One of the essential elements of effective animal preventive health care is the spay and neuter procedure, and it’s also one of the healthiest things you can do for your pet. It’s quick, safe, and has a fast recovery period. At Cascade Vet Clinic, we perform hundreds of these procedures each year as it’s the most common type of minor surgery our vets perform. We strongly believe that every pet in Cascade, ID, deserves access to affordable quality health care, so we make sure all of our services, including spay and neutering, are at the lowest they can be.
The Importance Of Spaying And Neutering Your Pet
For most people, having their cat or dog ‘fixed’ keeps them from getting pregnant and prevents destructive behaviors. Still, your pet will enjoy many other health benefits from the procedure. But pregnancy prevention is essential for pets all over the country as it is the primary method of reducing the pet overpopulation problem in America. Every year in the U.S., tens of millions of unwanted pets are abandoned on the streets. Many of them end up in animal shelters, where most are eventually euthanized. The shelters don’t have the funding, space, or resources to take care of them, and not enough people are willing to adopt them. Part of the problem is people taking pets home and then deciding they don’t want to care for them and abandoning them. But the most significant cause of pet overpopulation is unwanted pregnancies and litter, and having your pet spayed or neutered can help to reduce them.
The Health Benefits Of Spaying And Neutering
Your pet will enjoy physical and psychological health benefits from spaying or neutering. Some are specific to sex and species, while others are enjoyed by both male and female cats and dogs. Spaying is the removal of the reproductive organs of females, while neutering is the removal of the male’s testicles. When females are spayed, they no longer menstruate or go into heat, and the howling, crying, and restlessness associated with the heat cycle will no longer occur. They’ll no longer be at risk of uterine cancers and infections, and their risk of mammary cancer is significantly reduced. Neutered males have no risk of testicular cancer and a reduced risk of prostate problems. The procedure also helps to stabilize the hormones that affect behavior. Both males and females will be less aggressive and moody, less likely to roam and get into fights, and less inclined to urinate on carpets and furniture to mark their territory.
The Spay And Neuter Procedure
Spaying and neutering are typically performed on dogs and cats at around six months of age, although they can be done as young as eight or nine weeks if they are healthy. It’s better to do it when younger, but older pets also benefit from it. When you bring your pet to our Cascade veterinarian, they’ll tell you how to prepare it the night before their procedure, including withholding food for 12 hours before their visit, though giving them water to drink is Ok. Your pet will receive anesthesia during the procedure, and your pet’s vital signs will be continuously monitored for problems by a surgical tech. It only takes a short time to complete, and after a couple of hours in a recovery room, they’ll be able to leave. Your vet will advise you on how to care for them at home. In general, your pet will need to stay indoors, avoid exertion, and get plenty of rest for a week or so.
We welcome all types of animals at the Cascade Vet Clinic, including cats, dogs, horses, pigs, cows, goats, elk, small ruminants, and food animals. When you need spay and neuter services or animal health care, contact us using our online form to schedule an appointment.