What You Should Know Before Spaying/Neutering Your Pet

You’ve probably heard that it’s important to spay or neuter your pet. And it’s true—there are many benefits of spaying or neutering your dog or cat. But if you’re anything like us, you like to know the reason behind the recommendation. Here’s what the team at Ark Animal Hospital wants you to know before you make an appointment to remove your pet’s reproductive organs. 

The Benefits of Spaying or Neutering Your Dogs and Cats 

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), millions of cats and dogs are euthanized each year. In other words, there are more dogs and cats in the world than there are people willing to care for them. And when pets aren’t spayed, they do what nature tells them to do: they reproduce. 

While kittens and puppies are downright adorable, they need responsible carers in order to thrive. By spaying and neutering your pets, you’ll be part of the solution to the problem of overcrowded animal shelters. 

Your pet will also enjoy a range of health benefits following a spay or neuter procedure. The health benefits of spaying or neutering your cat or dog include a reduced risk of serious diseases. 

Cancers in cats and dogs can be fatal, but removing the reproductive organs greatly reduces the risk of prostatic disease in males and the often-fatal breast cancer in females. Even better, it eliminates the risk of uterine and ovarian cancer in female pets. For male pets, there’s no risk of testicular cancer following the removal of the testicles. 

Spaying and neutering reduce the risk of serious infections in dogs and cats, too. Unspayed female pets can contract a dangerous uterine infection (pyometra) that’s expensive to treat. 

When to Spay or Neuter Your Pet

The best time to spay or neuter your pet depends on a range of factors. At Ark Animal Hospital, we like to give kittens time to get their core vaccines and grow. We generally spay cats at around five months old—before they experience a heat cycle. In females, this timeline gives your kitty the best chance of avoiding breast cancer. It also reduces the likelihood of male kittens developing unwanted behaviors like spraying. 

Small-breed dogs should be spayed at around the same time as cats—when they’re around five or six months old. Large-breed dogs, on the other hand, benefit the most from being allowed to grow and develop. Depending on the breed, this might be when your pup is anywhere from nine to 15 months old. 

Keep in mind that while these are ideal timelines, adult pets of any age can benefit from spay and neuter surgeries, too.

Spay and Neuter Surgery at Ark Animal Hospital

Even though spays and neuters are common, safe procedures, sending your pet in for surgery can be stressful. You can rest assured that we’ll take excellent care of your pet during surgery here at Ark Animal Hospital. 

Your pet will receive pre-operative bloodwork and a physical assessment. We’ll also monitor their vital signs throughout the procedure and recovery time and provide a pain management plan. If you have any questions or would like to schedule a spay or neuter surgery, call us at (215) 822‑3636 or request a callback from our team. We look forward to meeting your pawsome pals!