Choosing to spay or neuter your pet is one of the most important things to consider as an owner. While the most obvious benefit has to do with unwanted or unplanned pregnancies, there’s a lot more to the procedure that can benefit you and your furry friend. Our team can help pet owners zero-in on the right time to spay or neuter, while providing information concerning the numerous advantages associated with this common, safe procedure.
The Long View
Spaying is a procedure that surgically removes the uterus and ovaries while a female pet is under anesthesia. Neutering is performed on male patients, and surgically removes the testicles. We take every precaution before, during, and after the procedure, including running pre-surgical blood work, to ensure that pets are healthy enough to withstand anesthesia and recover without any complications.
Why We Do This
Surgical removal of the reproductive organs renders pets unable to reproduce. Additionally, spaying or neutering a pet drastically reduces the risk for life-threatening infections and tumors of the reproductive tract, as well as breast tumors. Male pets that have been neutered experience lower rates of testicular cancer and prostate issues. Furthermore, there are certain risks connected to pregnancy and birth that disappear entirely for altered females.
The Overpopulation Problem
Unwanted litters and uncontrolled numbers of homeless pets contribute to crowded shelters and higher euthanasia rates. In addition to promoting the well-being and vitality of your pet, spaying or neutering is an important contribution to the community.
Because every pet is different, we can help you find the right time in their development and maturity to spay or neuter them. Many pets can be safely sterilized as early as 2 months old, but our veterinary team will examine your pet to determine his or her best time.
Behavioral Benefits
Animals listen attentively to their primal instincts. By keeping them intact, there’s an increased risk of pets escaping safe homes, wandering around in search of a mate, and potentially getting into territorial battles. This behavior also raises the risk of accidental injury or death from a vehicular accident, or catching a zoonotic disease (including rabies) and spreading it to humans.
When unspayed females go into heat, they may vocalize repeatedly and loudly, and urinate inside the home. Because their hormones are powerful enough to attract males from quite a distance, strange animals may wind up in your yard or even inside the home.
Spay or Neuter for Tomorrow’s Pets
There are some incredible volunteers that trap, spay/neuter, and return stray animals back to their territory. This reduces the potential for many future generations of homeless pets while giving the individual animal the chance to live out their life.
New kittens and puppies deserve every possible chance to live healthy, complete lives in the homes of compassionate, responsible owners. If you have questions about the procedure, the recovery, and the best timeframe to spay or neuter your special pet, please call us at (425) 640-0318.