SPAYING AND NEUTERING

For cats and dogs, spaying and neutering is usually done at 6 months of age. Where puppies and kittens are received from shelters these procedures may be done as early as 9 – 12 weeks of age in an effort to control the number of unwanted pets. The age for desexing in other species will vary.

The procedure in pets involves:

• A pre-anesthetic blood panel to ensure that the body organs are functioning correctly.
• Giving a pre-medication to alleviate pain, anxiety, and salivation.
• An injectable anesthetic to facilitate intubation (a tube to be inserted through the mouth and into the throat), which permits an anesthetic gas to be administered to maintain a surgical phase of anesthesia during surgery.
• Under sterile conditions, both ovaries and the uterus as far as the cervix are removed from the female and in the male both testicles are excised.

Why are spaying and neutering important?

• To control the number of unwanted pets.
• To reduce the pet’s propensity to stray and become involved in motor vehicle accidents, which are painful and expensive.
• To diminish behavioral social issues such as house soiling.
• Again, to reduce straying and with it the incidence of fighting and bite wounds which are painful and expensive.
• To avoid medical problems such as cancer of the genitals, perineal hernias, pyometras,etc.
• To avert sexual frustration pets confined in an urban environment

Adjusting the food intake of your pet following surgery will control the tendency for future weight gain.

Gender Bender

“Better to lose your gender than to lose your life”