Her what you say? Technically the terms spayed and neutered are interchangeable between male and female dogs and cats...hmm....The gender specific term for spayed is ovariohysterectomy. The gender specific male term for neutered is orchiectomy...Well, isn't that interesting. Here is the full scoop for you language geeks:
"Neuter is the generally-accepted term used to describe the surgical procedure referring to reproductive alteration of a male dog or cat.
In fact, the two terms are interchangeable.
Why?
“Spay” comes from the Greek word spathe, meaning “broad blade.” Apparently, the use of a blade (scalpel) to alter pets got conveyed to mean the procedure itself.
“Neuter” comes from the Latin neuter, literally meaning “neither one nor the other.” In the beginning of the last century its use applied to male and female cats, but not to dogs.
Word usage has never been concrete. Languages, all languages, change with time. Technically, a male dog can be spayed and a female dog can be neutered. Someday, however, etymology entries will label that usage as “archaic.”
Terms that are gender-specific and survive the test of time are orchiectomy andovariohysterectomy. Furthermore, they apply to all mammalian species.
Orchiectomy comes from the Greek word orkhis, meaning “testicle*.” The suffix comes from the Greek term ektomia meaning “a cutting out.” Therefore,orchiectomy is the removal of the testicles by cutting.
Ovariohysterectomy is the term describing surgical removal of the ovaries and uterus. “Ovary” comes from the Latin word ovum, meaning “egg.”"
Ouch no matter what it is called!
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