as pyometra and uterine cancers. For various reasons neutered dogs tend to live longer too. It is also commonly cited that spaying reduces the risk of mammary cancer; though recent evidence has shown the association may not be as clear as once though.
Some drawbacks of neutering
The most obvious are the risks of a general anaesthetic (though general anaesthesia in dogs is generally very safe); the increased risk of urinary incontinence in later life; the increased risk of certain cancers in certain breed; and growth and skeletal abnormalities (both can be prevented with appropriate timing of the spay). Behavioural changes after neutering vary wildly, and may be positive, negative or none at all.
In summary, though the pros and cons of neutering should be discussed before the procedure, in our opinion spaying is a net benefit to most dogs.
The Costs of Dog Spaying
The cost of spaying your dog will vary from veterinary practice to practice, in different areas of the country, depending on the size and breed of dog, on what sort of spay you want, and any extras you opt in for. It could cost under a hundred pounds, multiple hundreds, or even a thousand or more in certain situations.
Why does a dog spay cost so much?
Part of the cost of spaying will pay for the rent for the building, gas, water and electricity, salaries for the staff (remember that vets and nurses often aren’t paid as much as you think), taxes, consumables such as drugs and suture material, paying off expensive equipment like anaesthetic machines, and many other things. When it’s all totted up, not a lot goes back to the practice as profit.
Speaking of profit, remember that the majority of veterinary practices are private companies who need to make profit to survive. This profit can then be used to invest back into the business to make the business and the industry as a whole better. Very few practices operate as non-profit.
Furthermore, many practices discount or undercharge for neutering, even if this means performing them at a loss. We do this to encourage neutering to prevent future harm to the animal by being unneutered. Although veterinary practices are businesses, animal welfare is always at the forefront.
Inally, many practices will have had to raise the prices for a spay as a consequence of the cost-of-living crisis – it has affected all industries, vets included. We appreciate that all these factors make spays expensive for many people, but we hope this has helped explain why.
Where Can I Get My Dog Spayed for Free?
Unfortunately, there are very few places where you can get your dog spayed for free, and many free or discount schemes are only for those on low income or benefits. You should always check you qualify first. Here are some places you may be able to find discounted neutering.
The RSPCA, PDSA and Blue Cross are all charities that run discount neutering schemes. In certain cases this may be a 100% discount. Remember that many need you to be local to their practice, qualify for their care, and follow their guidelines. The spays will usually be a basic surgical spay, and you may have to pay for additions such as nail clips, a buster collar/Elizabethan collar, or follow-up care. These charities receive very little to no governmental assistance, so any financial donation you can make will always be appreciated.
Some veterinary organisations offer free or discounted neutering for pets in their local area
There are unfortunately few around, but if you are lucky enough to live near one you may be eligible. Some of these are local charities, while others work with veterinary students to teach them how to spay animals. University-run practices may also offer similar discounts to teach their students.
Check with your local veterinary practice too
Though it is unlikely they will offer free neutering, some may offer periods of discounted neutering to encourage uptake, sometimes in association with free microchipping. Some practices will also have health schemes that may give you a discount on neutering when you sign up.
When most charities take in strays or abandoned animals, they will usually neuter them before putting them up for adoption. Some charities may instead work with a local practice and give you a neutering voucher to use at that practice. While this doesn’t help current owners, if you’re looking for a new pet, looking in your local shelter for a dog can save on the costs of a spay.
Consider pet insurance
Most insurers will not cover neutering, as it is an elective procedure, but you should always check. Some insurers will cover for emergency cases of neutering, such as pyometras or caesareans – however, these are often excluded too as both can be prevented with spaying before the fact. Furthermore, we would not encourage you to wait and spay during these periods, as a spay during this time is much more dangerous than a pre-planned spay.
Other Ways to Save on Dog Spaying
Even with the above schemes, or if you aren’t eligible to any of the above at all, you might be wondering how you can justify and afford a spay.
First consider that although a spay is a large upfront cost, the savings in the long-run are considerable
A routine spay at a year old may cost a few hundred pounds, but an emergency pyometra spay at 10-years old could cost a thousand or more. It’s also, of course, much more dangerous for your dog. Similarly, the costs of treating for cancer, pregnancy, and so on, are much more expensive than a simple spay. Try and look at the long-term gains rather than the short-term costs.
Secondly, start saving well in advance
Many people get their dogs as puppies, so you have at least a year to save for a spay – ask your vet how much it may cost then. If you even save a little each month, in 12 months that might be a big percentage of your dog’s spay. Don’t forget to ask your vet if they have discount schemes too.
Finally, if money really is a problem, consider the kind of dog you want, or even if a dog is something you can afford right now
Larger dogs need more medication and thus their spays cost more – if you are wanting to keep costs low, consider a smaller breed dog. And if even with all the above neutering schemes, discounts and savings, a spay is still going to be a struggle to afford, please consider waiting to purchase a dog until finances are more flexible – the lifetime costs of a dog can easily be tens of thousands when food, shelter, neutering, and other veterinary care is totalled, even without any accidents or illness. If you don’t have the means to own a dog, please put the dog’s welfare first and not adopt one at this time.
Further reading:
- What is the cheapest type of pet insurance?
- Congenital canine urinary incontinence – what’s why has my puppy ALWAYS been incontinent?
- Am I eligible for charity vet care?
Discussion
I hàve a female pit and I really need her to get fixed I can’t afford to feed puppys bad enough to find them forever home so if I could get my dog spayed before she does get pregnant but I can’t afford it am 65 no money at all but I don’t want to get rid of my baby ßhe all I got I love her so very much so is their à place around Huron California 93234 that we’ll spayed for free