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What is spaying & neutering?
Neutering is the surgical removal of certain reproductive organs--in the female, the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries; in the male, the testicles. Neuter surgery on female animals is sometimes called "spaying." The surgery prevents females from becoming pregnant and prevents males from impregnating females.
Animals are anesthetized during the surgery to spare them from pain. They typically go home within a day of the procedure.
Neutering is a relatively safe and simple operation and its potential for helping to save animals' lives, by preventing unwanted litters and overpopulation, is tremendous.
When should a pet be spayed or neutered?
Spay/neutering is generally done around the age of two to four months for both females and males, before they even reach sexual maturity. In fact, many veterinarians will perform spay/neuter surgery on puppies and kittens as young as 8 weeks of age. This early surgery ensures that your pet will not contribute to pet overpopulation, and their young age helps them recuperate quickly from the procedure. Please speak to your veterinarian about the advantages of prepubescent surgery and when it is appropriate to have your companion altered.
Where do I go to have my pet spayed or neutered?
Spay/neuter surgery is a standard procedure done by nearly every general practice veterinarian. If you need a referral to a local veterinarian, call CVHS.
Many animals currently available for adoption at CVHS have already been spayed or neutered.
Benefits For Your Pet--And For You
Spay/neutering lowers the odds of breast cancer and dangerous uterine infections in females, as well as prostate problems in males. By reducing the animal's urge to roam, the surgery also decreases the chances that your pet will run away, become lost, or be hit by a car while roaming loose.
Spay/neutering is not a cure for aggressiveness, but it will lessen the urge to fight for sexual dominance. It also diminishes the likelihood that an animal will spray, wail, mark territory or make inappropriate sexual approaches toward people or objects. Animals that are spayed or neutered are three times less likely to bite. A benefit for everyone!
Un-neutered pets may be anxious because they have no outlet for their natural urges. Spay/neutering eliminates this frustration and makes your companion less distracted, more easily trained, and a more contented member of your family.
A lifesaver - more reasons to alter your companion:
Spay/neutering not only increases your pet's life expectancy, it helps reduce the numbers of homeless animals that end up in shelters. If you love animals and want to help them, spay/neutering is the place to start.
"I don't want her to become fat." Remember, too much food and not enough exercise makes animals fat. Neutering doesn't.
"He's a purebred with papers." One-fourth of the dogs the end up in shelters are purebreds. Purebreds and their pure- and mixed-breed offspring also suffer from overpopulation--and contribute to it.
"I already have homes lined up for all of them!" If each of the eight great homes ready to welcome your pet's offspring would instead adopt from a shelter, they--and you-- could help eight animals. For every terrific family wanting a companion, the perfect animal is already waiting--in an animal shelter.
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