Why Spaying and Neutering Your Pets Matters

What’s the difference between spaying and neutering?

To spay your pet is to sterilize your female dog or cat by removing their fallopian tubes and uterus. To neuter your pet is to remove the testicles of your male dog or cat. Both procedures make it so that your pet can’t reproduce. 

What are the benefits of spaying and neutering?

As mentioned earlier, spaying and neutering can help your pets live a longer, healthier life by reducing the chances of getting certain kinds of cancers and infections. In addition:

• Spayed pets won’t go into heat, so less yowling and urinating to attract the attention of a potential mate. 
• Neutered pets are less likely to roam or mark/spray their territory (i.e., your home) since they’re less interested in finding a mate. 
• Neutered dogs are less inclined to mount other dogs, inanimate objects and people. It can even reduce their aggression. 
• Spayed and neutered pets mean less pregnancies which helps reduce overpopulation issues in communities and animal shelters. 

Contrary to a popular myth, spaying and neutering won’t make your pet become overweight. There’s no scientific evidence that directly links laziness or weight issues to these procedures. 

When should I spay or neuter my pet?

We recommend talking with your veterinarian first about when to spay or neuter your pet. In general, dogs can be fixed as young as 8 weeks if they’re at least 2 pounds; however, they’re traditionally spayed or neutered when they’re between 6 to 9 months old. Older dogs can also get fixed, but there is a higher risk of post-operative complications. 

Just like dogs, cats can get spayed and neutered as young as 8 weeks as long as they’re at least 2 pounds. To reduce the chances of pregnancy, cats are usually fixed by the time their 5 months old. And yes, a female cat can get spayed while they’re in heat. 

How do I take care of my pet after surgery?

For a safe and comfortable recovery:

• Give your pet a quiet place to rest indoors where there won’t be other animals or distractions. 
• Don’t let your pet run and jump around for however long your veterinarian recommends. 
• Avoid giving them a bath for at least 10 days after surgery.
• Check their incision and stitches every day, making sure your pet is healing properly.
• To prevent infections, don’t let them lick the incision site. This is when your pet may need to wear a recovery cone, i.e., the cone of shame.

Always follow your pet’s medication instructions. For your convenience, Pet Supplies Plus has an online pharmacy (powered by Vetsource) for all your prescription needs.

What should I watch out for after surgery?

Contact your veterinarian immediately if:

• The incision gets opened.
• There’s redness, swelling or discharge at the incision site.
• Your pet is lethargic, vomiting, has diarrhea or their appetite decreases. 

Final Thoughts

There’s no question you’d do anything to keep your dog or cat happy and healthy. That’s why you should know the benefits of spaying and neutering your pets are both medical and behavioral. As for when to get them fixed: the earlier, the better. And what you do afterwards is as important as the surgery itself. We know this is a big decision, but it’s one where the rewards outweigh the risks. And we all know pets love rewards.