Responsible pet ownership includes making decisions that benefit the well-being and happiness of your pet. One such decision is spay and neuter surgery. These procedures prevent unwanted pregnancies while improving your pet’s health and behavior. Your veterinarian in El Paso, TX, at TLC Animal Hospital regularly performs this routine pet surgery to protect the health and well-being of pets. Learn more about the importance and benefits of spay and neuter surgery below.
Importance of Spay and Neuter Services
Spaying or neutering your pet is the best way to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Spaying removes the ovaries and uterus in female pets, while neutering removes the testes in male pets. These procedures ensure your pet cannot get pregnant or get another pet pregnant. Doing this helps reduce pet overpopulation while providing several health and behavioral benefits. Many pets wind up on the streets or in animal shelters since not enough homes can care for them. Spaying or neutering your pet can help with this issue and reduce the number of pets euthanized due to overpopulation.
Benefits of Spay and Neuter Surgery
Pet pregnancy comes with health risks during and after pregnancy. Spaying or neutering your pet protects it from reproductive cancers, tumors, and infections that compromise health and well-being. Spaying female pets significantly decreases their risk of uterine infections and mammary cancer, while neutering male pets eliminates testicular cancer and reduces the risk of prostate problems. Spayed or neutered animals tend to live longer, happier lives.
Additionally, spaying or neutering your pet can alleviate several unwanted behaviors. Spayed pets no longer experience heat cycles, meaning your female pet will not howl at night or spray. Neutering reduces the risk of pets running off to search for a mate and makes pets less aggressive. These behavioral changes lead to a calmer and more manageable pet.
When to Spay or Neuter a Pet
The timing for your pet’s spay or neuter surgery will depend on its species, health, and veterinarian recommendation. Our veterinarian will evaluate your pet to ensure it is in good health for the procedure. They will then recommend a timeframe to spay or neuter your pet. Traditionally, dogs get spayed or neutered between four and six months old. Our veterinarian recommends spaying or neutering your cat between eight and 16 weeks old before it reaches its first heat cycle.
See Your Veterinarian in El Paso, TX, for Spay or Neuter Surgery Today
If you want to learn more about spay or neuter surgery or schedule these procedures, consider contacting your “veterinarian near you” at TLC Animal Hospital in El Paso, TX. Our vet can evaluate your pet and determine the best time to spay or neuter it, so call us and schedule an appointment today at (915) 592-6200 to ensure your pet lives a long, healthy life.
