Understanding Spaying and Neutering: Benefits and What to Expect

One of the most crucial decisions you make about your pet’s long-term health—and your wallet—may be whether to spay or neuter them.

Spayed and neutered cats and dogs have clearly longer average lifespans than those not. Based on medical records of more than 70,000 animal patients, a University of Georgia study revealed that the life expectancy of spayed female dogs was 26.3% longer, and of neutered male canines was 13.8% longer. Whereas a somewhat older 9.4 years for changed dogs, the average age of death of intact canines was 7.9 years. A veterinarian in Guelph can help you with both of these services.

Spay Vs Neuter: What’s the difference?

Some find it simple to decide whether to get pets spayed or neutered. Still, the words are sometimes abused. What then distinguishes the spay from the neuter operations? Usually, in a female animal, spaying is the removal of the ovaries and often the uterus. In a male animal, neutering is the removal of the testes. Procedures of spaying and neutering make animals incapable of procreating. Though they sound painful, these straightforward, usually required medical operations can help not just your animal but also the population of animals overall.

Animal overpopulation is an issue everywhere. Feral dogs and cats usually live hard lives outside. Many animals in shelters are finally euthanized, so they spend much of their lives in cages—or worse. One significant step toward lessening the suffering of unwanted or simply unknown animals is assuming the responsibility and care to spay or neuter a pet, especially one that spends time outside.

Why should you spay or neuter your dog?

By preventing unintended pregnancies, spaying or neutering dogs helps to reduce the number of animals ending up in shelters around our country. Having your dog spayed or neutered helps you contribute to the decrease in animal deaths in shelters only because they lack a safe place to call home.

Additionally helpful for some behavioral problems, including urine marking and aggression, is spaying/neutering. After surgery, both male and female dogs show less sexual behavior. Male dogs who are neutered lessen their growing need to travel. The awkward “heat” cycle with its unpleasant, bloody discharge is removed in female dogs. In both sexes, spay/neutering also drastically lowers or eliminates the development of breast tumors in female dogs and reproductive organ tumors.

When to spay or neuter your pets

Generally speaking, it is advised to spay or neuter young pets. Though the timing depends on the size and breed of the dog, the optimal time to spay or neuter your dog is between six and nine months of age. If you get a completely grown dog, don’t hesitate to have it spayed and neutered, as adult dogs can also be. Older or overweight dogs, as well as those with health issues, run more danger of complications following surgery, nevertheless. Like always, start with your veterinarian. Although many physicians advise waiting until cats reach 4 or 5 months of age, cats are generally safe to be spayed or neutered once they reach 8 weeks old.

What are the risks of spaying and neutering?

Although serious surgical operations, such as spaying and neutering, are also the surgeries most often carried out on dogs and cats by veterinarians, sterilization carries some hazards connected to the anesthesia and the actual techniques. Still, these are usually minor hazards.

Conclusion

Your veterinarian might suggest a surgical approach especially suited to your pet’s needs. Your veterinarian will carefully check your pet to ensure it is in good health before the operation. Medications will be administered to reduce discomfort, and a general anesthetic will be used to keep your pet sleepy and comfortable during the surgery. You will be urged to keep your pet quiet and tranquil for a few days following surgery as the incision heals.