Pet Spay & Neuter

Pet Spay & Neuter

Spaying and neutering help reduce the number of strays living on the streets and in animal shelters. It also reduces the risks associated with reproductive cancers, roaming, aggression, and reproductive organ infections. Call us at (616) 669-0501 to schedule an appointment today.

How Do Spaying and Neutering Make Pets Healthier?

Can a simple surgery improve your pet’s long-term health and increase their lifespan? In general, dogs and cats do experience a better quality of life and have a decreased risk of developing certain types of cancer.

Spaying

• Prevents female dogs and cats from going into heat and becoming pregnant
• Decreases the risk of urinary tract infections in females
• Reduces the risk of mammary tumors (breast cancer)
• Prevents pyometra (uterine infection) and ovarian and uterine cancer development
• Reduces a dog or cat’s instinct to go roaming in search of a mate

Neutering

• Reduces aggressiveness attributed to testosterone (especially if any females nearby are in heat)
• Reduces or eliminates mounting behaviors
• Prevents testicular and prostate cancer development
• Reduces or prevents urine spraying/marking indoors and elsewhere
• Reduces a dog or cat’s instinct to go roaming in search of a mate

When Should I Have My Cat or Dog Spayed/Neutered?

In general, we recommend performing spay and neuter procedures between 4-6 months of age. For small breeds, we may suggest waiting until all permanent teeth have erupted. Also, some of the larger breeds may benefit from waiting until skeletal maturity. Our veterinarians can determine the best timeframe for your individual pet during their puppy or kitten visits.

Will My Pet Gain Weight or Act Differently After Surgery?

It’s natural to have questions and concerns about how spaying/neutering might change your pet (aside from the obvious removal of their reproductive organs). While certain instinctive behaviors can be affected, your pet’s overall personality and intelligence will not change after surgery. Furthermore, they should not gain any weight if they stay on a balanced, age-appropriate diet and remain active.

Spaying/neutering is an important step for every pet, and we want you to know exactly what to expect before, during, and after your pet’s procedure. Contact us if you would like to learn more!