One of the most responsible decisions you can make as a pet owner is spaying or neutering your pet if you do not plan on having puppies or kittens. Spay and neuter surgery, also called fixing, prevents unwanted pregnancies and provides significant health and behavioral benefits for your pet. Our vet at Clearwater Animal Clinic in Clearwater, FL, is here to tell you about spay and neuter surgery and how they can improve your pet’s quality of life.
What Are Spay and Neuter Procedures?
Spaying and neutering are procedures that remove your pet’s reproductive organs to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Spaying involves the removal of the ovaries and sometimes the uterus in female pets, while neutering removes the testicles in male pets. This surgery requires your pet to be under anesthesia to prevent pain and ensure a safe operation. Spay and neuter surgeries are often outpatient procedures that allow your pet to return home the same day as the operation.
What to Expect After Surgery
Although spaying and neutering are low-risk procedures, they require you to closely monitor your pet for the first 24 hours after bringing it home from the animal hospital. Your pet may feel disoriented, sleepy, or uncoordinated for some time due to the anesthesia. Your vet will prescribe pain medication to keep your pet comfortable, and you should set up a quiet place to rest as it recovers. Your pet should avoid strenuous activities like jumping, running, or playing until it completely recovers in around two weeks.
Benefits of Spaying and Neutering
Spaying or neutering your pet provides several significant benefits to its health and behavior. The most obvious advantage of these procedures is ensuring your pet cannot get pregnant or get another animal pregnant. Spaying and neutering help slow down pet overpopulation and save you the trouble of dealing with unwanted puppies or kittens.
Both males and females enjoy some health benefits after the procedure. Spaying will eliminate the risk of uterine infections and decrease the rate of breast tumors. Neutering your male pet can prevent testicular cancer and limit its chance of developing some prostate issues.
Lastly, fixing your pet reduces or eliminates specific behavioral issues related to heat cycles and the urge to mate. Pets are less likely to roam and spray when spayed or neutered. Your pet will also become less aggressive by eliminating heat cycles and the ability to mate.
Contact Your Veterinarian in Clearwater, FL, for Spay or Neuter Surgery Today
If you want to know more about spaying or neutering your pet or schedule an operation with your “veterinarian near you,” consider contacting Clearwater Animal Clinic in Clearwater, FL. Our vet can perform these routine procedures to ensure your pet lives a long, healthy life, so call us and schedule an appointment today at (727) 584-1151.