First-time pet parents have so much to learn about the care of their new kit or pup. The right decisions can help your pet live a happier, healthier life. Spay and neuter surgery is an important decision pet parents can’t neglect. If you’re unfamiliar with these procedures, we can help. At Tahoma Veterinary Hospital in Spanaway, we offer spay and neuter surgery to prevent unwanted pregnancies in pets. Your Spanaway veterinarian can explain more about these procedures and answer your questions, so you can understand the importance of spaying or neutering your pet.
What It Means to Have a Pet Spayed or Neutered
Spay and neuter procedures sterilize your pet to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Unless you’re planning to breed your dog or cat or want to care for litters of babies, it’s better to have your pet “fixed” to avoid accidental pregnancies. These procedures are performed under anesthesia at our veterinary hospital, so your pet feels no pain, and recovery is generally quick and easy for most pets.
Benefits of Spaying or Neutering your Pet
In addition to preventing unwanted pregnancies, there are other benefits to fixing your pet. Spay and neuter procedures protect your pet against reproductive health problems like uterine and mammary infections and cancers for female pets and testicular cancer or prostate issues in male pets. Having your pet fixed can help it live a longer, healthier life. Fixed animals are also less aggressive due to a lower level of testosterone in their system.
Spaying your female before her first heat cycle eliminates undesirable behaviors like wailing and spraying urine during the cycle. Neutered male pets are less likely to fight or roam in search of a mate.
Fixing your pet reduces the animal population of stray dogs and cats as well as the population of unwanted pets in animal shelters. Most shelters have more animals than people who want to adopt them. As the homeless pet population grows, many shelters have to put down animals that haven’t been adopted or claimed after some time. Sterilizing your pet can ultimately help prevent the pet population from growing larger.
When to Spay or Neuter Your Pet
Our Spanaway veterinarians can recommend the best time to spay or neuter your pet after a pet exam. Cats can be fixed as early as eight weeks of age. For optimal health benefits, your kit should be spayed before her first heat. Dogs are generally fixed between 6 and 9 months of age, although the procedure can be done earlier.
See Our Spanaway Veterinarians for Spaying or Neutering
Spay and neuter procedures are safe and effective for preventing unwanted pet pregnancies. To schedule an appointment to fix your pet, contact Tahoma Veterinary Hospital in Spanaway at 253-847-3500.