Spaying and neutering are essential veterinary surgeries for many male and female dogs and cats. These operations ensure your pet cannot get pregnant or get another pet pregnant, helping prevent unwanted litters that require homes to take care of them. Additionally, these surgeries provide multiple health and behavioral benefits for your pet. Goshen Animal Clinic in Gaithersburg, MD, is here to tell you about spaying and neutering and how they can help your pet.
What Are Spaying and Neutering?
Spaying and neutering are veterinary procedures that permanently sterilize pets. Spaying removes the ovaries and uterus from female pets, while neutering removes the testicles in male pets. These procedures are performed under general anesthesia, meaning your pet will be unconscious and unable to feel pain. Anesthesia is also crucial for allowing our veterinarians to perform the surgery safely. While all anesthesia carries some inherent risk, spaying and neutering are safe and routine surgeries.
Health Advantages of These Procedures
Surgically removing your female pet’s uterus and ovaries reduces the risk of significant health problems, including uterine infections and mammary tumors. Neutering lowers your pet’s risk of testicular cancer and prostate problems. Early spaying and neutering are significant boons to your pet’s overall health and lifespan.
Behavioral Benefits for Your Pet
In addition to improving your pet’s health, spaying and neutering help reduce or eliminate several undesirable behaviors. Unaltered female pets experience heat cycles, leading to roaming, vocalization, and attracting unwanted male attention. Spaying eliminates these behaviors and creates a calmer, more manageable pet. Similarly, neutering male pets can decrease aggression, territory marking, and roaming. Eliminating these unwanted behaviors greatly reduces your pet’s risk of getting lost or injured in fights with other animals.
Population Control and Responsible Pet Ownership
Spaying and neutering are crucial tools in controlling pet overpopulation. Millions of unwanted animals end up in shelters and get euthanized each year. Spaying and neutering your pet prevents pregnancies, meaning you will not have to find homes for unplanned puppies or kittens. Doing this helps with pet overpopulation and allows more homeless pets to find loving homes.
When to Spay/Neuter Your Pet
Our veterinarians will recommend when to spay or neuter your pet during its wellness exam. The ideal age can vary based on species, breed, and your pet’s size. Generally, we recommend spaying or neutering cats when they are between four and six months of age. Dogs should get spayed or neutered between six and 12 months old.
Schedule Your Pet’s Procedure/Surgery Today at Goshen Animal Clinic
Spaying or neutering your pet is one of the most responsible decisions you can make as a pet owner, so contact our “veterinarian near you” at Goshen Animal Clinic in Gaithersburg, MD, to schedule your pet’s surgery today. Our veterinarians are committed to providing your pet with the best possible care and ensuring it lives a long, healthy life, so call us and schedule an appointment today at (301) 977-5586.
