Spaying and neutering is a common, routinely scheduled surgery performed at Brodheadsville Veterinary Clinic in order to help control the population of unwanted animals in our area as well as provide a number of preventive health benefits to dogs and cats.

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What is spaying and neutering?

Cat or dog spaying and neutering both refer to the surgical sterilization of a pet while under the effects of general anesthesia.

Spaying is the name of this surgical procedure when it is performed on a female animal. This procedure is really called an ovariohysterectomy and involves the removal of a female pet's reproductive organs from their body.

Neutering, or orchiectomy, removes the testicles from male pets and is considered a simpler surgery than a spay. The term 'neutering' can also, in some cases, refer to the desexing or 'fixing' of either gender.

Spaying and neutering are both considered a kind of soft tissue surgery, or surgeries that deal with your pet's skin, muscles or internal organs.

Cat Spaying & Neutering, Brodheadsville Veterinarians

Benefits For Cats

There are 6 key benefits of spaying or neutering your cat:

  1. It prevents behaviors, like spraying to mark territory, that are undesirable.
  2. Neutered cats are less likely to stray from home.
  3. Your cat may become more affectionate.
  4. It reduces the risk of your cat contracting diseases that affect their reproductive organs.
  5. It decreases the risk of uterine infection in female cats.
  6. It may decrease the risk of mammary (breast) cancer.

Benefits For Dogs

There are 5 key benefits of spaying or neutering your dog:

  1. It reduces your dog's risk of developing prostate cancer, among others.
  2. It reduces marking and spraying issues.
  3. It stabilizes the mood of the dog.
  4. It can significantly reduce your dog's mating urge.
  5. It can reduce sexualized behaviors.

Dog Neutering in Brodheadsville

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 is estimated that around 3.2 million cats enter US animal shelters every year.

    The best way for you to help prevent the rapid increase in the number of homeless cats in Brodheadsville shelters is by spaying or neutering your feline companion.

    Protect Wildlife

    It is estimated that cats in the USA kill between 1.4 billion and 3.7 billion birds every year. By helping to keep the numbers of homeless cats to a minimum, you help to save the lives of countless birds and other wildlife.

    Cat Neutering Benefits

    Neutering your male cat can help to curb a number of undesirable behaviors in your companion, including spraying indoors and around your home, howling, roaming and fighting with other unneutered male cats. 

    Reducing your cat's inclination to fight also significantly reduces their risk of contracting Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and Feline leukemia virus (FeLV).

    Cat Spaying Benefits

    Spaying your female care before the first heat cycle can also help to reduce their risk of developing infections in the womb (like pyometra) or mammary tumors. 

    It's important to remember that infectious diseases carried by female cats can be passed on to their kittens (who can spread the diseases even further). Pregnancy and childbirth for bats with reproductive issues that may be prevented through spaying can also be very risky (and costly).

  • Why should I get my dog spayed or neutered?

    Population Control

    According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), nearly 3.3 million dogs enter the American shelter system every single year.

    Spaying or neutering your dog is the best way for you to help reduce the overall number of unplanned puppies each year while improving your pet's behavior and reducing their risk of some serious health conditions.

    Dog Spaying Benefits

    Spaying female dogs can help to prevent a wide range of serious health issues like mammary cancer or life-threatening uterine infections like pyometra.

    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?

    Pet owners should consult with their veterinarian to determine the best age to spay or neuter their cat or dog. Some research indicates there may be long-term health benefits to spaying or neutering dogs after they have passed through puberty. 

    Many veterinary professionals will advise that female pets be spayed before the first heat, which may occur as early as 5 months of age. There is also some evidence that this is too young though and doesn't give animals enough time to fully grow and develop.

  • 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 her 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 usually go home on the same day of the procedure, with activity restricted for a few days while the incision heals.

    For both of these procedures, our vets may send your pet home with a protective collar in order to keep them from licking their incision. 

    We generally book follow-up visits to check in on how well your pet has healed and to remove 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 continue to grow to their full adult weight after the spay or neuter procedure, and this naturally includes some weight gain.

    However, your pet will not gain weight as a result of being spayed or neutered.

  • Is this service part of your Pet Wellness Plans?

    Spay/neuter services are not included in Wellness Plans because they are one-time procedures.

    That being said, if your pet is part of one of our Wellness Plans, you will qualify for 10% off of your spay/neuter procedure.

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