SPAYING AND NEUTERING

There are many health benefits to spaying and neutering your pet. By spaying your female dog or cat before their first heat cycle you can significantly reduce her risk for mammary gland cancer, a common malignant cancer in older intact females. It also eliminates the chance of a potentially fatal pyometra, or uterine infection, and uterine cancer since both the ovaries and uterus are removed during the surgery. Another added benefit for dogs is not having to endure her coming into heat twice yearly. Three weeks of bloody discharge and having to confine her away from potential "suitors" can be challenging. Cats come in and out of heat continuously until they are bred, and will constantly howl, roll around, and sometimes even urinate inappropriately if not spayed.

Neutering your male dog while young may decrease some territorial and interdog aggression, and will decrease the chance of prostate disease when older. Intact male cats will start territorial spraying once they reach sexual maturity, at around eight to ten months. We recommend spaying or neutering your pet between the ages of three and six months. Your pet will come in the morning for surgery and go home the same afternoon. All pets will go home on post-operative pain medications.

There are a few myths out there that sometimes prevent people from sterilizing their pet. A common one is it will somehow change the pet's personality. Another is that it is better to let them have one litter before considering the surgery. Both of these are untrue, and the local humane society is full of those resulting litters.

If you do decide to breed your pet, be sure to get educated in advance. Schedule an appointment with us to sit down and discuss timed breedings, caring for your pregnant animal, and puppy/kitten care.