Overview

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, nearly 12,500 puppies are born in the United States each hour. Spaying females or castrating males eliminates unwanted litters, which contribute to thousands of euthanasia procedures and millions of stray animals. Additionally, these procedures can minimize behavior problems and help your pet live a longer, healthier life by reducing the likelihood of certain cancers and tumors.

Spaying

Spaying your pet has many benefits. The procedure, which prevents female animals from becoming pregnant and reproducing, can help your dog or cat live a longer, healthier life. Spaying will not change your pet’s personality. By spaying your female pet, you’re protecting her against potentially deadly diseases, including bacterial infections, reproductive tract diseases and several types of cancer. You also won’t have to worry about her going into heat. This means avoiding the mess that often accompanies the heat cycle in female dogs and the pacing and crying that happens with female cats. In addition, spaying your pet will help control the dog and cat overpopulation problem, keeping more animals out of shelters.

Spaying, which involves removing the ovaries and uterus, is a surgical procedure and does need to be performed with the pet under anesthesia. We follow strict protocols and continually monitor your pet’s vital signs to help ensure her safety. Please see the descriptions under Anesthesia and Patient Monitoring for more information on what we do to keep your pet safe. To set up an appointment to have your pet spayed or to learn more about this procedure, please contact us. If you are struggling with the decision of whether to spay your pet, please contact us so we can discuss your concerns.

Neutering

Neutering your pet has many benefits. The procedure, which prevents male animals from reproducing, can help your dog or cat live a longer, healthier life. For dogs that are socially well adjusted, neutering will not alter their personality; however, those dogs that have aggressive personalities may benefit from neutering.

By neutering your pet, you’re reducing or eliminating his risk for prostate and testicular cancer, sexually transmitted diseases and undesirable and embarrassing behavior, including roaming, fighting, humping and spraying. In addition, neutering your pet will help control the dog and cat overpopulation problem, keeping more animals out of shelters. An added benefit is that the city or county significantly discounts your pet’s annual license fee.

Neutering (also known as castration or orchiectomy) is a surgical procedure under general anesthesia in which the testicles are removed. We follow strict protocols and continually monitor your pet’s vital signs to help ensure his safety. Please see the descriptions under Anesthesia and Patient Monitoring for more information on what we do to keep your pet safe.

To set up an appointment to have your pet neutered or to learn more about this procedure, please contact us. If you are struggling with the decision of whether to neuter your pet, please call us so we can discuss your concerns.