Spaying or neutering your pet is one of the most important decisions you can make regarding their health. Spaying or neutering are both routine procedures that have a very low risk of complications. It also has a significant impact on your pet’s health and overall quality of life. Not only does it benefit them in the long term, but it also is much better for the community.
Sterilizing your pet can help control the general overpopulation of animals in the Tucson area. This overpopulation is the reason why so many healthy animals need to be euthanized due to the inability of finding a suitable home in a reasonable amount of time. Your veterinarian recommends that you spay or neuter so that you don’t need to be responsible for finding homes for an unplanned litter.
Spaying your female dog or cat can have several practical benefits aside from preventing an unplanned pregnancy. A female dog that has been sterilized cannot go into heat and it has a lower risk of developing uterine infections. It will also lessen the chance of them developing breast tumors. Felines will go into heat for a few days every three weeks in order to attract males. They will typically urinate around the house and may become a little destructive. Sterilization will prevent them from going into heat because they will not have the need to mate during breeding season.
A major health benefit of neutering a male pet is that it will protect them from testicular cancer. It can also greatly reduce their risk of perennial hernias and several prostate diseases. There are also several behavioral benefits to neutering. During breeding season, it is common for male pets to want to roam and they may try to escape the house. This is because they instinctually want to find a female partner to mate with. Neutering will help control that urge by lowering testosterone which will prevent them from wanting to wander off. Some people believe that sterilization is a “fix” for other behavioral issues, though that is not really the case. Some male animals are aggressive and even violent, though this cannot be reversed through neutering.
The procedure does lower the level of testosterone in your pet, however, it will not “fix” a serious behavioral issue. If your pet is exhibiting signs of extreme aggression or destructive behavior, talk to your vet about what could potentially be causing it and what you can do to improve it. If your pet has developed a habit, it could be difficult to break. An experienced behavioral trainer may be able to provide further insight into how you can help your pet handle their emotions.
Dogs typically need to be spayed or neutered at about six to nine months old, but you can schedule the procedure as young as eight weeks old. Older dogs can also receive this procedure, but the risk level is higher and the chances for complications can arise due to age, weight, and health history. Cats need to be fixed at about eight weeks old or before five months in order to avoid unwanted pregnancy.
Spaying or neutering is a responsible choice for any pet owner who does not wish for their furry friend to become a parent. Dogs and cats are currently overpopulated all over the world and there are simply not enough families readily available to adopt them all. Animals that are not able to be placed in a home end up needing to be euthanized or else they may end up on the streets. The best way to prevent this from happening is to sterilize your pet so that there is no chance of them adding to the overpopulation of cats and dogs. Unwanted pets typically end up in poor living conditions or in shelters across the country. We recommend that all pets get spayed and neutered in Tucson because we care about the quality of life for all animals.
Spaying and neutering are common routine procedures performed by our experienced veterinarians. Any risk of complication is minor and is likely only raised if your pet is older, overweight, or has a pre-existing condition. Our veterinarians will perform a full physical examination of your pet’s health prior to any surgical procedure. Bloodwork can help determine any underlying issues that may not be immediately visible.
The Procedure & Aftercare
The first step to every spay and neuter near Tucson is a full physical examination. This will give the veterinarian the opportunity to give your pet a thorough health check-up and determine if they are healthy enough for surgery. Your veterinarian will recommend general anesthesia to make your pet more comfortable and to make the surgery easier. Your veterinarian will prescribe pain medication to help your pet remain calm for the days following the procedure. Too much excitement or activity could cause harm to their stitches and should be avoided.
If you would like to learn more about spay and neutering near Tucson, call our Oracle & Orange Grove locations. You can also email us directly at email@example.com and a member of our team will get in touch with you at your convenience. We look forward to providing quality veterinary care for your furry friend!