Spaying and Neutering

Spaying and neutering are elective procedures that have many health benefits for cats and dogs. Most pet parents choose to have the surgery done to prevent their cat or dog from reproducing. Spay surgery involves the removal of the uterus and ovaries to prevent the female cat or dog from getting pregnant. During neuter surgery the testicles are removed to prevent the male patient from reproducing. These surgeries are performed under anesthesia so the patient doesn’t feel any pain.

When should my cat or dog be spayed or neutered?

We recommend spaying and neutering cats at either five or six months old, small and medium-sized dogs at 6-8 months and large and giant breed dogs at 12-24 months of age. Our recommendations for delaying spaying and neutering large and giant breed dogs are based on recent studies which indicate that delaying these surgeries can decrease the risk of certain joint diseases and some types of cancers.

If your pet is older, they can still be spayed or neutered if they pass our pre-screening health tests.

What are the benefits of spaying and neutering?

There are many health benefits for pets who have the surgery, here are a few:

• Reduced risk of developing different types of cancers later in life such as mammary, testicular and prostate cancer.
• Eliminating the chance of your female cat or dog developing a uterine infection called pyometra (can become a lifelong condition).
• Reduced risk of sexually transmitted diseases.

The surgery will also eliminate unwanted behaviours such as roaming, spraying furniture, humping or aggression towards other pets. Not to mention, spay and neuter surgery significantly reduces the stray population and overcrowding in shelters. If you are considering spay or neuter surgery for your cat or dog, feel free to call us at 250-765-2916.