If you have a cat or dog, spaying or neutering can be one of the most important decisions you have to make. You can do all the research about “fixing” your pet, but the benefits far outweigh the risks. At Paducah Veterinary Clinic serving Paducah, KY, our veterinarian provides safe spaying and neutering services to ensure your pet lives healthy lives. But because you might be jittery about these procedures, here is what you may want to know about spaying and neutering.
What Is Spay and Neuter?
Spaying involves the removal of the female reproductive organs, namely the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus. Once this is done, your cat or dog can’t reproduce, curbing annoying breeding behaviors. On the other hand, neutering is the removal of the testes in male pets.
When Should I Spay or Neuter My Pet?
The traditional age for neutering dogs is 6-9 months, but puppies as old as eight weeks can be sterilized. This doesn’t mean adult dogs can’t be spayed or neutered — it can be done, but the risk is much higher.
Generally, cats can be “fixed” as early as eight weeks. Doing the sterilization with a veterinarian before the first heat cycle can be essential in curbing breeding behaviors and preventing reproductive cancers.
Benefits of Spaying and Neutering
There is a crisis of pet homelessness in America. Many homeless cats and dogs are euthanized yearly to curb the growing population. If you don’t want to help prevent this, spay or neuter your pet to avoid uncontrolled litter.
The other benefits of spay & neuter may include:
- Medical benefits: Sterilizing your pets reduces the risk of uterine, testicular, and ovarian cancer. It also reduces the chances of urinary tract infections (UTIs).
- Curbs breeding-related behaviors: When pets are on heat, they may yowl, urinate in the house, and escape home to find mates. These unwanted behaviors are significantly reduced by spaying and neutering.
- Cost-effective: Spaying and neutering your dog or cat saves your wallet from spending money raising an unwanted litter or treating diseases like reproductive cancer.
Get Spay & Neuter Services from Our Veterinarian
Would you like to spay or neuter your pet in Paducah, KY? Book an appointment with our veterinarian at Paducah Veterinary Clinic for our spay & neuter services. Call us at (270) 443-8835.