We recommend spaying or neutering your pet if do not plan to professionally show or breed him or her.
The procedure of removing the reproductive organs of male animals is called "neutering" and the procedure for female animals is called"spaying". The obvious reason spaying and neutering is so critical is to prevent unwanted, unplanned pregnancies. If the expense of spaying or neutering your pet is a problem, there are many low-cost spay and neuter clinics throughout the country and many veterinarians offer discounts.If you call 1-800-248-SPAY, you can find our more information on where you can have your pet spayed or neutered at a discounted price.
In the past, veterinarians recommended that a dog be at least 6 months of age before he or she was spayed or neutered. Many dogs reach sexual maturity before that time. The American Veterinary Medical Association recommends "early spay/neuter" which is sterilization of puppies between 8 and 16 weeks of age. Even though early spay/neuter has proven to be very safe with rapid recovery for the pet, some vets feel uncomfortable spaying or neutering a pet that is that young, so please consult with your veterinarian to see when he or she would be an appropriate age for your pet to be spayed or neutered.
There are many benefits for you and your pet when you choose to spay or neuter, so let's take a look at some of them.
Female pets
A female that is spayed before her first heat cycle has a greatly reduced chance of developing ovarian, uterine, or breast cancer. You would also never have to worry about your pet developing Pyometra. Pyometra is an infection of the uterus that can become seriously life- threatening and will require an emergency spay operation.
An upspayed female dog may also suffer from a false pregnancy which mimics all of the physical and behavioral stages of pregnancy even though there are no fertilized eggs. False pregnancies are very common in pets that are very dependant on their owners. False pregnancies often occur even when no mating has taken place. It is not uncommon for unspayed female dogs to have a false pregnancy every time they have a heat cycle.
Spaying your female pet will also prevent you from having to keep her away from unwelcome male dogs in your area.
Male pets
At around 6-7 months of age, your male dog will become sexually mature. Neutering will not change your male dog's masculine appearance;he will still acquire his secondary sex characteristics regardless of when you have him neutered. Neutering your pet will not affect his hunting ability or watchdog behavior either. Your pet might be less aggressive to other males, but he will still be loyal and protective of his human family.
Neutering your male pet will also greatly reduce his risk of prostate and perianal cancer along with testicular tumors and cancer. Neutering will also decrease the potential for aggressive behavior and biting. It also tends to calm down overactive dogs!
Some people worry that spaying or neutering their pet will cause obesity. It is true that spaying or neutering does change an animal's metabolism instantaneously but there is a very good chance if you regulate your pet's food he or she will be able to keep a steady weight. A spayed or neutered animal requires fewer calories for maintenance than an unspayed one. A companion animal's metabolism will get slower as he or she ages so less food and more exercise may be appropriate as your pet matures.
The surgery
The operation is a fairly simple and routine procedure that helps your pet! Most veterinarians go through a physical before administering anesthesia. This physical often includes a blood test and a urinalysis. These tests are done to make sure that your pet has no underlying medical problems such as liver disease, kidney disease,diabetes, or a chronic infection that would put your pet at greater risk during surgery. For females, the ovaries and uterus will be removed which will cease the production of eggs For male the testes are removed with eliminates the source of sperm. Your vet will give you specific information on how to care for your pet following the surgery to ensure that he or she recovers as quickly as possible!
