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Low Cost Spay/Neuter Program & General Surgery

Pet overpopulation is a growing issue within the city of New Orleans. Our goal is to stop pet overpopulation and decrease the number of dogs and cats that end up in shelters. The Human Society estimates that roughly 3 million cats, kittens, dogs, and puppies entering shelters are euthanized each year. Unfortunately, many members of our community simply cannot afford the cost of surgery to sterilize their pet. This is why we have started our low cost spay and neuter program, to make these surgeries easy and affordable for everyone.

We honor the Jefferson Parish Voucher Program for all Jefferson Parish residents.

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Spay & Neuter Prices can be found under "SERVICES"

 

 Soft Tissue Surgery* Prices can be found under "SERVICES"

  • Soft Tissue Surgery (mass removals, cystotomies, etc.) charged by the hour and require a non-refundable deposit to schedule, which is applied towards the surgery)

    • Includes the surgical procedure, anesthesia and monitoring.

    • Additional Costs: Non-anesthetic injections, prescriptions (antibiotics, pain medications), E-collar, vaccinations, microchip, histopathology (for mass removals), stone analysis (for bladder stones, shipping cost only).

*Please Note:

  • We WILL NOT perform surgical procedures on patients 12 years and older.

  • Pre-anesthetic blood work is required for all pets 8 years of age and older and recommended for pets younger than 7 years of age.

  • We require veterinary exams for all surgical patients performed no more than 90 days before the surgery date.  

  • Please email medical records to contact@lowcostanimal.org

  • We require proof of rabies vaccination for all patient procedures (please provide the rabies certificate or medical record, not a rabies tag).

  • If bringing multiple cats, please ensure that they are in separate carriers. If necessary we can provide a cardboard carrier for an additional cost.

  • Cats/kittens must weigh at least 3 pounds to undergo a surgical procedure

  • Prescriptions (antibiotics, pain medications, etc.), bloodwork, vaccinations, nail trims, E-collars, etc. cost additional. Microchips are discounted if done at time of procedure.

  • Surgery drop-off is at 8am. If you arrive after 8:10am you will need to reschedule your procedure.

  • Surgery pick-up/discharge is at 4pm. (unless otherwise noted, our staff will notify you when you drop off). If you arrive after the discharge time you will incur up to a $100.00 late fee.

 

Scheduling a Spay/Neuter

Scheduling an appointment to have your pet spayed or neutered here at Low Cost Animal Medical Center is quick and easy.

Call us at (504) 444-1124 to speak to one of our receptionists to schedule a surgery date.

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Why Spay/Neuter? 
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Keep Shelter Populations Down:

  • 70% of shelter cats are euthanized each year

  • 56% of shelter dogs are euthanized each year

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Health Benefits for Your Pet:

  • Decreases risk of breast cancer

  • Decreases risk of prostate cancer

  • Eliminates risks of  potentially fatal uterine infections (pyometra.)

  • Eliminates risks of testicular cancer

 
Behavioral Benefits for Your Pet:

  • Decreases the urge to “mark” with urine around your house.

  • Decreases the urge to escape from the yard to roam the neighborhood for a female in heat.

  • Decreases the urge to mount or “hump” things like furniture, the neighbors dog, or your leg!

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Cost-Effective

  • Eliminates the cost of unwanted litters.

  • Eliminates the cost of emergency pyometra surgery.

  • Eliminates the cost of certain cancer treatments.

 

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Before Surgery

  • To help prevent common diseases, we strongly recommend your pet be vaccinated at least one week prior to surgery with the DA2PP (distemper/parvo – for dogs) or FVRCP (distemper/upper respiratory – for cats). While no vaccine is 100% effective, vaccination will lessen the chance of your pet contracting disease, as well as decreasing the severity of the disease if your pet does contract it.  In addition, Louisiana state law requires a current rabies vaccination for your pet. Please bring proof in the form of a certificate (tags are not acceptable forms of proof). We are otherwise required to administer a rabies vaccine at the time of surgery for a charge of $12. Also during the time of surgery, we may administer any other core vaccines your pet may need as well as perform a heartworm test, FeLV/FIV test or administer a microchip at your written request.

  • Due to the high volume nature of our spay/neuter program, no other services besides those listed above can be provided to your pet at the time of surgery. If you wish for your pet to have a full physical exam, please schedule an appointment for an office visit.

  • Pets may have a normal meal the night before surgery but no food after midnight. All pets can have water up until the time of surgery.

  • Due to our strict schedule, your pet will not be admitted if you arrive after 8:30 a.m. The admission process usually takes 10–15 minutes to complete. If you wish, you may collect the paperwork from our clinic before your appointment to save time. Your pet will be ready to be picked up by 5pm the same evening. We do not keep any animals overnight in our facility. Failure to pick up your pet the evening of surgery will result in a $100 overnight hospitalization fee.

 
After Surgery Care
Activity:

  • Some animals are active after surgery, while others remain quiet for a while. Either way, it is very important that you limit your pet’s movements during then10 day recovery period, as strenuous activity, such as running, jumping, or playing, could disrupt the healing process and even cause the incision to become swollen or open. To help keep your pet from being too active :

  •  Place your pet in an adequately sized carrier, kennel, crate or small room when you’re not able to supervise him/her.   The animal must be able to stand up and turn around in the housing unit.

  • If your pet is small, carry him/her up and down stairs.

  • Walk your pet on-leash to allow him/her to urinate/defecate.

  • Do not take your pet for long walks or allow him/her to roughhouse with other animals or people. Also, do not allow your pet to jump on or off furniture.

  • To limit your cat’s activity, as well as help them feel safe and comfortable, place them in a quiet, confined area such as a bathroom, laundry room, or kitchen. This provides a safe hiding place for them, where you can easily monitor their recovery. Remember to provide fresh food and water and a clean litter box.

  • Give your pet a half-size meal when you bring them home, and then feed them their normal evening meal. Puppies and kittens may have an additional meal through the day. Water should always be available.

 
Diet:

  • Do not change your pet’s diet at this time, and do not give them junk food, table scraps, milk, or any other “people food” for seven days. Changes in their diet could hide post-surgical complications. Although patients’ reactions to surgery can vary, lethargy (lasting for more than 24 hours after surgery), diarrhea, or vomiting are NOT normal, and you should contact us immediately if these occur. We can then assess if your pet needs to be examined by a medical professional.

  • If your pet has an e-collar, do not remove it for feeding unless you are able to supervise them. If you do remove it for feeding, replace it immediately after your pet is finished eating.

 
Incision Site:

  • Dogs and female cats have internal sutures that provide strength to the tissue as they heal; these will dissolve after approximately four months. Surgical glue has also been applied to the skin to seal the incision against bacterial penetration. Male cats do not have any sutures, and, unless you are told otherwise, your pet does not have external sutures. If you are told that your pet has skin sutures or skin staples, they will need to return in 7–10 days to have those removed.

  • Do not bathe your pet during the recovery period, or apply topical ointment to the incision site—the surgical glue on the incision will dissolve too quickly if it becomes wet. Pets must be kept indoors where they can stay clean, dry, and warm, although dogs can be walked on a leash to go to urinate/defecate.

  • Female dogs and cats have a mid-line incision in their abdomen. Male dogs have an incision on the scrotum, and male cats have two incisions, one on each side of the scrotum. Check these incision sites at least twice daily. What you see when we discharge your pet is what we consider normal.

  • There should be no drainage/discharge/odor in females, and redness and swelling should be minimal. Male dogs may have small amounts of drainage/discharge for up to three days. Male cats may appear as if they still have testicles; this is normal, and the swelling should subside gradually through the recovery period. If there are any bumps or bruises present, they should decrease in size and appearance through the recovery period.

  • Do not allow your pet to lick or chew at the incision. Licking may cause the incision to become infected or open, which will likely require follow-up visits at a veterinary clinic at considerable cost. If this occurs, we recommend you purchase an e-collar, which prevents them from being able to reach the area. You can purchase an e-collar here at Low Cost Animal Medical Center, or at the veterinary clinic or pet store of your choice. If your pet is still able to lick the surgery site after purchasing an e-collar, choose a larger collar or call us for help.

  • Your pet will receive a small, green tattoo near the incision site. This tattoo is not another incision—it’s just a small score in the top layers of the skin filled with tattoo ink and covered with surgical glue. The tattoo will ensure that anyone examining your animal will know they have been sterilized.

 
Pain Management:

  • Our veterinarians employ a multi-modal pain management protocol—this means that different pain medications are administered before, during, and after surgery. If your pet appears to be in pain after getting home, please call our clinic.

  • Our staff can assess whether or not your pet needs to be examined. NEVER give human medication to your pet , it is dangerous and can be fatal, especially in cats.

 
Keep Other Pets Separate:

  • Keep neutered males away from unspayed females. Neutered males can get an unspayed female pregnant for up to 30 days after spay/neuter surgery. Keep spayed females away from unneutered males for seven days. Animals returning from the clinic may also smell different to other animals in the household. This can cause the animals to fight, so be prepared to keep your pets in separate areas for a few days following surgery.

 
Monitor for Complications:

Spaying and neutering are both very safe surgeries; however, as with all surgery, complications can occur. Minimal redness and swelling of the surgery site should resolve within several days, but if they persist longer, please contact us. You should also contact us immediately if you notice any of the following:

  • Pale gums

  • Depression

  • Unsteady gait

  • Loss of appetite or decreased water intake

  • Vomiting

  • Diarrhea

  • Discharge or bleeding from the incision

  • Difficulty urinating or defecating

  • Labored breathing

 

Low Cost Animal Medical Center will treat at our clinic, at minimal cost, any post-operative complications resulting directly from the surgery so long as the above post-operative instructions have been followed in full. Please call for an appointment as soon as you see cause for concern. We cannot be held responsible for complications resulting from failure to follow post-operative instructions, or from contagious diseases for which the animal was not previously properly vaccinated.

Always monitor your pet’s urine for blood – a small amount may be present in female animals during the first 24 hours after surgery. If this continues or occurs at other times, please call us, as your pet may have a bladder infection unrelated to surgery.

If you have any questions or concerns during the recovery period, please contact us at (504) 444-1124.

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