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What is Neutering?
Neutering (surgical sterilization) is a term that is used to describe the act of eliminating an animal’s reproductive organs. It refers to the castration of male animals and involves the surgical removal of the male animal’s testicles and spermatic cords.
What is Spaying?
The term for neutering a female animal is spaying. Spaying involves the surgical removal of a female animal’s ovaries and uterus.
If you have further questions, your veterinarian can give you a more detailed and in-depth explanation of the procedures involved with neutering or spaying.
At What Age Should You Neuter or Spay Your Pet?
Consult your veterinarian to schedule what he or she considers to be the appropriate time to have your pet neutered or spayed. The common age to have the procedure done is approximately six months of age. But due to improved surgical procedures and safe anesthesia, you can neuter or spay your pet as early as 8 to 12 weeks of age.
Reasons Why You Should Neuter/Spay Your Pet
Neutering or spaying your pet lengthens its life and decreases many health risks, such as mammary tumors, uterine infections, and prostate infections (cancer).
Neutering or spaying your pet can make the pet a better family member. Male pets that are neutered no longer feel the need to mark their territory by spraying carpet or furniture. This also limits the tendency for your pet to wander your neighborhood in search of a mate. Female pets will no longer go into seasonal heats, sparing your pet and family from discomfort.
If you are not planning on breeding your pet, neutering or spaying your pet is a responsible preventive measure. Many puppies and kittens are homeless or end up in shelters where they may never find a home.
* Neutering/Spaying saves millions of lives (on the average of 4.6 million per year).
Is Neutering or Spaying Dangerous?
Any surgical procedure on an animal involves some sort of risk. Either on the operating table or during the recovery process at home. But neutering/spaying has become such a routine procedure that complications from surgery rarely occur. Most animal clinics will give your pet a physical examination before the surgery to give yoru pet a clean bill of health.
Should Your Pet Have One Litter Before Spaying?
Spaying is more difficult after a female pet comes into heat or has its first litter because the sexual organs become enlarged. Each heat cycle can increase the risk of mammary cancer in your pet. Also, surgery is usually less stressful for a younger pet. Some people want their pets to fulfill their motherly instincts so they allow them to have a litter. But pets do not have emotional involvement in reproduction because their sexual behavior is caused solely by their hormones.
Ways You Can Help Your Puppy Prepare For and Recuperate From Surgery
Follow the advice of your veterinarian. He or she will ask you not to feed your pet for 8 to 12 hours before surgery in order to avoid any side effects from the anesthesia.
After surgery you will need to keep your pet warm and indoors for at least 48 hours. It is best to keep your pet inside for a few weeks to protect it form bad weather and wildfire. Children should also be kept away from pets during the healing process.
Your pet will be thirsty so you should frequently offer small amounts of water.
You should check on your pet’s surgical incisions and make sure there is no added stress or pressure on the stitches. Excessive warmth, redness, bleeding, or swelling along the incision line can indicate infection and should be reported to your veterinarian immediately.