Spay & Neuter
Spaying
Spaying and neutering of dogs and cats benefit both the individual pet and also helps reduce pet over-population. Every year thousands of stray and unwanted animals are euthanized in shelters across the United States. Many of these deaths are the avoidable result of owners failing to spay and neuter their pets. The unexpected offspring of these liaisons often fill shelters and are never given the chance at happy, loving lives.
Spaying is a common surgical procedure performed on female cats and dogs. The process is called an ovariohysterectomy and involves removing the patient’s uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes, rendering the animal incapable of reproduction. Animal Hospital of the Sierra veterinarians will recommend to you the ideal age to spay your pet, taking into account your pet’s size, breed, and other factors.
Benefits
This procedure has many notable benefits including:
- Prevents unwanted pregnancies
- Eliminates the risk of ovarian and uterine tumors
- Reduces the risk of mammary tumors
- Remove the possibility of uterine infections
What to expect after surgery
Spaying is a major surgery that requires 7-10 days of recovery time and will include post-op medication; lethargy is common for the first couple days following the procedure. Your pet’s activity needs to be restricted during this time for proper healing
Neutering
Neutering is performed on male cats and dogs. This process castrates the animal, removing their testicles and making them unable to impregnate females. Please discuss with your pet’s veterinarian the optimal age to perform this procedure.
Benefits
Neutering generates many important health benefits:
- Prevents unwanted reproduction
- Reduces aggressive behavior towards other dogs or cats and people. Most dog bites to people involve unneutered males.
- Reduces roaming and spraying (territory marking)
- Eliminates the risk of testicular tumors
What to expect after surgery
Although less invasive than spaying, neutering is still a major medical procedure that requires some recovery time. Following the procedure your pet will be sleepy from the anesthesia, this lethargy may last a couple of days. Medication will be prescribed to treat pain. Owners must prevent the animal from licking or biting the incision to reduce the risk of infection.
To learn more about spaying and neutering, or to schedule an appointment, contact us today.