Cheap Ways to Spay or Neuter Your Pet

By Raechel Conover, Cheapism.com

It's no secret that a new pet comes with heavy costs in the first year. One of the major expenses involves spaying (females) or neutering (males) your dog or cat. But frugal pet owners needn't fret. There are ways to get this procedure taken care of on the cheap.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) reports that dog owners spend roughly $1,300 to $1,850, depending on the animal's size, while cat owners spend about $1,035 during their first year as members of the household. A big chunk of that goes towards spaying and neutering; about $190 to $220 for dogs and $145 for cats.

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Size and Gender Matter. If you're leaning towards a dog, you may want to forgo a large breed in favor of a small- or medium-size breed. Why? Costs associated with the procedure (sometimes referred to as being "altered") increase with the size of the dog. Lisa Bahr, director of operations for Centre County PAWS in State College, Pennsylvania, explains that larger animals need more anesthetics during the surgery as well as follow-up pain or maintenance drugs, which add to the bottom line.

Gender also has an impact. "For female animals," Bahr notes, "the surgery is more invasive and therefore requires the use of more time and supplies."

Financial Assistance. Pet overpopulation is a problem that many groups try to rectify. Community organizations like Centre County PAWS help make it easy for pet owners to have their pets altered by offering incentives of some kind; vouchers, for example, or by operating low-fee clinics. Bahr singles out the Humane Alliance as a leading provider of clinic-based services. "Its high-volume, high-quality, low-cost model is duplicated all over the country," she says.

To find one such local clinic and other cheap ways to spay or neuter your pet, check the ASPCA's Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Programs. Some require that you satisfy certain financial criteria, but many do not. Bahr says she has seen prices for a cat spay as low as $35 and a cat neuter as low as $75 in her area.

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The Humane Society likewise maintains a data base of low-cost options. The group also recommends checking with your local humane society or an animal shelter for information about spaying and neutering services. And don't be shy about asking your veterinarian for a discount or a payment plan. Many vets are likely to comply because spaying/neutering promotes the "greater good" by reducing pet overpopulation.

Alternative Options. If you're hunting for cheap alternatives to spaying and neutering, you'll find a short list. One less invasive approach is laparoscopic surgery, which involves smaller incisions (at least in female dogs) and much less disruption to the reproductive organs. The procedure costs more, however, because obtaining and maintaining the equipment and training for the procedure is more expensive.

Another approach, as reported by The New York Times, involves a drug called Zeuterin, which sterilizes male dogs; because the testicles remain in place, some testosterone production continues and dogs experience fewer changes. As of December, however, the drug was not available in the Unites States. If/when it does show up, expect the price to settle in between $5 and $25.

Related: Is pet insurance worth the price?

Spaying and Neutering Save Money in the Long Run. If you're questioning whether to go through with the procedure, note that doing so will save you money over the course of the pet's life. "There are illnesses and conditions that are prevented through spaying or neutering," Bahr says. "For example, the incidence of mammary cancer is lessened in animals that are spayed before their first heat cycle, and testicular cancer risk is eliminated in neutered males. Animals who are neutered have a lesser tendency to roam, fight with other animals, and mark with urine."

But perhaps the biggest reason to have your pet spayed or neutered is this: It's the only way to guarantee that your female cat or dog won't have an accidental litter. And as Bahr points out, one mouth is far less expensive to feed than six.

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