Spaying and Neutering

We normally recommend spaying or neutering be done at 5 to 6 months of age. With the advent of safer anesthetic agents, spaying and neutering can be done as early as 10 weeks old if necessary.

Spaying your female before her first heat cycle will protect her from developing mammary tumors. Spaying later in life does not provide this benefit. The majority of mammary tumors in cats become malignant, so spaying is a life saving procedure. Intact females are prone to developing life threatening uterine infections, known as pyometras. If your dog or cat develops a pyometra, emergency surgery is required on a critically ill patient. Spaying a young healthy animal is recommended to avoid these infections.

Neutering male dogs eliminates the risk for testicular cancer and reduces the incidence of prostatic disease. The urge to roam will turn an intact male into an escape artist. Male dogs searching for female companionship are likely to be hit by a car or attacked by other dogs. 

Male cats are notorious for getting into violent fights with other males. Wounds inflicted during these fights nearly always abcess and require veterinary treatment. When intact male cats reach maturity, they typically begin spraying urine that has a strong offensive odor to mark their territory, ie, your house. 

Intact male dogs also display marking behavior. Your neutered male is a more content, stay-at-home companion. The threat of being killed by a car or injured in a fight is reduced.

Neutering and spaying your household pets is a sound investment in their health and companionship . You are also doing your part to help control the pet population.

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