At Pet Townsend Veterinary Clinic, we suggest spaying and neutering of all dogs and cats that will not be used for breeding purposes. While we usually recommend this procedure as early as
6-8 MONTHS OLD,
a specific timeline for this procedure will be recommended based on your pet’s breed, age, and health status. Feel free to ask us any questions or discuss any concerns you may have regarding this procedure.
or give us a call at (360) 379-1133.
Why Spay or Neuter?
Spaying and neutering your pets can beneficially affect your pet in several ways, helping them to live a longer and happier life. See more about these benefits below:
Elimination of Heat Cycles
Female dogs and cats can begin their heat cycles at as early as seven months old. We recommend spaying dogs and cats at 6-8 months old, regardless of if they have experienced their first heat cycle yet. If your pet has had a heat cycle, please let your veterinarian know, so they can schedule the procedure at the proper time. Spaying eliminates the occurrence of heat cycles, making your pet more comfortable and preventing them from seeking and attracting attention from males during this time.
Behavioral Changes
Male dogs and cats tend to begin developing unwanted behaviors in puppy or kittenhood that can become exaggerated by their hormone levels. Neutering male pets will affect their hormone production, causing a reduction in aggressive, destructive, and territorial behaviors, like spraying, mounting, and roaming.
Overall Health Benefits
Studies have shown that pets that have been spayed and neutered generally live longer than pets that aren’t. While this can be due to a number of reasons, it is important to note that these procedures can mitigate the risk of certain cancers and diseases. Spaying female dogs and cats prevents occurrence of mammary cancer and a fatal uterine infection, called pyometra. In males, neutering prevents the enlargement of the prostate gland and the occurrence of testicular cancer.
Reduce Overpopulation and Homelessness
Making the decision to spay and neuter your pet can not only be beneficial to you and your pet’s lifestyle, but can also impact many other animals. There are over 6.5 million pets housed in shelters, of which about 1.5 million are euthanized on an annual basis for multiple reasons, including overpopulation and crowding. Spaying and neutering pets prevents them from breeding, decreases the number of pets that need homes, and potentially saves the lives of animals in shelters.
