Spaying and neutering are common surgeries that ensure dogs and cats can’t reproduce. Spaying is the surgery for female dogs and cats; neutering is the surgery for male dogs and cats.

Making the decision to spay or neuter your pet is one of the most important and beneficial choices you can make for your animal. And when you consider all of the positives, it is also one of the easiest.

Health & Safety Benefits

Spaying or neutering your dog will increase life expectancy by one to three years. It will increase your cat’s life expectancy by three to five years.

Reduces or eliminates the risk for mammary gland tumors, ovarian cancer and uterine cancer in females, especially if spayed before the first heat cycle.

Eliminates risk of testicular cancer and reduces risk for prostate disease in males.

Reduces desire to roam, improving safety by reducing injury from fights or auto accidents. Male dogs can smell females in heat up to five miles away. Statistics show that as many as 85% of dogs hit by cars are unaltered.

Reduces overall health issues, which is good for your pet and also lowers his medical costs.

Behavioral Benefits

Makes for a better family pet. Pets who are spayed or neutered are easier to train and more focused on their family.

Decreases aggressive behavior and creates a safer community. Dog bites are the second most common reason for children’s emergency room visits. Unneutered male dogs are 18 times more likely to bite; unspayed females are 10 times more likely to bite.

Reduces or eliminates spraying and marking by males.

Eliminates messy heat cycles for females.

Societal Benefits

In addition to the many benefits for your pet’s health, safety and behavior, spay/neuter prevents unwanted dogs and cats from being born. Every year, as many as 4 million homeless cats and dogs are killed in shelters because there are simply too many of them.

Cats are able to produce 45 times as many offspring as humans. They can get pregnant every 62 days and usually give birth to multiple kittens per litter.

Dogs are able to produce 15 times as many offspring as humans.

By spaying or neutering your pet, you are not adding to the number of unwanted pets who are killed. You can feel good knowing you’ve helped your pet be healthier and better behaved and done your part to help all animals.

Cancer is one of the most common problems in our companion animals. While there are hundreds of different types of animal cancers, we understand that the one you care about most is the one that your pet is facing.

 At the end of every leash is a human, and every person who walks into the hospital has a unique set of circumstances and bond to their animal which influence their treatment decisions.  Surgery is often the preferable option for local control of cancer. Successful removal of a localized cancer can be one of the best approaches to treat cancer patients and provide them with improved quality of life. 

Reasons to choose a surgical approach:

Diagnostic Intent

The first is to gather tissue for diagnosis. In this case, surgery is used to remove tissue for biopsy. The tissue is examined by diagnostic pathologists such that the most accurate diagnosis and treatment protocol can be made.

Curative Intent

The second reason is to use surgery for curative intent.  The surgeon’s intent is to remove cancerous tissue or tumors with wide margins, with no cancer left behind. 

We are able to offer the best treament for your pet.  Some of the surgical procedures include:

*Removal of malignant cutaneous (skin) tumors and skin reconstruction

*Oral surgery, including mandibulectomy/maxillectomy for invasive oral tumors

*Thoracic surgery for removal of mediastinal, lung, cardiac and body wall tumors

*Abdominal surgery for tumors of the liver, spleen, gastroinstinal tract and urogenital systems

*Treatment of musculoskeletal tumors, including limb sparing techniques for primary bone tumors in dogs, or limb amputation when necessary

*Minimally invasive approaches to oncologic surgery, including thoracoscopy and laparoscopy are performed when possible

We are here, every step of the way to answer any of your questions so that you may have peace of mind and know that your pet is receiving the best care possible.

Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care is a veterinary specialty that could save your pet’s life! If your pet should become injured or suddenly develop an acute, life threatening disease, he or she will need prompt veterinary emergency care. In addition to requiring initial emergency treatment, many days may be needed for the disease process to run its course before recovery occurs. During this time, close monitoring and life support measures in our hospital may be needed. A vigilant team lead by our veterinarians who are trained in emergency and critical care will improve the quality of care your pet receives during this crucial time, improving his or her chance for a good outcome,

The following are some of the type of patients that routinely benefit from critical care:

*Veterinary trauma patients, including those hit by cars, bite, bullet, knife or burn injuries

*Any animal that is having trouble breathing.

*Animals that need a blood transfusion.

*Any animal that is in shock (signs of shock can include weakness, pale mucous membranes in their mouth, cold extremities, and an abnormal heart rate).

*Animals that are having trouble urinating, or are not producing urine.

*Dogs and cats that need specialized nutritional support because they are unwilling or unable to eat on their own.

*Animals in which an abnormal heart rhythm is causing problems.

*Animals with life-threatening neurologic disease such as coma or severe seizures that are not responding to medications.

*Veterinary patients that have had surgery and are not recovering well from anesthesia or are having trouble in the first few post-operative days.

Pocono Lake Animal Hospital provides patients with comprehensive care to ensure their needs are met. We offer:

Radiography

Ultrasound

Oxygen Therapy

Fluid Therapy

Surgery

Whatever the ailment, we are ready and prepared to treat your pet, ensuring he receives the best care possible.