What is Spaying & Neutering?
Both spaying and neutering refer to the surgical sterilization of an animal under general anesthesia.
Spaying is a surgical procedure for female cats and dogs. Technically called an ovariohysterectomy, spaying is where a female's reproductive organs are removed.
Neutering, or orchiectomy, removes the testicles from a male pet and is often considered easier to perform than spaying. The term 'neutering' can also be referred to as desexing or 'fixing' of either gender.
Benefits For Cats
These are the 6 main benefits of having your cat spayed or neutered:
- It curbs undesirable behaviors, such as spraying to mark territory.
- Your cat could become more affectionate.
- It decreases the risk of uterine infection in female cats.
- It reduces your cat's risk of contracting certain diseases.
- Cats that are neutered are less likely to stray from home.
- It may decrease the risk of mammary (breast) cancer.
Benefits For Dogs
Here are 5 key benefits of spaying or neutering your dog:
- It stabilizes your dog's mood.
- It reduces marking and spraying issues.
- It lowers the risk of prostate and other cancers.
- It reduces the mating urge.
- It can reduce sexualized behaviors.
Spaying & Neutering FAQs
- Why should I get my cat spayed or neutered?
Population Control
According to the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), it's estimated that approximately 3.2 million cats are brought into US animal shelters each year.
The absolute best way for you to help lower the number of unwanted cats in shelters in the Benton area is by getting your cat spayed or neutered.
Protect Wildlife
Cats in the USA are estimated to kill between 1.4 billion and 3.7 billion birds every year. By helping to keep the number of homeless cats to a minimum, you are helping save the lives of countless birds and other wild animals.
Cat Neutering Benefits
Male cat neutering can help to curb many undesirable cat behaviors such as spraying indoors and around your house to mark territory, roaming, howling, and fighting with other undoctored male cats. Reducing your cat's temptation to fight may also reduce their risk of injury, and of contracting the Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and the Feline leukemia virus (FeLV).
Cat Spaying Benefits
Having your female cat spayed before its first heat cycle can help lower your cat's risk of developing pyometra (infection of the womb) and mammary tumors. It is also essential to know that female cats carrying infectious diseases could spread serious conditions to their kittens, who could go on to spread the disease even further. The pregnancy and the birth process can be risky for young cats, and costly to their owners.
- Why should I get my dog spayed or neutered?
Population Control
According to the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), approximately 3.3 million dogs enter shelters every year across the USA.
Getting your dog spayed or neutered is the best way for you to help lower the overall number of unplanned puppies born every year while improving the overall behavior of your pup and reducing their risk of developing some serious health conditions.
Dog Spaying Benefits
Spaying your female dog could help to prevent serious health conditions including pyometra, (a potentially life-threatening uterine infection), and mammary cancer.
Dog Neutering Benefits
Male dog neutering helps to prevent your pet from developing testicular cancer and can also help reduce unwanted behaviors such as dog aggression, straying, and humping.
- When should I have my pet spayed? What age?
You should talk to your veterinarian to determine which age is best to have your cat or dog spayed or neutered. Some research indicates there could be long-term health benefits to having your dog spayed or neutered once they have passed puberty.
Many veterinary professionals recommend having female animals spayed before their first heat, which could occur as early as 5 months of age. But, there is increasing evidence that this is too young as the animals have not been allowed to fully develop and grow.
- What should I know about the recovery process for my pet?
Spaying
After spay surgery, some clinics will want to keep your cat or dog overnight, while others will let them go home on the same day. The rule of thumb is generally 7-10 days of restricted activity.
Neutering
If there are no complications or other health issues, your dog or cat can generally go home the day of the procedure, with restricted activity for several days while the incision heals.
For both procedures, we may send your pet home with a protective collar to prevent them from licking the incision.
Generally, we schedule a follow-up appointment to check on how well your cat or dog has healed and to remove the stitches.
- Will my pet feel anything during the procedure?
No, your pet will be under general anesthesia, and will not feel anything during the procedure.
- Will my pet gain weight after the procedure?
Your puppy or kitten will keep growing to their full adult weight after their spay or neuter procedure, and this naturally consists of some weight gain.
However, your pet will not gain weight as a result of being spayed or neutered.