Spaying and neutering are standard procedures that have many benefits for your pet. Studies have shown that neutered males live 13.8% longer and spayed females live 26.3% longer than pets that do not have the surgery. Having your pet spayed/neutered not only prevents your pet from unwanted pregnancies; it also reduces overpopulation and provides a wide variety of health benefits. These are just some of the reasons why the veterinarian community recommends these procedures for pets.
What are spaying and neutering?
Spaying and neutering are surgical procedures that prevent pets from having a litter. Before the procedure, we run blood tests to determine how much anesthesia is safe for your pet. During spay surgery, we remove the female’s uterus and ovaries while during neuter surgery, we remove the male’s testicles. After the surgery, we provide pain medication to minimize the discomfort and help the patient heal quickly.
What happens if my pet isn’t spayed or neutered?
There are several health issues that may arise if your pet is not spayed or neutered. Some illnesses they may develop are linked to their reproductive organs (e.g. they can develop ovarian or testicular cancer and uterine cysts). Your pet may also develop behavioural problems. Pets that haven’t had the procedure may be more aggressive towards other pets/humans, they may spray furniture, hump objects or sometimes wander off to procreate. These are just some of the effects that the heat cycle has on their behaviour.
When should I have my pet spayed or neutered?
At our hospital, we recommend that pets be spayed when they are 6 months to 1-year-old. Females experience more symptoms during the heat cycle so they are generally spayed before their first cycle begins.
Even if your pet is older than the recommended age it can still be spayed or neutered. We perform other tests to ensure that older pets are good candidates for the surgery. To find out if your older pet is eligible for spay or neuter surgery please call us at 416-489-8387.
