Veterinarians won’t hesitate to tell you how important it is to spay or neuter your pets. It’s an extremely common procedure, but owners who can’t afford to go to a traditional animal hospital or vet’s office or who are looking at alternatives may wonder how much they’ll have to pay for the surgery at a chain store like PetSmart.
So, how much does it cost to spay or neuter a dog at PetSmart? The cost can be anywhere between $400 and $700.
Keep reading for a price breakdown of this procedure at the clinics located in these stores and essential facts about spaying and neutering animals.
Cost of Spaying or Neutering at PetSmart
You can’t actually walk into a PetSmart and expect the staff to perform the procedure right then and there. Instead, you will be directed to an in-store or nearby hospital or clinic that can take care of your needs. Depending on where you go, this could cost anywhere between $400 and $700.
PetSmart is partnered with Banfield Pet Hospitals to provide spaying and neutering procedures. It has a price estimator based on your zip code on its site that also enables you to search for the closest location to your home.
| Procedure | West Coast (Los Angeles, CA) | Midwest (Chicago, IL) | East Coast (Charlotte, NC) | Pacific Northwest (Seattle, WA) | Northeast (Portland, ME) |
| Neuter package (over 6 months) | $544.95 | $512.95 | $488.95 | $537.95 | $531.95 |
| Neuter package (under 6 months) | $467.95 | $439.95 | $418.95 | $461.95 | $456.95 |
| Spay package (over 6 months / over 50 pounds) | $658.95 | $618.95 | $589.95 | $650.95 | $642.95 |
| Spay package (over 6 months / under 50 pounds) | $574.95 | $540.95 | $514.95 | $567.95 | $561.95 |
| Spay package (under 6 months) | $498.95 | $469.95 | $446.95 | $492.95 | $486.95 |
PetSmart Charities supports local animal welfare organizations that may be able to perform the surgery at a low cost. It has information on its website about spay and neuter events and how its grant program works.
What Is Spaying and Neutering?
Spaying and neutering are two terms that are used to describe the surgery that prevents animals from reproducing. Spaying is used for females and neutering is used for males. These surgeries prevent unwanted pregnancies, keep your pet free from most reproductive disorders, and reduce the number of homeless animals in the country.
The Benefits of Spaying and Neutering Dogs
Stopping unwanted pregnancy isn’t the only benefit of this surgery. Spayed female dogs also contract fewer diseases, such as pyometra, or have reduced chances of mammary, ovarian, and uterine cancers. It also reduces the number of sexually transmitted diseases and birthing issues.
Neutering males reduces the chance of testicular cancer and prostate diseases. It also limits overpopulation and gives more dogs a chance at finding their forever homes.
How Does Spaying and Neutering Work?
These procedures are different from each other because they are working on two separate body parts. The typical spaying procedure removes a female dog’s ovaries, oviducts (or Fallopian tubes), and uterus and is a more complex surgery. Conversely, neutering involves removing a male dog’s testicles.
Spaying and neutering is a common procedure, and approximately 80–90% of owned cats and dogs in the U.S. are sterilized. Still, as with any surgical procedure, there are associated risks. Most dogs recover within a few days after their surgeries, but there are rare instances where a pet might have complications due to the surgery itself, the anesthesia, or the medication administered. These may include bleeding, wound infection, diarrhea, vomiting, and lethargy, among others. Some dogs aren’t even able to get these surgeries because of the results of their pre-procedure tests.
As always, if you have any concerns about the procedure, you should address them with your veterinarian as soon as possible.
Final Thoughts
Even though some people find it unnecessary to spay or neuter their pets, there are a lot of reasons that vets strongly recommend it, and it isn’t just so the clinic can make money. Instead, these people care about the animals and want to help keep them healthy and eliminate the number of dogs that don’t have homes and have to get put down because of it.
Unless you plan on breeding your dog in a safe and ethical way, there aren’t many other good reasons that keep you from spaying and neutering your pet. Fortunately, there are places like PetSmart and other organizations that are willing to do these procedures for a low cost.
Featured Image Credit: ARVD73, Shutterstock
