Frequently Asked Questions

What does "spay" and "neuter" really mean? Female dogs and cats are spayed by removing their reproductive organs, and male dogs and cats are neutered by removing their testicles. In both cases the operation is performed while the pet is under anesthesia.

What happens during the procedure? Your pet will undergo an exam before surgery for safety, receive quality anesthesia and pain relief medications* , a clean clinic and a freshly-sterilized surgical instrument pack, highly-skilled, animal-loving staff, and a quality surgery by a highly experienced veterinarian.

What kind of pain medication do you use? *Anesthesia only provides pain relief while your pet is asleep for surgery. At the Clinic, a pain relief medication is given that lasts 6-8 hours. Oral pain medications are also available for the next 3 days at an extra fee. These are recommended for all pets. Pets exhibit pain in the form of abnormal body position (such as a hunched back), whimpering, shivering, lethargy, and/or aggression. This type of behavior is common in clinics that do not utilize pain relief medications. A pet spay is similar to a human hysterectomy. Most women request pain relief for a couple of days after a hysterectomy. If pets could talk, they would likely be asking too. We use safe and effective products. NEVER use over-the-counter pain relief products without consulting a veterinarian. All increase bleeding times and several are toxic to pets.

At what age should my pet be spayed/neutered?

We request that cats be at least 4 months of age for spaying or neutering. Male dogs can also be neutered as young as four months old. Female dogs should be at least six months of age for spaying at The Affordable Spay Neuter Clinic. We have found that spaying dogs at a younger age can require a longer incision and more time in surgery due to the delicate nature of a pediatric uterus. We do not operate on patients over 5 years of age at this facility.

How long will my pet need to stay at the clinic after spaying/neutering? Depending on your pet's age, size, and health, he or she will stay at the Clinic for the remainder of the day after surgery and will be discharged late that afternoon. Depending upon the procedure, your pet may need stitches removed after a few days but this is uncommon with our routine procedures.

How long after spaying/neutering can my pet return to normal activity? We recommend strict inactivity for two days and leash walks only for seven days.  Information (including specific written instructions) will be provided before surgery covering all pre and post op phases of the procedure.

What kinds of complications could arise from spay/neuter surgery? Please visit this link for a list of possible complications.  This list is standard for all surgeries at any hospital. We have never lost a patient during or after surgery at The Affordable Spay Neuter Clinic.

And why we do what we do...

Why are you setting up this clinic instead of a full service veterinary practice?

Our simple, singular mission is to sterilize cats and dogs so that we can help curb pet overpopulation, PERIOD.  By focusing only on this effort, we can make our services more affordable and therefore available to many more pet owners. Diane has rescued and placed thousands of animals since 1989. The Affordable Spay Neuter Clinic  is our next and perhaps most important undertaking in our personal fight against death and misery in shelters, dumpsters, and  puppy mills. We will gladly "fix" feral cats. We are here to help anyone who is trying to address this ongoing epidemic.  For Diane and Dr. Steve,  it is not enough just to talk about it - we must help as we can. In our opinion, there is no better use for a veterinary medical license.

Why are your surgery prices lower than my regular vet’s prices?  

Our clinic was constructed specifically for the purpose of spaying and neutering dogs and cats. The A.S.N.C. doesn’t have to support other hospital services (radiology, pharmacy, exam rooms, medical wards, etc.) through high surgery fees. We are therefore able to keep our "distraction costs" down and most importantly, we pass this efficiency on through very reasonable pricing for very high quality procedures. We are focused, fast, and really good at what we do - spaying and neutering, all day, every day.

There are plenty of "retail" animal hospitals out there already.  It is estimated that forty percent of pet owners will never take their animals to the vet due to costs.  These animals need (at least) the basics also. We are doing our best to remove cost as the primary reason pets don't get sterilized or vaccinated. We are trying to make it as easy as possible for a pet owner to do the right thing.  It is good for our community and our animals, whether owned or not.

Thank you for your support. Thank you to the owners and caregivers of our first 4000 patients.

Dr. Steven M. Silberman and Diane Dietch-Silberman

August 1, 2010

Please be part of the solution - HAVE

YOUR PET SPAYED OR NEUTERED!  

Useful Links

Spay USA

North Shore American League

The Humane Society of the United States

University of PA Poisonous Plant Info

The University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine Emergency Room
(215) 898-4685