You’ve just taken a big step and adopted a new female cat or dog. Do you know if she’s been spayed?  The best way to find out is to ask this question at the time of adoption or take your new pet to a veterinarian.  He’ll look for a healed incision, feel for a uterus, or even perform an ultrasound to be sure. If you adopt a pet from a shelter or an individual, always ask for the animals medical records. It should say whether or not she’s been spayed. It will also tell you if the animal has a clean bill of health and is up to date on her vaccinations.

Another way to detect whether or not she’s been spayed, is to look for a small vertical scar on her under belly.  The scar could be hard to detect since the pet has so much fur. It’s always best to have the animal examined by a veterinarian. This should always be done soon after adoption. Any other potential problems could be easily detected and treated if necessary.

Enjoy your new pet. give her plenty of treats and exercise! Remember, your pets count!